Yacht transfers through France: Affordable. Professional Safe.
I offer affordable and professional yacht transfers of sailing and motor yachts through the French canal network from the Mediterranean to Germany, the Netherlands, UK or the Baltic Sea.
Next free dates from April 2025
My services
What is it about?
I offer you a modular service for transporting your yacht from the Mediterranean to northern and central Europe. This is done via the river and canal network of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. I operate this service alone, as the passage through the canals can be managed by one person with a little practice. This reduces costs. Boats with the following maximum dimensions are transported: length 16m, height 3.30m, width 5.00m. Draft: Boats with a maximum draft of up to 1.80m can be transported safely and easily. If the boat has a draft of 2m, this may be possible, but some special arrangements are required. The journey from the mouth of the Rhone to the Ruhr area or the Ijsselmeer takes around 21 days. During this time I live on board and usually drive 12 hours a day.
The legally required certificates for inland transfers and, if applicable, sea routes are available. Insurance is available that builds on the normal liability and hull insurance for the boat (professional skipper liability insurance).
Basic
The basic version includes inland transport of a ship that is ready to sail, is a maximum of 16 m long, has a full tank and, if necessary, has the mast down. Depending on its size, the ship needs 8 to 16 fenders. The start/destination port on the Mediterranean is in the mouth of the Rhone, preferably Port-Saint-Louis-du Rhone. The destination in the north is in the inland area in the western area, depending on your wishes: Ijsselmeer, Zeeland, Ruhr area, Emden, Bremerhaven, Hanover, Cologne, Le Havre (to UK) etc. On the way, I take care of everything related to operating the boat: small repairs, refueling, maintenance of the engine and technology.
Expansion
There are hardly any limits to the service of the extension:
- Transfer of the boat from Mallorca, Corsica, Italy, etc. to the Rhone estuary
- Mast laying and scaffolding construction
- Mast erection at the destination
- Boats over 16 m Partial routes
- Accompanying an owner
- Continuing journey to the Baltic Sea via the Kiel Canal or the Elbe Lateral Canal/Elbe-Lübeck Canal
- Transfer to eastern regions, e.g. to Berlin, Dresden or Regensburg
- Transportation of the boat via the Seine and Le Havre to England
Prices
Basic
The passage is made up of various cost factors. The personnel costs for the basic variant are a fixed price of €3000 including tax. The costs for diesel are variable. I have calculated this as an example: 10 m sailing yacht Comfortina 32 with 18 HP: €450 12 m motorboat Atlantic 37 with 2 engines 420 HP: €2800 Vignette France: €130, for the Flemish part of Belgium there may be another vignette if it is sailed. Port fees are rarely charged, as mooring is free in many places: €200 Arrival and departure: €150 by train.
Total costs 10m sailing boat: €3980
Total costs powerful motorboat: €6280
Extension Service
For services to get the boat ready for departure, such as laying the mast, refueling, buying fenders, etc., I charge 14€/hour including tax
Extension Transfer
Every additional day that goes beyond the limits of the basic model, e.g. to transfer to Berlin or Kiel or to bring the boat from Mallorca to the Rhone, costs a fair 120€ extra.
About me
Robert Kirchner, living in the north of Germany near Bremen. He is a teacher for Science.
My name is Robert Kirchner and I am 46 years old. I have been on the water with boats intensively since I was 10 years old: first in an Opti, then in a regatta dinghy. When I was 17, I bought my first small 6.60m keel sailing ship, with which I sailed a wide arc around the British Isles in 2004. There is also a book about it: Rather Rough I currently have a 33-foot sailing yacht, with which I have been to the Caribbean, the Faroe Islands and Norway, among other places. I have all the necessary licenses and have gained a lot of experience on the French canals during parental leave in 2022 and 2023. This experience is what I offer here in addition to my ability to move boats. In addition to English, I also speak French, which is very helpful when planning or making such a transfer.