I went to Avranches again on Sunday on the very high tide. I had to make a night sailing some of the way and I arrived in the bay of Mont St. Michel just before dawn. The tidal flow in the estuary of the river Sée was incredibly strong and there were large items of debris everywhere. The estuary itself had silted up considerably over the winter and the depths were less in places than they were last year. Although I was on my own this time I only ran aground once, however I nearly took my A-frame off when I misjudged my air draft going under a bridge. On the way out the next morning I encountered the largest tidal bore I've seen in the bay. It must have been three feet high and travelling at about 6kts. Unfortunately my camera had packed up by then so I couldn't get any footage of it nor any of Mont St. Michel on the way home. I stopped off there for half an hour to wash the boat; the tide was so high I could have moored up in the main street. Anyway, here's the video:
Sounds like another excellent adventure with a couple of hair raising moments. Did the tidal bore affect you, or were you out of the way by then? This is still on my 'to do' list, so don't get bored of going just yet
On the way out the next morning I encountered the largest tidal bore I've seen in the bay. It must have been three feet high and travelling at about 6kts. Unfortunately my camera had packed up by then so I couldn't get any footage of it nor any of Mont St. Michel on the way home.
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Hi there
If your curious, the tidal bore is locally refered to as 'Le Mascaret'...hence the reason why you can find restaurants and bar/tabacs in Pontaubaut, Courtils and Avranches with this name. Every year Pontaubault organise a 'fete' appropriately called 'la fete du Mascaret' with it taking place this year the 20th March. If im not at work then we try to attend as its quite a nice day out, sitting on the banks of the river in the picnic area under the (new) railroad bridge watching the surge roll in....can be quite spectacular. Two years ago over 1200 people attended which is quite a lot for this area!
You should try to time one of your crossings over here to coincide with the fete, would make a good day out.
Simon
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C'est pas l'homme qui prend la mer, c'est la mer qui prend l'homme....
Every year Pontaubault organise a 'fete' appropriately called 'la fete du Mascaret' with it taking place this year the 20th March. If im not at work then we try to attend as its quite a nice day out, sitting on the banks of the river in the picnic area under the (new) railroad bridge watching the surge roll in....can be quite spectacular. Two years ago over 1200 people attended which is quite a lot for this area!
You should try to time one of your crossings over here to coincide with the fete, would make a good day out.
Simon
Hi Simon,
I was in Pontaubault with the boat last autumn and there was about 500 people watching the mascaret arrive in the evening. I may well try and come down on the 20th of March; the tide will be very high indeed (coefficient 118).
Keith: the bore was big but I enountered it on a straight part of the river so I could anticipate it in advance.
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