Sailing South through France

Favourite Sailing Destinations Part 2. We take you into the small historic waterways of France, demonstrate how to set up your boat to transit the many locks, show you the different types of locks in the system and how to operate them, discuss the options for docking your boat along the route south and provide resources to help you plan your own voyage.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
Resources for cruising the French Waterways:
distantshores.... A summary of our 10-week voyage through the French Waterways from the north coast, south to the Mediterranean Sea plus links to blogs and videos that we created about this wonderful adventure through France by water.
www.vnf.fr/vnf/...
The official site for Voies Navigables de France. This is where you buy your permit and check for closures on the French Waterways and other navigational information.
www.french-wat...
An informative English language website run by experienced cruising sailors on all aspects of the French waterways. A great place to start to learn how to prepare for a trip through the canals whether on your own boat or chartering.
distantshores....
HD downloads and DVDs of the 5 half-hour television programs we filmed about our 10-week voyage through the French Waterways for season 9 of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
Principal photography by Paul and Sheryl Shard.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
About
Paul and Sheryl Shard are award-winning travel documentary television producers and videographers and have been cruising internationally since 1989 documenting their global adventures for television, social media, in books and sailing publications. They have sailed over 110,000 nm including 9 ocean crossings and are the producers and presenters of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series which is broadcast to 47 million households in 24 languages around the world. Through their TV programs, KZbin videos, articles/blogs and popular cruising seminars, the Shards help anyone dreaming of setting sail to get out on the water and experience their own adventure safely and comfortably.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
Boat:
Southerly 480 by Discovery with variable-draft swing-keel
distantshores....
Discovery Yachts Group / Southerly Yachts:
discoveryyacht...
Equipment:
Brunton’s Propellers: www.bruntonspro...
Elvstrøm Sails: www.elvstromsai...
Epex Sail Technology: www.elvstromsai...
Seldén Mast / Furlex: www.seldenmast....
Lewmar: www.lewmar.com/
Raymarine: www.raymarine.com/
Scanstrut: www.scanstrut.com/
Navionics Charts: www.navionics....
GN Espace Ocean Chef: www.gn-espace....
Highfield Classic Inflatable: www.highfieldbo...
Honda Outboard: marine.honda.com/
Integrel On-Engine Generator: www.integrelma...
Ultra Anchor (35 kg): www.ultramarin...
Pantaenius Yacht Insurance: www.pantaenius-...
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
Get an introduction to the cruising life and join Paul and Sheryl on a leg of their Around the World voyage. Learn more about their Sail Away Weeks here:
distantshores....
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
Gifts for Sailors! Own the whole Distant Shores collection:
All 130 full half-hour episodes of the Distant Shores Sailing Adventure TV series are available as a collectors set as HD downloads and also on DVD through the Distant Shores website. The Distant Shores DVD Super Pack box set includes both DVDs and bonus HD downloads. It is perfect for binge-watching and makes a great gift for the sailor in your life! Info and order here:
distantshores....
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­•••••••••••
You can also connect with us on:
FACEBOOK: / distantshorestv
INSTAGRAM: / distantshorestv
TWITTER: / distantshorestv
BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [e-mail]
#sailing #frenchcanals

[@N330AA]

It's pretty cool how your boat can be in the middle of an Atlantic storm or casually pottering through rural France. So versatile!

[@sailingrubyrose]

We've only been out of the canals for 3 days and we miss it already!! Thanks for the great video! 😀

[@DistantShoresTV]

You're welcome! As you know we didn't do the Midi so we're excited to see your trip!!

[@TheLT704]

Another fantastic vlog to watch on a Sunday evening..now it's Family Guy time !!

[@tac13001]

The only sailing channel that we have ever met (Lanzarote ) and the first sailing show I can remember. You guys are completely Legit. Thanks for all your wonderful content. Cheer!🍻

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks so much for your kind words Tyler! We quite enjoyed Lanzarote. The first time we visited there was just after our French Canals trip :-) Nice memories...

