westhinder
Well-known member
Port en Bessin is a bit of a hidden treasure and I try to keep it that way ?
Sailing south from cherbourg
- Thread starter ashtead
- Start date
PhillM
Well-known member
I got weather bound in Ouistreham last year so decided to go up the canal to Caen. Had a lovely few days exploring the castle / museums and enjoying being in the heart of the city. Not to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed it. My friends went on to Deauville, but I stayed behind and am saving that for another day.
Frogmogman
Well-known member
Deauville is a bit "Paris sur mer", but a good place nonetheless. Great beach, a good market, some decent restaurants, fancy shops, the casino, the racecourse, three golf courses. Trouville has a different vibe to Deauville, it's viewed in France as being less snobby. If you're on Trouville beach in filthy weather, you can imagine yourself in Monet's famous painting in the National gallery (known to have been painted en plein-air because of all the grains of sand stuck in the paint).
The Cowes Deauville always used to be one of my favorite offshore races (probably because of happy memories of a class win and 2nd place overall in the 1984 event, followed by being marinaded in Champagne and Calvados at the prize giving at the Hippodrome).
peter gibbs
Active member
you can encounter fishing pots all along this coast. Even in quite deep water. Big concentrations off Ouistreham.
Deaville well worth a detour. Nice old town, things to see. Good facilities via lock.
Ouistreham lock leads via canal to Caen - very interesting old town and marina right in the centre.
Fecamp very accessible and charming too. Le Havre - not worth a detour but Honfleur on Seine, absolutely - especially on market day.
Looking west, dep Cherbourg 1.5 hrs before flood tide change at Ca de la Hague. Do not go there in strong SW's. Deep water off the Cap, Run round at slack and soon you are clear of any overfalls. Water looks threatening, be prepared but determined. No heroics inside rocks, and track yourself by large fixed lights.
St Malo is a big pull but the main marina next to ferry port is noisy on visitors pontoons. Inner harbour is crowded and delays through lock can be expected.
From Malo the route to many charming places is wide open. Did it last year and wish I could go right back now. First class - normally.
PWG
ashtead
Well-known member
I am now told Cherbourg has some form of sailing racing event staged on 16th July seems to last a few days but with none of the usual tents ashore blaring out music in case anyone thinking of going there
Tomahawk
Well-known member
If you head south from Cherbourg you will find yourself firmly aground!
Bat me to it..
capnsensible
Well-known member
Not many people bother with the drying harbour at Barfleur. But it's really worth the hassle, I reckon. Mind you, it's been a while since I've sat on the quayside with calvados in hand!
johnalison
Well-known member
One of the advantages of going to Caen is that you can catch a train to Bayeux to see the tapestry. Although it is something we are all familiar with from books, the real thing is truly astonishing and well worth seeking out.
Deauville has a fine covered market where you buy a cheese that will walk itself to your boat, but eating out is easier in Trouville. Another favourite of ours is Dives. The marina there is an example of what Eastbourne ought to have been but wasn't, and a short walk to the town is also rewarding.
Deauville has a fine covered market where you buy a cheese that will walk itself to your boat, but eating out is easier in Trouville. Another favourite of ours is Dives. The marina there is an example of what Eastbourne ought to have been but wasn't, and a short walk to the town is also rewarding.
westhinder
Well-known member
I was there last Monday on the bike and the quay was fully used by fishing boats. I doubt yachts would be given a warm welcome. It is a beautiful place though, well worth a visit.
DJE
Well-known member
We went in once in our previous boat with bilge keels. There was a big sign on the quay dividing the berths into "Pecheurs" and "Plaisanciers". On the pecheurs side the fishing boats were three or four deep and on the other side they were only one ot two deep.
But right at the end there was about 10m of wall with only a dinghy moored to it. We moved the dinghy and squeezed in. Shortly afterwards two more English bilge keepers turned up and rafted on us. The locals were very welcoming and the last boat in was offered a berth alongside the lifeboat!
Very pretty town with pleasant bars and restaurants. I think yachts were a bit of a novelty - several people asked if we were "Les voilliers anglais".
(Tom Cunliffe notes that the quay dries to hard sand so I climbed down at low water to scrub the bottom. There is hard sand there but is covered by a thick layer of crab shells and other fishing debris.)
Sharky34
Well-known member
You need to be checked for Covid, your sense of smell is missing.Well when St Vaast is busy the toilet seat is always warm
masterofnone
Active member
I have been to most of the non drying ports in the bay of the seine. East to West. Dieppe/ v. nice. most weather, worth a visit. Fecamp/ ditto, Honfleur/ V.nice ,but I have heard of some ridiculous rafts in season. Deauville/ Trouville , akin to walking down the champs elysee. Dives, ok marina like disneyland
Ouistreham/ Caen, both well worth a visit. Courselles ,lovely place, buses to most places, arromanche/bayeux, etc. Port en bessin / A fishing port, very few berths. Grand camp maisy , poor , a few visitor berths, St.Vaast . great. Cherbourg great. dielette, a welcome break on a tedious n/bound voyage.
Ouistreham/ Caen, both well worth a visit. Courselles ,lovely place, buses to most places, arromanche/bayeux, etc. Port en bessin / A fishing port, very few berths. Grand camp maisy , poor , a few visitor berths, St.Vaast . great. Cherbourg great. dielette, a welcome break on a tedious n/bound voyage.