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IN AT THE DEEP END
The plan: to set up and operate a family-run boat-hire business offering self-drive weekly cruises on the Canal du Midi based at Le Somail.
The family: Barry,his wife Alison and their son James.
 Everything had been planned by the book. From the four month 'research trip' the previous year (2001) to the professional advice taken from a UK based firm of 'French' experts. This advice was expensive and as it happened a complete waste of time.A visit to the Chamber of Commerce in Narbonne soon confirmed that boat businesses in France have a unique structure and have to comply with unique regulations regardless of their size. The experts in the UK,unfortunately, were not party to this information.Throw out the business plan and start again.Lesson one!
Our second dilemma was finding a house. Initially, a canal-side property combining family accommodation and the boat yard seemed ideal and yet there were problems. There was no local school in Le Somail and there were few children.Our eight year old son,James,had been promised both. There were no shops in Le Somail and a large majority of summer-only residents.We had seen from our experience the previous year that Le Somail transforms from a bustling seasonal resort to a ghost town in winter. We settled on a compromise and bought a house in a village closer to Narbonne with shops,a school and all-year round children.The boat-yard would have to wait and in the mean-time we would operate our business from home and off the quay-side.
AT THE HELM
 Our first season was a steep learning curve. Clients found us via the internet and we were amazed at their diversity. They came from as far afield as Australia, South Africa and Saudi-Arabia!
We had to deal with water shortages,lock-keeper strikes and soaring temperatures.It was that very,very,hot summer. Our clients are certainly the most important focus of our business.We could provide quality, well-maintained and clean boats at very attractive prices but we wanted to become a unique boat-hire business amongst the plethora of others offering their services on the Canal du Midi. To achieve this aim our attention has centred on the personal service we can offer. All enquiries and bookings are made by Barry or myself and we enjoy helping with pre-holiday preparations.Whilst Barry scrubs the decks, services the boats and carries out running repairs, I ensure each boat is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the next clients.
On the day of departure we spend an average of two and a half to three hours on board the boat with the clients .I explain all the safety features of the boat,demonstrate the functioning of appliances and talk about the rules and regulations, generally giving handy hints, anything I think will add to the clients enjoyment of their cruise. Barry then escorts the clients down the canal for an in-depth demonstration of the boat handling and manoeuvres. He doesn't get off until the clients are happy! (Makes a stark contrast to 'this is your boat,there are the keys now,read the manual and off you go!).
We have had our moments: Trips to the airport to pick up clients blood-pressure tablets left on the plane. Clients jumping off the boat and breaking a leg-before departure. Mutiny!The rest of the crew on a boat had a vote of no confidence in their captain and Barry had to pilot them back down the canal,took three days!
OPENING A BOATYARD
After four hard seasons without a base, during which time we had researched every habitable building in le Somail as a possibility. After ferrying tools, linen and bikes backwards and forwards and working off the quayside in all weathers-usually hot, we managed to find the perfect building for our base.
In April this year we officially opened the BELLE DU MIDI CRUISES boatyard. Right on the quayside and well-positioned ,it forms part of an old cave and comes complete with storage and workshop.
We soon expanded to display and offer work by local artists,to sell general chandlery goods and following the closure of a local business,to offer bike-hire! James mainly took over the bike-hire in the long summer holidays helping to repair and service the bikes.Barry enjoyed talking to the stream of visitors from all four corners of the globe about life on the canal!
We operate modern river cruisers and an older more traditional boat, always proving popular with returning visitors.Over the last couple of years we have seen a marked increase in clients from Eastern Europe - Slovenia,Slovakia,Poland and the Czech Republic. The French surprisingly only make up 10% of our business.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE WINTER THEN?
Our most frequently asked question! Well, rather than putting our feet up and having a five-month rest there's work to be done! (Although after seven months of being 'on call' 24/7 without a day off,it does rather feel like a rest!). The boats have to be lifted out of the water,repaired painted and anti-fouled.They have worked incessantly from March to October.Their engines need servicing,woodwork varnishing,curtains and upholstery cleaned.The list is endless.
The vast majority of our bookings are made in the winter months for the following season so a large part of the day is spent answering queries and writing e-mails. I make the occassional visit back to the UK to work for a week or two.(As an optometrist I neeed to practice from time to time to keep my qualification.) Barry stays and holds the fort. James,now fourteen, is in his final year of collège in Narbonne. He plans to take his boat pilots licence as soon as he is able at sixteen.
If you are in Le Somail please look out for our office,well-signposted on the information boards.
For more information about our boats please visit our website;
or telephone: 00 33 (0)4 68 83 53 94 / 00 33 (0)6 31 24 38 63
Le Somail is situated ~15 km to the North-west of Narbonne and on the Canal du Midi between Homps and Capestang.
- Alison Entwistle
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