The French connection

From the romantic canals of Paris to the spectacular cruising of south Brittany , France offers many appealing places to keep your boat.

The proximity between gorgeous locations provides endless opportunities for short hops, meaning you see more of the country and cut down on fuel costs too!

There are many things to consider when choosing where to berth and different areas of France are famous for having their own distinctive character.

Read the full feature in the May 2010 issue of Motor Boats Monthly ...

Northern France and Belgium The nearest location to the UK for a French base is somewhere on the coastline between Calais and the border with Belgium .

Although not one of the prettiest parts of France , you quickly get a feeling of being abroad, and most of the harbours are all-tide ports , making access more straightforward.

Calais itself is dominated by the frequent ferry movements and access to the marina is limited to two to three hours either side of high water.

Read the full feature in the May 2010 issue of Motor Boats Monthly ...

Normandy coast For south coast boaters that are starting to look further afield, the first place on the horizon is France's Normandy coast .

Tidal harbours and long approaches across drying sandbanks may make it seem daunting at first but once you get the hang of planning your departure and arrival times you should have 'pas de problème', as the French say.

For those interested in military history, the French have done a very impressive job of preserving the historic battle grounds of the Second World War, providing a fitting memorial to those events.

Many, such as Ouistreham , Caen and Grandcamp-Maisy are directly accessible by boat, while others, such as Courseulles-sur-Mer and Bayeux , are a short drive away when you visit by car.

The best way to explore this coastline is from west to east ; that way high water gets later as you progress east, meaning you can leave at high water at one port, and still arrive at the next one in time. Of course, to really make the most of the area, you could base yourself there for a season.

Read the full feature in the May 2010 issue of Motor Boats Monthly ...

Atlantic coast of France The coast of south Brittany offers some of the most spectacular cruising in France, and even though it is open to the Bay of Biscay , there is no need to cruise in rough weather, particularly if you can be flexible about when you go out.

The most difficult navigational challenges are the passages through the Chanel de Four and the Raz de Sein , which are best attempted at slack water and in calm conditions.

Fortunately there are now good marinas at L'Aber Wrac'h and Brest where boaters can wait for the right conditions.

Popular with motorboat owners, La Rochelle is home to one of the largest marinas in Europe and boasts a wide array of maritime services, chandler's and facilities.

Read the full feature in the May 2010 issue of Motor Boats Monthly ...

French canals The French regard their inland waterways as industrial highways and tend to avoid them, but to visitors they are one of the boating highlights and a gateway to the Mediterranean .

Inland cruising gives you the option of getting away from detailed tidal and weather planning, and a chance to head south to the sun.

From the UK one of the quickest routes into the heart of France is via the River Seine . It is almost 200 miles from Honfleur to Paris , of which the first 60 miles to Rouen is tidal and must be done in a single leg.

The remaining 140 miles, including seven locks, can be done comfortably in about four days, although you could also linger longer if you had time to spare.

Picture: Historic Vernnonet, en route to Paris

Facilities inland tend to be more unpredictable than on the coast, and information sources can be unreliable.

In some areas you might find free or low-cost town quays, with electricity and water laid on. Elsewhere, moorings shown in the guidebooks may have disappeared or been left unmaintained.