We can already speak of relief. The port of Chantereyne in Cherbourg is once again taken over by the boats of foreign tourists, from the start of these summer holidays in July. The total attendance even increased by 22% on the first half of 2022 compared to the last reference year, 2019.”We had two fairly catastrophic years due to the impossibilities of navigation due to the health crisis. It’s off to a great start with figures that exceed the data for 2019, which was already a very good year at the time, so we’re really very happy. It’s very very encouraging but we’ll see how it evolves on the peak of the season in July-August“, says the director of the marina, Céline Boutinaud.
Nevertheless, it is not quite the same public that moors in Cherbourg if we compare the data from previous years. There are many more German tourists : up 60% compared to 2019.”This is probably due to the restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom with Brexit, such as the obligation to present a passport rather than an identity card to enter the territory. But the Germans were very fond of England and they seem to fall back on the Normandy coasts“, explains Céline Boutinaud.
The British less present than usual
“We also have Dutch and British returning, but not yet fully to the extent of what we have known in the past. We have a lot of boaters who have already been here. Anyway, as soon as the British and European public pass by here, they stop, we are a bit of a must“, she continues. This is the case of Greg, an Englishman, originally from Winchester, in the south of the country. He has been coming almost every year for 27 years and is setting foot in France for the first time since the health crisis: “We sailed a little during the covid period on the English west coast, but that’s it. So coming back here is great! It’s a great place!“
Bad surprise on the other hand for some boaters, turned away this Monday for lack of space, since the port of Chantereyne hosts the Drheam Cup from July 13 to 17. Several sailboats are already moored there.