Report. “I became a freshwater sailor”: meeting river cruise enthusiasts

Early in the morning, the river port of Saint-Jean-de-Losne in Saône-et-Loire comes alive. Some people drink coffee or smoke cigarettes on the pontoon of their boats. Others empty the trash. Among themselves, boaters lend a helping hand and chat heartily.

Michel Baduel is a regular here. A native of Toulouse, he sails his boat, the Dageraad , only in the summer. This 73-year-old retiree acquired the boat twenty-five years ago.

"Since I was 17, I've been sailing a lot, on sailboats, at sea. Today, I've become a freshwater sailor. River sailing is calmer , less sporty. There are no waves, no heeling (transverse inclination of a ship, editor's note)." He likes to live to the rhythm of the canals. "It's peaceful, we go at 6 kilometers per hour. We visit France from the garden side. It's the anti-stress formula for vacations."

The septuagenarian is a member of the ANPEI (National Association of Inland Waterway Boaters), where he is fighting against the closure of canals that are threatened with one day becoming impassable due to lack of maintenance. "Due to global warming and drought, some canals are currently closed because there isn't enough water. This is the case with the Canal des Vosges and the canal between Champagne and Burgundy. The Canal du Centre is closed until March 2026. To make the North-South connection, the only option left is the Burgundy Canal, and we don't know for how long..."

German photographer Mike B., 63, has been sailing with his wife for a year. He chose this more "relaxed," "slower" mode of travel, "to slow down a bit." There are also ecological motivations behind it. "The boat is rather slow to save a bit. We only use one of the two engines, so we consume less. And then, we're going to integrate solar panels on the ship to be a little more independent in terms of electricity."

Fernand Costa, 75, from Chartres, has traveled all over France and part of Europe aboard his boat, Maestro , with his wife. He has visited northern Holland, Belgium and Germany.

A means of transportation that soothes his hyperactive side. "There's a huge difference between today's roads and the calm of the boat. It's truly a state of mind. We have the opportunity to explore landscapes at a fantastic pace."