National Meet in Vannes - 12,13,14,15 July 2008
Welcome to the Commodore's Rally 2008 - Update
8th July
We have timed the event to coincide with the national holiday "quatorze
juillet".
This is the annual celebration of the storming of the Bastille in 1790, which
led to the Republic of France as we know it today.
Vannes has a unique atmosphere on this weekend, and there are fireworks on the
nights of July 13th and 14th and partying galore.
Email the Commodore Neil Eccles for
information
Social arrangements:
Saturday evening 1800 - drinks aboard or near "Cutaway" - please bring a
glass
Sunday evening 1930 - group meal in the new restaurant above the
Capitainerie. A booking for 50 has been made - it should be fun with a
wonderful view
VANNES RALLY ENTRANTS AS OF 12 July 2008
|
Yacht Name
|
Type
|
Crew
|
No On Board
|
|
1 |
Cutaway |
M42 |
Neil & Bron Eccles, Steve and Annemarie
Westwood |
4 |
|
2 |
Rafilki |
M425 |
Charles and Hazel Bond-Smith |
2 |
|
3 |
Ossian |
Warrior 40 |
Trevor and Heather Nichols |
2 |
|
4 |
Dernier Cru |
M29 |
Richard and Helen Weston |
2 |
|
5 |
Baccara of Hamble |
M41 |
David Somers |
? |
|
6 |
Venturia |
M35 |
Grenville and Ann Hancock |
4 |
|
7 |
Otters Way |
M40 |
Bill Moir |
4 |
|
8 |
Georgina |
M31 |
David and Trish Longhurst |
2 |
|
9 |
Talisker |
M40 |
Nick and Marwyn Wright |
2/4 |
|
10 |
Masquerade |
M40 |
John and Sue Barlow |
2 |
|
11 |
Tempus |
M31 |
John and Ann Best |
2 |
|
12 |
Marvin PA |
M336 |
Brian and Anita Waring |
2 |
|
13 |
First Flight |
M40 |
Graham and Agnes Swetman |
4 |
|
14 |
Sheste |
M31 |
Eric and Sheila Flynn |
2 |
|
15 |
Ivye Todd |
Halbadier (40) |
Stuart and Jenny Cessford |
2 |
|
16 |
Melos 2 |
M40 |
Claire and William Philpot |
2 |
|
17 |
Lucy |
M35 |
Marlene and Tony James |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Brian and June Sellick - BY CAR |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Cliff and Joyce Elliott - BY CAR Fri/Sat only |
2 |
We have a reservation in the Vannes basin
for 21 boats of up to 13m LOA.
Grenville Hancock has kindly allowed me to publish his calculations
for visitor's benefit. Please note neither he nor the MOA can be liable
for any consequence in using this information which is provided in good
faith and which should be treated with normal seamanlike caution
Going to Vannes is very simple, but you need to time the tides
correctly. Critical is the entry to the Golfe, you really are in
for an entertaining time if you try and enter against the 7 knots of
tide.
A nice way is to enter the Golfe and drop anchor in one of the lovely
anchorages or pick up a spare buoy and wait until the right time to get
to Vannes for the bridge to open. The bridge is controlled, like
the lock, by the Capitanerie staff and it marks the start of a narrow
canal up to the city.
What normally happens is that when the bridge opens, the outgoing boats
exit first, then the green light goes on and entry is permitted.
There is a waiting pontoon on the starboard side of the channel just
before the bridge, but beware that you can be boxed in on the inside by
other boats and end up last up the canal.
Once the green light is on, go up the canal, it is very unwise and
unpopular to overtake once near the bridge, you have to take your turn
and go up in line. Although it looks very narrow there is plenty
of room and plenty of water, and there is turning space in the basin at
the top.
As you go through the bridge, listen for instructions from the operator.
He has a PA system and will sometimes tell you where to berth. Say
you are with the Moody Rally. Entering the open lock you will
probably encounter the Capitanerie man on the side shouting instructions
at you. He will have an idea of the boats entering from CCTV and
radio contact with his mate at the bridge. This is the the time to
request a finger pontoon (catway in French) if you are <35 feet.
There are very few fingers for boats > 35 feet but it is always worth
asking. You probably won't get one and you may be better off
flying your MOA burgee to indicate you are part of the rally. The
official berthing for the rally is on the starboard side as you go up
the river right in front of the Capitainerie, although what the
situation will be when we actually arrive is unknown. They were
very good about this last year.
We will probably be berthed on the starboard side just before the
floating footbridge which splits the marina. It will be open but
don't go through unless you have a berth to go to, it is difficult to
turn beyond this bridge. Berthing will be "a couple" that is alongside
each other - maybe up to 6 boats out so be prepared for lots of social
fun and "mucking in" with others. This is not a posh marina with
wonderful fingers, but a local place with bags of character and charm.
If you want to call Neil and Bron 07860 368280 we can tell you the state
of play inside.
Please be prepared for a certain amount of chaos, the Capitanerie are
well meaning and helpful, last year they cleared a very large alongside
area for us, many people arrived early and went into fingers but
generally this was the boats <36 feet.
Having visited Vannes recently, I can tell you that the building works are
now nearly complete. The Capitanerie is is now on the starboard side going in,
has very posh new facilities with excellent showers and toilets. The old
surface car park is now a multi-story underground car park with many more
spaces, but of course now charges the surface is still to complete by the
dockside.
The theme this year is "Anne de Bretagne"
The aim of the rally is simple - to meet up and enjoy the full flavour and
ambience of the celebrations. We intend to keep organisation to a minimum,
asking people mostly to make their own arrangements. The exceptions will
be drinks in the early evening of Saturday 12 July, and an informal dinner on
the Sunday night. Monday 14th is the main event day with the fireworks in
the evening and it is best to eat earlier to go up to the City walls before
dark.
The fireworks are something special in Vannes and are spectacular.
Visit this page regularly for updates, news and helpful hints on tides
and lock times.