[@garymostert6015]

We met Paul & Sheryl way back in 1991, first in Las Palmas and then again in Fernando de Noronha. Glad to see they're still sailing and still making movies.

[@m.m.3413]

WOW, I mean WOW .. you had me holding my breath pulling into the locks. How fun your living many people's dream. I love your boat.

[@Hojiii]

Thank you both for sharing your experience.

[@qdav5]

Yet another item for my bucket list!

[@DistantShoresTV]

So glad you enjoyed this video! Thanks for your comment.

[@Penwiggle]

Really enjoyed this episode. When I was getting my Yachtmaster cert here in the UK, I also got my inland waterways certificate, and we talked about how one could sail THROUGH France to the Med, so it’s super cool to see someone actually do it! Have subscribed. Fair winds.

[@ddbs]

just awesome! what a unique way to cross through France!!

[@icebear1559]

You guys still set the standard. As I have asked before this was an amazing inspirational trip. So next year we are renting a boat to do the canals as our Cat is too fat to consider the passage. But wow. We have purchased all your videos. Thank you for setting the trend. If you ever see a Canadian boat named ice bear. Please come over. We have beer and Prosecco for you. Way to be great Canadians.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks 😊❤️ Ice Bear! Good call to rent a boat - I hope you have a great trip! Meanwhile we'll keep an eye out for you on the water :-)

[@gary5831]

Wonderful. I have done a few locks on an inland river in Ohio/USA and always loved the romance of locking through, Doing that in France looks like a wonderful way to spend a few months.

[@scr5051]

Great guys. Greetings Froom Froom Colombia south América.

[@bertieb9510]

Nice video. As you say a wonderful way to see the French countryside through the back door. Took me back. I once did much of that route myself taking our boat down from the UK to the Med. Thanks for the memory.

[@carolanderson3981]

I think the Briare aquaduct is the most facinating thing you've ever shown us. It must be like flying your boat!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes Carol it was amazing and very fun to go over. We actually did it more than once to get all the shots of the boat including Sheryl getting off to film from the river bank lower down :-) Fun Day!

[@gafrers]

I said it last time. It was good then and it's even better now, such sights while on a real boat is never tiring and always awesome. I bikepacked across France and rode along some of the Canals you showed. Thank You for another great video.

[@bestfriendsrving-sailing8329]

Even though we purchased your videos from the Toronto boat show we love watching them again with up-to-date comments. Thank you so much for your hard work we enjoy them every time we watch them

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks very much guys for your support!

[@TWROC96]

Thanks for sharing such an awesome trip. Can't wait for the third one. Love the quality of your story telling; reminds me of National Geographic of yesteryear when the focus was on the places, people and history.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks very much TWROC96 😊❤️ I'm looking forward to editing the third video as well so I can relive it as well! The canal trip was so interesting and fun we tried to share that with our viewers! I really appreciate the compliment since we were big fans of the NatGeo work as well.

[@nobody46820]

This is one of my most absolute favorites! You are damn right I'll rent/buy a boat that can do this tour!😁

[@gyzmopower7599]

I’m stressed just watching.....great work thanks for sharing👍👍

[@brunogrpr5259]

Hi guys ! 😊❤️, i'm French and never seen the channels like this 👍 THX, very nice video. 😉

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks very much Bruno. We really loved our time in your beautiful country!

[@brunogrpr5259]

@@DistantShoresTV😊 You're very welcome 👍❤️

[@2cwaves432]

lovely

[@jackfrossed7965]

great stuff, guys! well written, well edited, with always appropriate musical interludes

[@benb.4217]

Wonderful , thank you so much for sharing !👍

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thank you too, Ben!

[@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273]

Very good captaining skills. Nice job! And thank you for sharing your incredible experiences and incredibly well put together videos! Can’t wait to sail the world

[@briankatz7885]

Thanks for sharing a great trip. We were chartering in Anguilla in March and saw you guys anchored next to us. We should have come over to say hello, but my wife was too embarrassed to knock on your hull and pass you along a beer. Next time we cross paths we will be sure to do so. Really enjoy your videos. Keep them going!

