Tour des Ports de la Manche 2025
April 2025
The dredging of the sandbank at the entry is just finished, so it’s good also. It’s better now to pass near the red pole, please find attached the last picture of yesterday (at low tide)
The dredging of the harbour continues (in the marina and the channel) but there is no problem to come in Carteret : the pipe is locked on the side of the channel, but people must call on VHF channel 9 when they’re arriving to have instructions.
The new harbour office and shower block are open also.
January 2025
The new marina office is now open!
The shower and toilet block is open and there are now washing machines., Note that the facilities are communal. There are no separate men’s and ladies’ facilities.
The showers are good and quite hot! There is no temperature adjustment. They have swinging doors to the shower area, which have strong springs.
Douane arrangements
Officially, Carteret is still a Port of Entry. If you need your passport stamped, because you entered the Schengen area in Cherbourg for example, then you need to inform the Douane with good notice and they will arrange to meet you at the Ferry Terminal at Carteret to stamp your passports.
For most visitors, Carteret has special dispensation that you can complete the form and send it to the Carteret marina office; they will forward it to the Douane and email it back to you with the Douane stamp. With this arrangement, you do not need to get your passport stamped or visit the Ferry Terminal.
Please note: you cannot mix the process. So if you enter the Schengen area with a stamped passport, you need to get your passport stamped on exit. If you enter with a stamped form, then you need to exit with a stamped form.
Beautiful Carteret is a great place to visit. They have carried out major works over the last 2 years, extended and renewed many of the pontoons and even moved the marina entrance to provide a greater expanse of water. Quite remarkable.
Lots of building work next to Le Cap, looks like apartments. (photo April 2025)
F pontoon fingers (for the bigger boats) have 16amp and a larger socket which it says is 400v
Wi-Fi worked OK early in 2024. Each device needs to attach to the WiFi and then enter a code which is provided. You can use the same code on multiple devices. Not so well in August 2024
2025 Tide Tables
Brexit and Covid
You need to complete the following form and send it to both of the email addresses 48 hours before travel.
PDF version-
Microsoft Word version –
They may be able to accommodate you in less than 48 hours but do send it early if you can. The same on your exit.
If you arrive late in the evening, they may let you meet them the following day. If you are leaving early in the morning, they may let you meet them the previous evening. They really are trying to be helpful.
If you go for a day trip, you still need to send your form and carry out passport control.
Please note that the time of arrival or departure needs to be the time you can meet them at the ferry terminal. You need to allow 30mins walk from the marina to the ferry terminal, which is where passport control is carried out. Arriving at the marina at the time you are supposed to meet them will not be good.
www.interieur.gouv.fr/covid-19-internati…
Entering the port
Tide rush
The new lights for the new gate can be seen from seaward don’t rush in if still showing red.
The gate opened at 6.3m of tide at Carteret (Navionics/boating app). The board said 1.8m but the digital gauge said 1.5. As there is a slope over the gate at the first opening I would err on the safe digital value. The digital gauge is blank until the gate opens.
Please note that there is a sign saying that incoming boats should have priority through the gate.
Deepest water
Leaving Port
Carteret is a lovely small town with excellent restaurants.
It is well worth a visit, especially out of high season. Navigation is fairly easy, the trip up the “river” to the marina is good and there is plenty to see and do, especially if you like good restaurants. The nearby Barneville Carteret provides a good long walk or cycle ride and there is a very good beach. Just make sure you plan your timings well so you do not get stuck and beware of the swell for the last 6 to 8 miles if the wind is from the west. Watch out for crab pots and ropes.
Pontoons E and F are the main visitors’ pontoons.
Pontoon E
The odd numbers on the Westside and even numbers on the Eastside.
Pontoon F
The Westside has the longest fingers for the larger boats (50ft+?) and they are very wide. The pontoon is also a little higher. The Eastside does not have fingers.
Pontoons E and F both use the same ramp on the East side to go ashore.
Pontoon M
For very big boats (superyachts) and the Pontoon is even higher than all the others. The ramp to the pontoon is from by the Bar du Port and there are no facilities.
The facilities are still in the Yacht club – and no, they have not been done up. No change there. No jetons are required for the showers.
Bureau du port
Tel – 02.33.04.70.84
Fax – 02.33.04.08.37
e-mail – contact@port-des-isles.fr
VHF Channel 9
They were good at responding and speak good English. They will respond to emails in English which is helpful.
The office has electric bikes for hire which are quite expensive but good fun.
The last 7 or 8 miles into Carteret can be pretty lumpy. Normally this is worse leaving Carteret as you are going into the waves.
Fuelling
Fuelling is on the end of F pontoon.
Electric and Water
The pontoons do have electricity and water. Pontoon F has 16amp
Electric requires you to press a silver button next to the socket which seems to keep the power going for 24 hours and then you need to press it again.
Water is one of the push-in fittings. You can get special fittings or a Hozelock type male hose connector will normally work.
Walk to Barneville
The boat works area to the East of the marina is now fenced off, a secure area and it is not possible to walk through the area. This means you cannot get through there to get to Barneville for the market etc. All the paths have been fenced off.
Instead, walk past the Yacht Club and go to the roundabout and then follow the quiet road toward Barneville. Turn right down the track and then across the bridge. Turn left through the small Hamlet called Tot. See the lavoir on the left and walk past the old train station and over the railway line. Turn left at the small roundabout and that is your quickest route. Despite information to the contrary, it is a good 30 mins walk to the Town centre.
Carteret is an ideal place for bikes and will mean you will get to Barneville in less than 15 mins.
Webcam
www.viewsurf.com/univers/plage/vue/16514…
mairie.barneville-carteret.fr/webcam/
ycbc.asso.st/
Drone video www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRaAqPtv3RM
Great time-lapse video of the time coming up the channel to the marina by Chris de Putron before the new marina was built – youtu.be/sUXtLWvwaQU
Market day
- Thursday morning: Carteret (by the Train station all year round) – fruit, vegetables and bread mostly
- Saturday morning: Barneville-Bourg
- Sunday morning in July & August: Barneville-plage
Car Rental / Hire cars / Taxis
We rented through www.francecars.fr/ for a few days which was very helpful and efficient. Where it says “Modifier l’agence” on the website, type in Cherbourg and then a drop-down list should show Dielette, Carteret Yacht Club, Saint Vaast and of course Cherbourg. They delivered the car on a truck.
Taxis and Ambulances of the Cote des Isles provides good service – Tel +33 (0)2 33 04 61 02
15 SAMU
A reader reported they needed an emergency doctor or hospital. They were advised to call ‘15’ SAMU. This is an emergency response number. Just dial 15.
They can put you through to a doctor with a translator (3-way call), send an ambulance or prescribe medication for collection at the local pharmacy.
SAMU then called the port as they were not allowed to call an international number and asked them to call the reader to confirm the medication was ready for collection. So, all in all, exceptional service from the port, SAMU and the pharmacy.
The reader thought this information would be useful for anyone in a similar position.
11225*