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French channels: perfect place for sailing

Best sailing areas in French channels. Sailing routes, weather and wind details, facts about region and important details to sail in French channels.

Sailing trip in French channels

France is a world-famous resort town. The country's canals are a system of navigable waterways. It includes rivers, natural and artificial canals and a few lakes.

 

Traveling on a yacht along the French canals, you will see all the beauty of cities, villages and give yourself an unforgettable yacht vacation.

Sailing season
June - August
Travel season
May - September
Marinas in this location
44

Main facts about region

Capital:
Paris
Telephone code:
+33
Language:
French
Timezone:
UTC+1, in summer UTC+2
Currency:
Euro (EUR)
Population:
66,991,000

Why do yachtsmen prefer French canals

The total length of waterways in France is comparable to the length of highways.

 

Many rivers of France's navigable waterways are connected to each other by artificial canals. Therefore, France can be crossed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, go to the English Channel or along the Seine to get to Paris.

 

It is possible to travel on a yacht along the French canals in any season. Bad weather conditions, strong winds, high waves remain in the Strait of Gibraltar. Everything is calm in the internal waters of France.

 

The French canals include many navigable rivers: Loire, Meuse, Rhone, Seine, Garonne, Moselle, Marne, Dordogne.

 

Not all rivers and canals can accommodate sailing yachts. You will have to remove the mast frequently. Otherwise, you will not be able to swim under low bridges. Some canals are up to 1.8 meters deep. This makes it very difficult to navigate if the draft of the yacht or houseboat is greater than the depth of the channel.

French channels - Yacht Charter Sailica
French channels - Yacht Charter Sailica
French channels - Yacht Charter Sailica

Sailing routes of the French canals

The routes of the French canals are very varied. They are suitable for traveling on a yacht with children. Many channels are connected to each other. This increases the yachting area.

 

The most popular canals and rivers for traveling through the inland waters of France. The:

  • South Canal or Le Canal du Midi. It is a 360-kilometer canal network. It connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Likewise, it was built between 1667 and 1694;

  • Marne-Rhine canal (Canal de la Marne au Rhin). Connects the rivers Marne and Rhine. Famous for its beautiful mills and castles;

  • Canal du Nivernais. Passes through western Burgundy and the beautiful Morvan Regional Natural Park;

  • rivers Mayenne, Sarthe and Odon. Places for privacy and enjoyment of beautiful nature. There are few locks along the route. This greatly simplifies navigation;

  • Seine river. The most famous river in France;

  • Burgundy Canal. On the route, beautiful landscapes and cozy villages await you. It is considered one of the most popular sailing routes.

Yachting season and weather in French canals

The climate in France varies by region. There are snow-capped mountains and the dry heat of the Mediterranean. But in general, the country has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. In summer in Marseille the temperature reaches 30 °C. 

 

In Brittany, the weather is slightly cooler. Spring and autumn are rainier than summer. In winter, snow and frost are possible when cold winds blow from the east. The high season is in the summer months. Inland yachting is popular all year round, especially on houseboats.

Water temperature in sailing season +20...+24 °
Air temperature in sailing season +22...+27 °
Wind speed in sailing season 5−15 knots

Weather forecast for yachting

 

You can find out the weather forecast on the following sites:

  • marine.meteoconsult.fr — weather forecast for the Mediterranean coast;
  • meteofrance.com — Weather forecast for the interior and coast of France.

People talk about Sailica

Rinke Tiegel
5
Full recommendation. Great service & support. We chartered a Beneteau 45 in Athens for our trip around Peloponnes. Great service and perfect customer support from beginning to the end. Due to corona we had to postpone our trip - Sailica managed all the communication with the charter agency and negotiated a great new deal for us. This was already the 2nd time we charted with Sailica and it won't be the last time. Full recommendation
Kyle Redstone
5
I took Dufour Grand Large 560 at Croatia using online yacht rental service sailica.com It's easy to use their mobile app with fair prices and enough quantity of boats which suits to my parameters. Their managers assisted me through whole communication with charter company. It was pleasant to receive a small gift – free of charge transfer from airport to marina. We didn't request it and appreciate their overexpected level of service.
Julian Lehmann
5
Amazing 1 week in Turkey! I sailed with Sailica on a tour in the gulf of Fethiye in Turkey. Overall it was a great experience and a great crew, even if I did not know them before. The area is amazingly beautiful and if you go in April you can avoid the crowds. The skipper was very proficient and knew what he was doing. Highly recommended!
Mykyta Semenoff
5
Great company! The guys answered all our questions which were very important since it was our first sailing experience. Moreover, they advised us not only on a charter but also on the tour itself. This was not the responsibility of the company, but we needed help and the company managers helped us for free. I highly recommend the team. The guys are really reliable, proactive and customer-oriented.
Vadim Rogovskiy
5
Excellent trip to Croatia! The trip was organized on an excellent level since the very beginning - from the yacht search to the trip itself. The team was fast and responsive. Highly recommended to everyone who wants to hang out with family on a beautiful yacht or catamaran!
Nikolaus Haufler
5
Super Beratung - sehr schnell wurde für mich ein passendes Boot in der Türkei gefunden. Sehr guter Preis, und ich konnte einen Skipper aussuchen, den ich bereits vom letzten Mal kannte. Volle Empfehlung!