But in many parts of the world where river freight is an active industry, long navigable stretches are open to much larger craft. In France, the Saône River north of Lyon stretches for more than 200 km (125 mi) with a gauge of 187 m long by 12 m wide (610’ x 40’), with an air draft of 4.8 m (15’9”) and a draft of 3.5 metres (11’6”). Over the 510 km (315 mi) stretch between Saint-Jean-de-Losne and the Mediterranean, there was plenty of space for the Bali 4.2 we discovered at Seurre, in the Côte d’Or region. The catamaran - stripped of its rig, of course - is aptly named L’inattendu, which means “the unexpected”, and is used for event-type charters but is also available for rental. On the program: discovering of the superb château at Pouilly-sur-Saône and swimming in a setting that couldn’t be either quieter (even in the height of summer) or greener.