[@garyherlth9031]

This is very interesting. Thanks for showing us that you can even do this through France.

[@antoinedescours2459]

The canal du midi from mediteranean to the atlantic is by far the most beautiful and interesting one

[@elipsis6700]

Intriguing way to travel. These were some of my favourite episodes in the series. Thanks for re-sharing. You guys are simply amazing!

[@billthomson6605]

wow 30 years great content thank you for letting me see places I may never get to

[@MonkPetite]

Awesome.. one day I’m on it !

[@burlms]

Just added this canal trip to the bucket list. Super informative video, thanks!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jimzois3220]

Wow what a trip you guys excellent job

[@Pfsif]

My bucket list just got one more goal. Sacre' Bleu

[@jereme2008]

What a great vid. Although it may have been a bit stressful in the first couple of lochs, what a great way to see the country side. That aqueduct is amazing. Enjoy the Med, beautiful water and sailing around Malta, Gozo and the comino islands

[@dulls8475]

We did exactly the same route in a westerly Longbow in the 70s, . Wonderful time. I was 10 at the time. 1975 ish?

[@nigelmoreland8252]

So did I. The westerly was sail number 38 and called Oleron😀

[@dulls8475]

@@nigelmoreland8252 Its a small world.

[@peetyw8851]

Thanks so much! I’ll be there in my dreams.

[@sausage5849]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

[@ryang1718]

You are LEGENDS !!!!!! see you out there!

[@andysangels1970]

Just added another destination for my bucket list when I turn 35! Only 10 years to go and I’ll be living the dream with my wife

[@SailingPauHana]

We love all of your videos. You two are our favorite sailing couple on KZbin 😊. You two were our inspiration before we discovers sailing channels on KZbin; we watched on “wealth tv”.

[@scs130773]

Really interesting vlog! I don't think I'll ever quite get used to seeing a sailboat traversing an aquaduct.

[@taijeff1334]

Ohhh!!!... So Cool.

[@Dr.J_theCPA]

Amazing aqua duct, love it.

[@Dr.J_theCPA]

I love your boat.

[@Dr.J_theCPA]

Awesome trip.

[@gptravel531]

Absolutely magnificent!

[@SirPrancelot1]

Excellent. I subscribe to a channel of a man cruising the English canals, cruisingthecut, which is excellent and it's great to see some of the French canals. Thanks.

[@danielwampler7375]

Outstanding video.

[@dalsie105]

Why would someone thumbs this video down? It was detailed and explained very well along with great footage. What was the down thumbers hoping for? Great video guys and im 100% sure it will be a great help to anyone thinking of doing the same trip. Thanks

[@paullitrop256]

so cool didn't know about canal travel

[@matthanson4920]

Fantastic stuff!

[@The_Arby]

Cool and Very interesting video in the series DS :-) Already looking forward to next weeks video :-)

[@prasatsurin]

So beautifull, bet you had same nice food as well.

[@SailingSquib]

Next episode down the saone and rhone will remember me onmy own trip 2004 from germany through the netherlands, belgium and france to the med. think we made 250 locks 5 tunnels and two swinging bridges.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Hmmm Germany and Netherlands to the Med is Epic! We only did the Kiel Canal in Germany but would like to do more... Netherlands we passed the Standing Mast Route and loved those canals as well 😊😍

[@SailingSquib]

@@DistantShoresTV Hi, I started with the Kiel Kanal and also did the Stande Mast Route, but after this I entered the Ijssel, went up to the Rhein and then passed over to the Maas. This River I went up till I reached France in Givet the beginning of the Canal d l´Est. i thik now it´s named Canal des Vogeses. It took us 4 weaks to reach the med.

[@danielwampler7375]

You do such a great job with making your videos.

[@ThisistheKingof69]

Amazing, I didnt know this excisted! Great video

[@larsholst6216]

Fantastic!

[@ushillbillies]

Your southerly is like an oversized MacGregor 26 X , we have one as well as a 380 Catalina .. enjoyed your video.

