Organized moorings are an alternative to pontoon berths. Learn all about the regulations for mooring your boat.
A berth on a pontoon is excessively expensive for a sailboat. Anchoring can be a very attractive alternative.
Having a berth on a pontoon is convenient, we can all agree on that. However, berths are expensive, both literally and figuratively. waiting lists The berths are very long, and when you finally get your spot and the harbor master announces the hefty fee, your wallet might not be happy, especially for a small sailboat. So, why not consider moorings?
Anchoring, a good alternative to pontoons
Indeed, it becomes ridiculous to imagine building new ports At a time when the recreational boating market is becoming strained, many boat owners are retirees, and the younger generations are not yet present, for buy a boat.
Therefore, mooring proves to be an excellent alternative. Indeed, a buoy is more durable and less harmful to the environment and more affordable. And to top it all off, waiting lists are generally shorter. You might consider having a place, at anchorwithin a few months in certain little-known areas.
The pleasure of being at anchor, tinkering on your boat for a few hours in the afternoon, or even spending the night, on your buoyBefore setting off at dawn, it’s a real joy. A joy that quickly makes you forget the dinghy to get on board, or even the tide, and the mud-caked feet.
We find a lot of anchorage areas, particularly on the Atlantic coast and in Brittany more specifically such as in the Odet or the Gulf of Morbihan, in the Bay of Quiberon. These are managed by municipalities or associationsBut in France, anchoring is regulated. What are the rules for anchoring?
Mandatory authorization
Since 1986, it has no longer been possible to create a mooring without authorization.Remember those old tires filled with cement that we used to plunge into the mud? Well, those days are over. This is article 28 of law no. 86-2 of 3 January 1986 relating to the development, protection and enhancement of the coastline which provides a legal framework for organized moorings. The state does not sell its public space but authorizes its use. The authorization to occupy this space for a mooring or mooring zone is temporary and revocable, and its duration is a maximum of 15 years (renewable).
Within the context of a municipality, you will probably be a tenantBut within the framework of an association, for example, you could be dealership owner and your anchorage (I am referring to the physical anchorage, not the location).
The application for authorization, for an area of moorings and light equipment, must be addressed to the prefect of the department, accompanied by a very complete file. Priority is given to municipalities or their associations.
An individual may also apply, but their application must be well-documented. The permit holder may delegate the management of all or part of the mooring area to a third party and must reserve a certain number of berths for visiting pleasure craft.
The area manager will have to pay a state property fee to the tax authoritiesIn return for the use of the public maritime domain, the manager may in turn collect a fee from users of the area for services rendered.
Anchorage management
Unlike marinas, mooring areas do not must not include permanent structures reclaimed from the sea. Will be authorized equipment allowing launching (example: ramp, hold,…) or the embarkation and disembarkation of people or of materials.
The mooring devices are varied. The aim is to avoid repeated scraping of the seabed by anchors., destructive to fauna and flora.
Regulations, established by the prefect and the maritime prefect, will define the navigation rules in the anchorage area, including buoyage, safety rules, and measures to prevent and combat pollution of all kinds. All of these instructions are made available to users, and the permit holder is responsible for ensuring compliance.
Here are a few things to know about temporary moorings. Beyond these points, it must be acknowledged that leaving your sailboat at anchor, coming aboard for an afternoon of tinkering in the peace and quiet with the birds, or sleeping at anchor the night before setting off the next morning is worth its weight in gold. And it’s far better than trudging through mud. its annex, for some anchorages…