For many a cruising sailors, there is strong appeal to exploring the canals of Europe, with the mast down, on the dozens of navigable canals. Leaving the North Atlantic for a season of quietly motoring through the French countryside, stopping in villages, sampling wine and cheese at local markets, all sounds idyllic.
Theonly hitch is you need to spend your days going through the locks that make the connections between canals, rivers and inland lakes possible. Some of the locks are hundreds of yars old. Often the locks will fit only one boat at a time.
Or, you mayt find yourself on the Canal du Midi in the south of France that has locks large enough for several boats and thus exposes you to encounters with the many charter boats, often with inexperienced skippers. These boats are nicknamed “bumper boats” and are well fendered.
Here’s a good look at what one couple learned as they locked their way across Europe.
