Cruising the Normandy Coast

Thoughts for 2021

Some of the cruise participants stopping for midday refreshments

 

With winter fast approaching, boats being laid up & 2020 plans being curtailed due to the health crisis sweeping the world, most sailors are going into sailing lockdown for the winter. But that does not mean that when it is too cold to go “boat fettling”, we cannot start thinking ahead to possibilities for 2021.

In many ways the covid crisis looks to serious to even contemplate long term trips on our own coast, let alone trips to the other side of the channel. On top of that we have no way in knowing if, after the 1st of January 2021 & the full implementation of whatever Brexit deal is done, or not done, we will be welcomed to foreign fishing ports.

The French have been known in the past to chain off ports such as Boulogne for weeks on end & private yachts have been trapped, even though they have been innocent pawns in the disputes.

But we have to be positive & this is how the Normandy tourist board is viewing the situation. They have just uploaded a new website which is particularly relevant to UK yachtsmen. It has a wealth of information about the coastal towns & things to do & see. I have posted a link below.

So for anyone planning a fortnights cruising next year, or sometime in the future, or just dreaming of sailing to distant shores, this site is well worth a look. Who knows we may well organize a cruise for mooring holders sometime in the future if there is enough interest. We have already held a few trips to Boulogne which is a favourite & we hope to have one early 2021 if the covid situation improves. – yes I know what you are thinking- but be positive !!! We have been to Dieppe & most of our regulars want to go again as well as Le Havre. Last year we did a recce of Honfleur by car as part of our “D” day trip & that is definitely on our “to do” list

So have a look at the link below & let us know what you think

Good luck, Have fun

Link for Normandy web page  Normandy coast

 

Pegasus bridge just after it was captured by the allies WW2