We had enjoyed our stay in St Vaast but this morning we had to move closer to the River Seine and we had chosen to visit Caen. The 48 mile journey by sea to Ouistreham was uneventful; which is just the way we like it. The sea was calm and we were able to maintain a steady 18 knots. However, once we arrived we had to pass through our first lock in France and enter the 8 mile long canal to Caen. When we arrived at the relatively narrow harbour entrance a cross channel sea cat decided to leave its berth and do a U turn. They create a lot of turbulence and I was forced to take avoiding action.
We expected the lock to be large but the one that we were directed to enter was actually the smaller of the two locks available. The other one is used by large sea going freighters which, fortunately, we did not meet during the canal passage. After a stop in Benouville, we transited the three opening bridges in convoy with another boat and tied up in Caen Marina. Unusually, the marina is right in the centre of Caen and surrounded by bars and shops. Needless to say, on a Friday night we got little sleep until the late night revellers had gone home.