where shall we go?

chubby

chubby

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2 weeks from july 12 to 24th heading off from Portsmouth but where to? 10m motorsailer with SWMBO and daughters, some years we plan meticulously with crew changes accross the channel by plane or ferry but this year have planned nothing and said we will see how the weather shapes up etc, freedom or scope for indecision? Normandy, Britanny, Channel is, west country, east ????? A bit too early to look at the weather but I think the heat wave will have gone and a bit more unsettled maybe but beter than last year is my guess, so where shall we go and not SWMBOs suggestion of Newport and an IOW bus rover ticket!
 
Rather depends what SWMBO and girls want to do.

Have you been to Sark? A magical destination, and very out of the ordinary. Went there for one of the May Bank Holiday weekends and that goes down as one of my best ever trips. Had a great time showing my crew around (3 of whom had never been there).

Clearly, for two weeks that would be part of a bigger itinerary to France and the Channel Islands.
 
I look forward to the answers as I have a similar dilemma at the end of July - in particular does anyone have views on the value of going East rather than West from Cherbourg?
 
East from Cherbourg can be excellant too.

A few years ago, we did Poole>Cherbourg > St Vaast > Carentan > Grandcamp Maisy > Ouistreham > Caen > Ouistreham > St Vaast > Cherbourg > Poole over 18 days in our Jaguar 25.

A good mix of small fishing ports, towns, and a city with places to escape from the world, or meet it head on. If WW2 and the Normandy landings hold any interest for you, you'll not get bored.
 
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does anyone have views on the value of going East rather than West from Cherbourg?

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I did that on my first French holiday, when I had to return to the Blackwater. The Normandy beaches are quite samey, the ports such as Courselles are nice enough, but the scenery is as interesting as the fens, from a distance, but with sandy beaches. Most ports are tidal and half way up a drying river. Mind you, it's worth going from St Vaast to Courselles once in your life, just to see the Mulberry harbour. Once you get up towards Honfleur and so on it gets more interesting.
 
We went East from Cherbourg last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact so much so that we will do similar this year taking in the ports we bypassed last year. Plenty of museums and history should the weather turn. People very friendly. Fully recommended and worth exploring.
 
Been east a few times, our favourites are St Vaast, Carentan, Caen, Honfleur and Fecamp. That's a good variety of places for a couple of weeks. Caen is a bit of a pain because you really need a minimum of 3 days to spend 1 night there, but the city is well worth it. We also did a day trip to Bayeux on the train, can't remember where from though.
 
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in particular does anyone have views on the value of going East rather than West from Cherbourg?

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Others have commented on the specifics of individual ports to the East, so this is just my overall observation.

If you head east then, once you have left St Vaast astern you have two choices: either to keep going east or to retrace your steps. The prevailing wind is W or SW but, if you were unlucky and a persistent E wind set in then you are faced with a choice of pressing on to windward or turning back.

If you head off west from Cherbourg then, once you have rounded Cap de la Hague, there will always be somewhere you can sail to that isn't directly upwind.

Just a thought.

I am biased. Country of origin = Jersey
 
We are going similar time. If its westerly we plan on Cherbourgh, Alderny, maybe Sark, Falmouth, Salcombe, Darmouth, Poole. If its easterlies to start with, the above but in reverse.

St Vaast is nice. Nobody has mentioned Daueville and Truville (sorry about the spelling, I think). Girls will love them, your wallet will certainly not! Was £5 a pint when I was last there some, 8 years ago. Hate to think what it is now.

Which ever way you go have fun.
 
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Nobody has mentioned Daueville and Truville (sorry about the spelling, I think). Girls will love them, your wallet will certainly not! Was £5 a pint when I was last there some, 8 years ago. Hate to think what it is now.

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I think someone mentioned Honfleur, which is pretty close.

I'll second your support for Deauville/Trouville (as I believe they are spelt /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif). That is a great destination for a couple of days. Some fabulous restaurants, a really good street market (on Saturday if I recall correctly) and then you can blow a fortune in the casinos.

Yes. They are expensive, but great.
 
We have gone east from Cherbourg, very good cruising if a bit gentle compared to the channel islands, St Vaast is a favourite, lots of other ports a day hop from each other, mostly tidal locks gates but SWMBO doesnt mind as walk ashore, can go up the caen canal, Honfleur is picture postcard, Le harve if you like modern french post war building, Fecamp, I could go on, why aren`t we going, well did it last year!
 
I like boat44`s itinery, both france, channel is and the west country! we have done lots of channel crossings from the solent to france, any different considerations for ch is to falmouth, should be a good sail in a prevailing SW wind?
 
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