(see photos below)

It was a poignant moment when four cruisers from Dell Quay visited the Mulberry Anchorage at Arromanches in May. We may have been three weeks ahead of the 70th anniversary of D Day, but that did not prevent us contrasting the beauty of this spot on a warm spring afternoon with the horrors of the past of which the remains of the Mulberry units are a great reminder.

Sandpiper (Peter Elford, Dick Cole and Sue), Harami (Tim Applewhite and Spence), Fairwind (Sue and Barrie Pearson) and Niobe (Bill Greening and Kip Moore) had made an easy passage to St Vaast 2 days before and then spent a day enjoying everything that port could offer. St Vaast had few visiting yachts in this second week in May which made it more special than usual. We were now on our way to Ouistreham and conditions were just right to fulfil an ambition to anchor in the limited shelter of Arromanches and wait out some foul tide for a few hours.

Having locked into the canal at Ouistreham in the late evening, we spent the night in its pretty marina and then joined the morning convoy (well, it was us and one other boat!) to Caen. This involves waiting at the Pegasus Bridge for “Monsieur” to open up and let us through, before doing the same at the other two bridges before Caen. Here we spent two nights right in the middle of the city. Kip and I visited the Memorial Museum on the outskirts of town and found it to be one of the best on the Second World War we had seen.

Going north again we were the convoy! We were joined by a few other boats in the lock before enjoying they best pure sail of the trip for the 5 miles east to Dives-sur-Mer and its modern but attractive Port Guillaume Marina. Dives claims that William the Conqueror left from there in 1066 and there is a large tablet in the church listing the nobles who sailed with him. The centre of the town is very attractive as are the neighbouring holiday towns of Houlgate and the more modern Cabourg.

The weather was starting to break up, but we were blessed with southerlies for the next few days. Sandpiper and Harami had to make for home from Dives having run out of time and made an early morning start. Fairwind and Niobe planned to make a final stop in Deauville/Trouville, but on hearing that the yacht club there was full with race boats, decided on another day in Dives. In fact it was 2 days awaiting a sensible forecast, but in the event all 4 boats made fast passages home in southerly winds of force 4 to 5.

Arromanches had been a first for all of us, and only 2 of us had been to Caen by water before. The sun shone for the first 2 thirds of our time away, the food was good and the company excellent. As Peter said, “what more does a man (or woman) need!”

Bill Greening

Niobe

Anchored at Aromanches

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Mulberry Remains

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The "Convoy"

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Caen's small Marina

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Locking Out at Ouistreham

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