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NORMANDY, BRITTANY AND CHANNEL ISLANDS

Sailing between the banks for the Belgian coast, you will reach the English Channel.
In the distance you can see many ships in the Strait of Dover and on a clear day you will few the White Cliffs.
To the south you will pass some nice towns such as Boulogne, Honfleur, Fecamp (where the monastery of the Benedictine monks is situated) and then approaching the Normandy coast, where the Allied invasion took place. The remains of this invasion are still evident.

St. Vaast is worth visiting and is famous for its oysters. The oysters are grown on the banks lying in front of the port.
Cherbourg is a beautiful French town and a good point for changing crews. With the TGV you travel in nearly one hour in Paris and then there are numerous opportunities to travel further on.

Also sailing from Cherbourg we pass the "Race of Alderney". Between the mainland and the island of Alderney there is a great tidal stream. It is therefore very important to plan the route well. Alderney may be the first island that we visit. Here you anchor in the bay and take a nice walk around the island.

The next island could be Guernsey. . St Peter Port, the capital, is a vibrant city. You can explore the island by bus and in the evening is very pleasant in the city. There are many shops where you can shop duty free. Also, you can sail along the islands Herm and Sark. Two much smaller islands. Weather permitting, we can anchor and use the dinghy to the island for a walk.

The largest island is Jersey. St Helier is the capital and is well worth a visit. There are plenty of attractions on the island. Also, St. Malo on the mainland of Brittany is a possible destination. The difference between high and low tide is approximately 10 meters and that means a precise navigation through the rocks. The coasts of Brittany are fickle. Inlets cut deep into the country. Several islands lie off the coast and it is a very interesting sailing area. You need constantly taking a view of the navigation equipment, because the flow is strong and the difference between the tides are very high. Brest is located at the southwest tip of Brittany. It's a big city with excellent connections. The city, but also the villages around the bay are widely used as a base for crossing the Bay of Biscay to Spain. Who wants to see more of Brittany continues along the coast. Finally you arrive in La Rochelle. A known base for ocean racing. A wonderful journey into a pleasant climate.