An attractive and historic town with all-tide access, Dieppe is really a must for yachtsmen cruising this part of the French coast. Entry presents no hazard from the east, though from the west the Roches d’Ailly, marked by a lit north cardinal, need to be avoided, while closer in there are wrecks. However, these should present no real difficulty. Before entering, call Dieppe Port on VHF Ch 12 (English is acceptable if French is beyond you), and obey traffic signals.

Inside the entrance, proceed past the ferry terminal in the outer harbour towards the various inner harbours until the Port de Plaisance Jehan Ango opens to your right. Before entering call on VHF Ch 9. If you fail to make contact by radio, in season you will probably be greeted by someone who will direct you to an appropriate berth. If not, tie up where you can and make yourself known to the Capitainerie which is on the quay in the SW corner. Once leaving the marina area you will need a code to return to the pontoons.

Though popular, the marina is a large one and there is usually space somewhere, while depth is not a problem for even the largest craft—this is where the ferries used to tie up in years past. The basin is surrounded by attractive old stone buildings and the whole area enhanced with smart paving in the way French civic authorities do so well, the only downside being the noisy industriousness of local fishing vessels which tend not to keep civilised hours.

Once parked up, shopping for tomorrow’s picnic in the streets running west off the port is a joy, while for restaurants you can’t really do better than one of the establishments on the quayside above the marina. Boulangerie on the quay near the northwest corner of the basin. If you have the time it’s worth taking a brisk stroll along the front, at the western end of which is the castle with a museum including ship models, marine paintings and the first piano belonging to the composer Saint-Saëns whose father was a local farmer.

The pontoons, incidentally, are imaginatively named after various French explorers and local privateers. Before leaving we asked at the Capitainerie about the significance of these historical figures and their links to Dieppe. They had no idea.

© 2008 Yachtpilot