Normandy Cruise '26
The time has come for us to stage another attempt on the Normandy beaches. In late summer 2026, we will be taking three boats on a cross-channel expedition. The only thing that can stop us will be radically adversarial weather. Which, to be fair, is what thwarted our last attempt.
Our first objective will be St-Vaast, on the westernmost end of Utah sector. We will depart Friday night on Augst 28th, and put in a hard 90NM sail to make the tidal gate at St-Vaast
Sunday morning, we will hop over to Juno, bypassing Omaha but getting a great look at it. Our destination is Courseulles-sur-Mer. Along the way, we plan to see the last remaining Mulberry Harbor in between Omaha and Juno, possibly anchoring for lunch nearbyWe will overnight in Courseulles, with the intention of moving further east down the coast Monday morning to Oustehem, and making our way down the lock into Caen. This is home to the famous Pegasus Bridge.
On Tuesday, we plan to make our final hop down the coast to Honeleur, and spend all of Wednesday exploring this lovely old town. Thursday evening, we plan to set back to the Solent. This will be a long passage, 110NM or so.
This trip is obviously focused on Normandy as the site of the D-Day landings, but we will be visiting some beautiful harbours and charming downs. The Normandy coastline is technically challenging, we have tidal gates and lock restrictions throughout the trip.
Because this is a cross-Channel passage, expect some intense sailing. This is no mere booze cruise (though once we reach Normandy we do intend to have fun). Weather and sea conditions will have a major impact on how this all goes.
For those keen on gaining passage experience, this will be an excellent opportunity to take part in night sailing, tidal navigation, and coastal pilotage in one of the most interesting cruising grounds close to home.
Once across, the rewards are plenty: great cruising, historic sites, excellent food, and a variety of ports that range from bustling fishing harbours to quiet, lock-protected basins that open only for a few hours around high water.
As always, final plans will depend on weather and tides, but the aim is to combine adventure under sail with time ashore to enjoy Normandy's food, wine, and culture.
COST: The price of this weekend is £500 person (not including food & drink or mooring fees and fuel which will be shared amongst all on board).
A deposit payment of £250 will be due upon booking and the balance of £250 will be due no later than 1st May '26 (this transaction will be invoiced via your GC mandate - please diarise)
Please sign up & pay online to secure your place.
T&C's, Safety and general information can be found on the club website at www.lcsc.org.uk/yacht-cruises/yachting-general.
Please make sure you have read and understood these before signing up. Please ensure you have appropriate personal and travel insurance in place.
Last updated 11:36am on 2 December 2025