SAÔNE TO SEINE BASINS - VOÛTE (POUILLY TUNNEL)

We've been navigating in the Sôane/Rhône basin for almost a year. However, the other day we crossed the watershed into the Seine basin on our way to Auxerre, Paris and many other places. This crossing involved the Voûte or Pouilly Tunnel. It's quite a piece of engineering 3330m long and very low, completed in 1832. It has quite a reputation in French canal circles. Not many people 'do' the Voûte, in fact we heard that on average there are only 2 boats passing through the tunnel a day in the navigation season. Prior to undertaking the tunnel we had to strip down Soraya, the first time since leaving the Thames, as we were too tall. Off with the wheel house, the blue board/wind generator, crane, flag etc. We were then given instructions, sign a liability form, a departure time, a permit du passage and a VHF radio by the canal staff.

Soraya ready for the off, all stripped down.

Entering the tunnel is quite spooky, it's so long and only partially lit. The width is barely wider than Soraya and the height as can be seen from the photographs not much higher even in a stripped down state.

Yes it was very tight.

The good news is, it's straight so you can see the end, although it took us 1 hour 15 minutes to complete. It seems a lot longer than an hour and a quarter when navigating 80 tons of steel with only a few centimetres spare on either side. We also had to wear life jackets, a requirement.

Geoff focusing on the 'light at the end of the tunnel'.

At either ends of the tunnel there are a kilometre length of 'cut' which is almost as difficult to negotiate, as it is the same width as the tunnel plus it bends.

The canal cut out of the tunnel.

Looks more like a drainage ditch than canal but this is the link between Paris and the Saône and hence the wine region of the Bourgogne. Originally the barges were pulled by hand through the tunnel by 6 men. This took ~10 hours for the transit. Steam driven tug boats were then used in 1867 but the fumes from the coal fired boats caused deaths by asphyxiation. An electric tug was later introduced in 1893 which was successful until its retirement. Now it's over to yourself. A great experience.

The electric tug in its preserved state next to the canal in a shelter supported by cardboard tubes.