11-03-2007

 Brittany Ferries' Duc de Normandie leaving Portsmouth for Caen. She was replaced in 2002 by a new vessel and now operates Plymouth/ Roscoff.  Photo by Stéphanie Dinez

An unusual vessel, she has a strange internal layout as she was originally a two class ship, she is one of the smaller ferries on the Western Channel but my one crossing on her was very pleasant.  A sad sight, the Duc de Normandie was moving away from the linkspan at Ouistreham at the end of our holiday.

The Normandie is somewhat larger and newer than the Duc, she is seen here at her home port of Ouistreham, Caen.  She is a comfortable, well equipped vessel.  Like the Barfleur I've crossed on her for day trips and holidays, Portsmouth - Caen is a 6 hour crossing by day which can seem a bit long if you have children with you, but being larger the Normandie has plenty of facilities.  Photo by Stéphanie Dinez

The second view of her shows her at the other end of her regular run, at Portsmouth, seen from another ferry, P&O Portsmouth's Pride of Portsmouth can be glimpsed in the background.  Photo by Stéphanie Dinez

Gosport is a good place to watch the ferries to and from Portsmouth go by, in this view the Normandie is outward bound.  The masts in the left background are those of HMS Warrior, the Royal navy's first ironclad warship which is on display close to Portsmouth Harbour railway station.  Photo by Stéphanie Dinez

Now a few views on and from the Normandie, this shows her large illuminated name on the top deck.  Photo by Merv Gould

From the same spot but looking astern past her funnel over the mouth of the Caen Canal at Ouistreham.  Photo by Merv Gould

A view of the Normandie from a car waiting to board at Ouistreham.  Photo by Merv Gould

Looking out over her stern, the land around here is very flat but the hills start around Caen.  Photo by Merv Gould