GRAVELINES is something of an anomaly on this part of the French coast—a small rather sleepy old town with little trace of heavy industry or commercial traffic which managed to escape much damage in WWII. The downside for yachtsmen is that the entrance channel dries, and the lock to the Bassin Vauban is no longer operational so that when the water disappears you have to take the ground. The mud however is sufficiently soft that fin keel boats have no difficulty staying upright, notwithstanding a skipper’s initial anxieties.

Approaches present no real problems and the entrance channel is not difficult to identify being about 2 miles west of the massive Port Ouest, where the Dunkerque ferries dock, and the adjacent nuclear power station. For safety you should time your visit about an hour either side of HW. The Bassin is round to the right at the end of the long entrance channel, and once inside the visitors’ berths are on the starboard side, though when we were last there there wasn’t much competition.

Maritime facilities are satisfactory with a couple of chandlers on the quay and lifting gear if required, but social ones are a touch basic. The old fort is worth a visit as is the attractive stone built main square of the town which is about a quarter of an hour’s walk. Eating opportunities are unexciting.

© 2008 Yachtpilot