The extra security in place for the D-day events meant the Caen canal was closed until Monday. So it was after another unexpected lay day that we departed this morning to make the short passage east to Deauville. The tide times meant that the Ouistreham sea lock would not be operating until lunch time so after a morning bridge transit from Caen there was time for a stop at the Pegasus bridge for a look round the popular Pegasus Memorial. With many visitors still in the area after the weekend the museum was quite crowded, but it was still possible to enjoy the English speaking curator and his informative and heartfelt presentation, as well as the short film describing the operation.

The tour continued in the museum's park where we saw the original bridge complete with bullet holes, as well as the newly inaugurated replica of a HORSA glider, built by volunteers and opened two days earlier by Prince Charles and Sgt James Wallwark, the pilot of the first glider to land at Pegasus.

We joined the rest of the fleet as they passed Pegasus on the later transit and followed them through the lock at Ouistreham and out along the buoyed channel. It was a short trip along the coast to Deauville where we were all comfortably accommodated in finger berths along the sea wall in the new marina. It being another sunny evening in paradise it seemed only fitting to hold another pontoon party followed by a convivial meal at Le Drakkar, in the company of Great Escape, Limoncello and Wild Silk.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 24 nm

Total to date: 694 nm

Avg Speed: 8 knots

Duration: 2:50 hours

Wind: SW 3-4

Diesel: 140 litres, €1.05/l

Mooring: €25

Electricity: Included

Charts

AC2146

AC1349