St Vaast la Hougue: 5 - 6 September

Avocet · 14 July 2009, 13:37

Having resolved at the start of the year to organise a trip to France, I'm finally getting around to it.

Am proposing to cross from the Western Solent on either Friday 4 September (for a two night stay) or Saturday 5 September (for a one night stay) to St Vaast la Hougue and return on Sunday 6 September.

St Vaast is a small port about 10M south of Barfleur on the Eastern coast of the Cherbourg peninsular and, for those that were on the Alderney run, is about the same distance with a similar crossing time. Entrance to the marina is by a lock gate necessitating an arrival by 12.55 BST on 4 Sept or 13.27 BST on 5 Sept. The town has a camp-site and a number of hotels in a range of price brackets. Details of the town and facilities are available at: http://www.saint-vaast-reville.com/en-GB/index.html (the English site is still under development: let me know if anyone needs any translation!)

We would only want to do the crossing in company: we already have a couple of interested others but does anyone want to join us?

David

Dirk Diggler · 14 July 2009, 14:16

Don't mess about with campsites etc, stay here... http://www.france-fuchsias.com/UK/cadreAn.html

and ask for a table in the conservatory. You'll have a fantastic meal that you'll remember for years to come.

Avocet · 14 July 2009, 14:29

We intend to: but don't tell everyone!

Nos4r2 · 14 July 2009, 14:55

If you're going to Saint Vaast and want something a bit uot of the ordinary to do,it's worth going and taking a look at the fort on Iles Saint Marcouf.

Avocet · 14 July 2009, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

If you're going to Saint Vaast and want something a bit uot of the ordinary to do,it's worth going and taking a look at the fort on Iles Saint Marcouf.

Goddit: 49° 29’ 52.52” N 1° 8’ 46.98” W. Will certainly visit if we're there for two nights.

mark241 · 14 July 2009, 17:33

I did St Vaast last year and would def like to go back on the Rib. Alas we only get back from Brittany the weekend before , but ......if your dates end up getting pushed back for any reason we could be up for it...

Roy Smith · 14 July 2009, 18:07

We went last year with BIBOA great place and subject to work would love to go again, we stoped at the Fushia hotel at £150 a night a tad dear but it was nice
i still have all the way points if you want them
Roy

BassBoy · 14 July 2009, 18:18

Avo
Might well be up for this one. Was there again on the 'mother ship' last month and supplies from Maison Gosselin are already running low!

P.S. Petrol and Diesel available without assistance of harbour office via 'card machine' on the dock a la Tesco! Not cheap though.
P.P.S. Are the other 'interested parties' from the Davis Clan?

Mick Balch · 14 July 2009, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avocet

Having resolved at the start of the year to organise a trip to France, I'm finally getting around to it.

Am proposing to cross from the Western Solent on either Friday 4 September (for a two night stay) or Saturday 5 September (for a one night stay) to St Vaast la Hougue and return on Sunday 6 September.

St Vaast is a small port about 10M south of Barfleur on the Eastern coast of the Cherbourg peninsular and, for those that were on the Alderney run, is about the same distance with a similar crossing time. Entrance to the marina is by a lock gate necessitating an arrival by 12.55 BST on 4 Sept or 13.27 BST on 5 Sept. The town has a camp-site and a number of hotels in a range of price brackets. Details of the town and facilities are available at: http://www.saint-vaast-reville.com/en-GB/index.html (the English site is still under development: let me know if anyone needs any translation!)

We would only want to do the crossing in company: we already have a couple of interested others but does anyone want to join us?

David

Hello David

WP I'm interesed in this one and having small tots would favour the one night stopover as would bring Mrs B this time, she missed out on the Alderney run. Please pencil me in if it works for the saturday - sunday run.

Thanks Mick.

Steve_B · 15 July 2009, 08:11

Hi David

Could you pen me in for this one, the Sat/Sun would be better for us, as Mrs 250kts could not get the Fri off (teacher!).

Regards Steve

Maximus · 15 July 2009, 08:32

Would like to add my name to the list for this one Me and Mrs M that is.Looks good!

Avocet · 15 July 2009, 08:45

From feedback so far, it looks like Sat/Sun is the one to go for. It was my preferred option but thought I'd better offer a choice: I'm not sure that there's more than 24 hours worth of things to do in St Vaast itself (although there are various places to see nearby).

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBoy

Are the other 'interested parties' from the Davis Clan?

Yes: interest expressed when proposed a couple of weeks ago but I haven't mentioned it further since.

LURCHER · 16 July 2009, 18:27

Please put us down on list departing from Chichester 8.5 diesel and 7m with 150 optimax happy with either option .Will liase with Mick B too.

Avocet · 17 July 2009, 14:20

Those interested so far appear to be:

Avocet, BassBoy, Mick Balch, 250kts, Maximus and Lurcher.

I'm away in Scotland from today with difficult internet access (part of the attraction!) so won't be around for the next two weeks. Lack of postings won't mean that I've lost enthusiasm and I'll make contact with the above and any others who express an interest in the meantime, once I'm back.

Roy Smith · 17 July 2009, 17:30

As per my post subject to work comittments
iam in

Avocet · 18 July 2009, 03:14

Sorry, Roy!

You're now added too ...... and I'm away.

David

bedajim · 21 July 2009, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avocet

Sorry, Roy!

You're now added too ...... and I'm away.

David

Yep we're interested in this if it's going to be over the weekend

HumberTiger · 21 July 2009, 19:35

Sounds really good, never actually crossed the channel before but would love to give it a go
David

LURCHER · 21 July 2009, 20:10

We now have three KTNV Lurcher and Tex , 8.5 Humber &m Humber and 6m Osprey

Avocet · 13 August 2009, 19:16

I've restarted this thread as a new one since the one night trip is preferred to the two night one (perhaps JK or the other mods can insert the old posts ahead of this to keep it as a single post?).

Interested parties to date seem to be:

Avocet, BassBoy, Mick Balch, 250kts, Maximus, Lurcher, Roy Smith, bedajim, HumberTiger, KTNV and Tex.

That's the good news .....

.... the bad news is that the two hotels in the town and the two B&B's that do one night stays (the others have two night minimum stays) are all fully booked.

Additionally, the Fuchsias restaurant (attached to the Hotel de France) has given me and Mrs A their last table for the evening of the 5th and have indicated that more people cannot be accommodated. (We are not minded to eat on our own and can cancel the booking.)

Against this, the camp site has indicated that there are plenty of pitches available that week-end and that pre-booking is unnecessary.

Given that the point of the trip was to stay at the Hotel de France (somewhat upmarket but a good pamper) and eat in its restaurant (excellent sea-food), we seem to have been somewhat thwarted, however....

The options seem to be:

1. Go anyway (weather permitting), camp and eat in one of the other restaurants/brasseries (of which there are several) and possibly rearrange another trip more in advance for next Spring.

2. Go somewhere else (Cherbourg? - although I'm open to suggestions)

3. Postpone the crossing to another week-end (although the weather for a suitable crossing is likely to start to deteriorate, and Mrs A and I are in some difficulty getting away for week-ends once term restarts since Master and Miss A have Saturday school)

Given the above problems, I've not yet contacted the harbourmaster to enquire about berths but will need to do so before finalising arrangements.

What do people think/prefer/want?

Look forward to hearing from you

David