[@judd_s5643]

Another great video!

[@scotyfilms]

Being solar powered with our 38ft canal cruiser our last cruise thru the Nevernai we paid for moorage only four times. The rest of the time we'd stay just out of town or stake off just about anywhere. Having bikes on board made all the difference. There is no place less expensive to cruise than cruising the french waterways. We would almost never pay for moorage. Until you get to the Med that is. While not on board we kept our boat at private marina;s of course. The last place was $1000e per year. Awesome spot in St. Florentin France, just south of Paris near Joigny. Sadly after 6 years of cruising France we have sold our boat---- well almost.

[@tip0019]

wow, what an interesting adventure and well made docu. For a moment I thought your son was on board but I saw you started this in 2010. Haha, sorry, age creeps up on you 😉

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad you enjoyed the video... we made this trip in 2012

[@royprevost1154]

Very informative. Thank you

[@donaldgibbs673]

Great Video!!!!

[@davidboucher9033]

I would love to do this some day.

[@Frostbbitten]

Thank you so much Paul and Sheryl for sharing these experiences. Transiting the canals of France through to the Med is something that has me really intrigued so I really appreciate your insight. We are currently putzing about on a MacGregor 26X (which would be a great canal boat!) when ever time permits here in Calgary and occasionally on the West Coast. Trying to get the basics down before we acquire a "proper" boat in the Med in the next couple of years. The restrictions of the French canal system are always front of mind when looking at boats. Love the Southerly's but just not in our budget....unless we go all in and sell the house! Not quite ready to commit to that yet. How much time did you have to tour around off of the boat? or was it 10 weeks moving through the canals pretty much everyday? Cycling is another of my passions so it would be a shame to not have the time to explore some of the amazing French countryside.

[@lkm5462]

Excellent info

[@scottogilvy2596]

Fantastic

[@almath9987]

Thank you so much this is my dream way to the med as my wife is not a big sailor, bay of biscay a no no she says. Hope you post more videos of this trip👍 safe sailing and all the best from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. PS have you sailed in Scotland yet? The west coast is breathtaking not to mention the crinan and caledonia canal. If not you should put it on your bucket list you won't be disappointed.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks Al. We are indeed doing a third video on the French canals next week! We did enjoy Scotland sailing first the Crinan then north to the Caledonian and on to Orkney and Shetland before sailing on to Norway. Then we sailed back to the west coast and loved it!! Gorgeous area for sure👍👍

[@almath9987]

@@DistantShoresTV thanks for taking the time to reply 👍👏 yes it is a lovely part of the world though i might be bias as i live here. Keep my boat on the firth of clyde great crusing ground, unti the kids grow up and we can go further a field. Thank you both for taking the time and effort to post videos it is greatly appreciated 👏👏👏 safe sailing.

[@scarletbegonias2359]

WOW, yeah, just WOW

[@tentimes4]

that's fantastic. thank you

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

Je parle francais come une vache espagniole. Laughed so hard!

[@jackfrossed7965]

mooooo

[@obkcaptain]

I have seen at 01:30, that it is preferable to use the other end of the boat hook to keep the boat separated from the wall in the lock

[@rontaylor4235]

The BEST!!!

[@englishmaninfrance661]

Fascinating & beautifully made video, I subbed immediately

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks and welcome aboard!

[@philandlyra3365]

Absolutely epic!! Did I say that already? Haha

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks Phil & Lyra 😊😍❤️

[@derby1263]

With a boat that expensive and that beautiful. Would not be feasible to have distance sensors on the side of the boat. to indicate to the helmsman in feet and inches the distance to the locks walls.. then you can use your bow thrusters to adjust quite easily away from the walls. But then again if I had a boat that beautiful i would wrap it in bubble wrap.. my nerves simply wouldn't take the stress. Happy sailing Adventures be safe

[@hughnorman5869]

The Erie Canal screams for use. Perhaps when you get home you will have time to visit New York State.

