Rance Rally - Easter Weekend
Published 15:09 on 7 Mar 2022
Registration is now open for our first rally of the year the Rance cruise over Easter weekend. Whilst this may seem a way off, in this new normal, a lot of things have to be booked in advance, so please do submit your registration form quickly to avoid disappointment there will be NO possibility of joining this event a few days beforehand when you see the forecast. The event is open to all types of boat and the planned itinerary (subject to weather, etc) is as follows:
Friday 15th April
Travel to St Malo to arrive in time for the first lock into the inner Bassin Vauban on the late afternoon tide. Cruising in company will be an option, or just join us there at your leisure. This will coincide with the arrival of the yachts taking part in the RCIYC Commodores Cup race. All crews are required to clear Immigration with St Malo Douanes on arrival. We have been allocated rafting moorings alongside the inner basin quay, as both Vauban and Port Sablons marinas will still be full with winter contract boats. Electricity and/or water will be available, but need advance booking. There will be a complimentary drinks reception at the Hotel Chateaubriand, just inside the walls of the city, followed by the option of a meal there (a £10 deposit is payable), or make your own choice of eating venue.
Saturday 16th April
We lock out of St Malo and through the Rance Barrage in time for the lunchtime closure and make our way up the beautiful Rance estuary to Plouer marina before the sill closes at 15:00. The ever-helpful Liliane will welcome us at Plouer marina, where space again needs to be reserved in advance. There will undoubtedly be some pontoon drinks in the early afternoon, before we all head for the La Cale restaurant, near the marina for the dinner that has been arranged for all, (again a £10 deposit is payable), with a complimentary welcome drink first.
Sunday 17th April
We head out in the morning to travel up to Dinan, again passing through the Chatelier lock before the lunchtime closure. Nothing formal is organised in Dinan, apart from the moorings, with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from during the afternoon and evening.
Monday 18th April
The return journey to Jersey at your own pace on the morning tide or stay a little longer if you are able. Dont forget to go to St. Malo to check out with the Douanes on departure.
Please click this link to register for the Rance Rally then a deposit of £10 per person for the meal at Plouer, and a further £10 per person for the meal in St Malo, to the Club office by bank transfer, card payment on the phone, cheque to St Helier Yacht Club, or if all else fails - cash. Please note that late entries cannot be accommodated. The menus and further details will follow by email to all Members registering.
We have a few Members who are willing crew, but dont have a boat of their own. If you have a spare space on your boat and would be willing to take on some volunteer crew, please note it on your registration form.
Finally, please note that there is no longer a requirement for Covid testing to travel to France, as long as you are fully vaccinated and boosted. Although the requirement to show your vaccine status certificate (usually using the TousAntiCovid app) is due to be dropped before our trip, it remains the responsibility of every skipper to ensure that they keep up to date on the current regulations and that all their crew are carrying the relevant certificates and vaccine passes. Whilst we will endeavour to ensure that everyone has the latest information, the Club cannot be responsible for anyone refused entry because of missing paperwork.
We do hope the weather will be kind to us and we can repeat the success of the last Rance Cruise in 2019. We hope you can join us on this, and future rally events.
Favourable Winds,
Deborah (chair) and Rally Committee.