[@DistantShoresTV]

We went through the Erie a few years ago and LOVED it!! Check out our video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ3MqYV7hriHgqs

[@yanassi]

Such a crossing is a dream. No sails, what was the fuel costs to cross france?

[@kz4506]

How are these locks for draft , I imagine not every yacht could transit these , you must had done you home work before you set off , so well done I think I would had just sailed the distance , with the pile board we rub soap on it to help it slip or candle wax last better good luck

[@DistantShoresTV]

Limiting draft is 1.8 meters... and the height was 3.5 meters so we had to keep the mast low on deck so as not to scrape it under any bridges 👍😊

[@darrylbeattie737]

Amazing .....D Beattie

[@supershane1960]

Man, would love to do this one day. What's the smallest Southerly you can get with a swing keel?? Be great to know what to start with... ;-}

[@DistantShoresTV]

In the old days they built a 30 but more recently they built a32 and an excellent 35 footer (called a 110) and all had the swinging keel 😅 it was such a fun trip

[@supershane1960]

Distant Shores TV; Thanks for that. Looking forward to more of your adventures... ;-}

[@maritimetees2315]

Cost? Great video!

[@DistantShoresTV]

For current fees you can check out this website ... www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/navigation-fees/

[@PaulR-ob2gw]

Where did you enter to do the canals sailing from england

[@wilsmith6551]

How about your keel...I missed that....Thanks!

[@iainlyall6475]

lovely. are you in touch with sailing ruby rose? i believe they're close to going through the canals this years.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes they are good friends and we have kept in touch. They just finished the canal trip 4 days ago :-) looks like they had a great trip.

[@navegandomivandestadt34]

What is the maximum draft to go through??

[@Visionery1]

Nice video, but why have you locked the download option on some, including this one?

[@wilsmith6551]

So is it only one way? Through the locks? What type of boat do you have? Length and width? Thanks

[@jdlambert8]

What's the maximum draft and air draft to go all the way through France?

[@DistantShoresTV]

1.8m draft 3.5m air draft. But it is slightly less (3.1 or 3.4) on some of the alternative canal routes. check French Waterways link in description :-) Enjoy!!

[@jdlambert8]

@@DistantShoresTV Thanks! (I tried the French Waterways link, but didn't find the clearance info.)

[@derby1263]

I have given up on my bucket list it's getting bigger by the day. It's the size of a trash can right now

[@johnwood2596]

Clean that sea strainer on a daily basis right

[@denevs12]

Great video! Did you do staande mast route in the Netherlands?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes we did a previous cruise UK-Netherlands (Waddenzee) - Denmark - Sweden - then came back via the Netherlands using the Standing Mast route to Amsterdam in the fall. It was a great trip. We did film that in our Season 7 of the Distant Shores Television show.

[@denevs12]

Distant Shores TV great i look it up. We will do the SMR this summer Lelystad to Zeeland.

[@philandlyra3365]

Epic!! Do u need to pay a passage fee to do this?

[@DistantShoresTV]

😊 Yes there is a fee for the cruising permit for the waterways/locks... check the info in our links in the description. We thought it was pretty reasonable ....

[@BeeRich33]

Might want to hit the Canal du Midi before all those trees are gone.

[@zzebowa]

Must have been scary, it turned you grey mate!

[@SnapshotSniper]

Have you ever had a trawler?

[@DistantShoresTV]

No we've always had a sailboat but a trawler would be great for the European canals ... also USA "Great Loop" as well!

[@popuptoaster]

What is the height limit on the French canals?

[@rogerstevens4818]

Do you need a qualification ie attend a course to navigate the french canal system

[@garywsmith70]

🌈💕😎

[@elcid749]

What was the min depth and max beam you encountered? I draw 6.4 ft. (beam 14ft) but would love to do this trip!

[@DistantShoresTV]

The canal trip was great! You would be OK for beam which is limited to 5m (16 feet) but limiting depth in the smaller canals is just 1.8 meters which sadly equals 5'11". You can do the big rivers such as the trip up from Le Havre to Paris or the med up the Rhone Saone...