Le Mans 2016 Classic Trip-which way over channel ?

[David Large]

Bill, As ever you are right.

David

[Roger King]

I think we'll be doing our usual, which is Dover-Calais a few days early and trundling through France. David L knows how we do this.
Probably no cheeky pints, but several supercilious bottles of wine, with any luck.

Roger

[Paul Blore]

We're also now booked on the Portsmouth-Cean ferry, but I was shocked to see how much it was.

I'm sure we paid nothing like that last year.

Paul

[Dave Woodward]

We paid pretty much the same as the last three trips allowing for marginal annual increase.

Yours may have been cheaper last time Paul as you travelled outside the standard Le Mans weekend.

[Paul Blore]

Only for the return journey Dave and last year was the first time we'd done that. I'm sure the Newhaven-Dieppe route was sub £200 in the past, but the Portsmouth-Cean route is closer to £500, or more if you have a return crossing cabin.
We've only paid a £35 deposit, so if the Newhaven-Dieppe crossings become available, we may swap back to that.

Paul

[Roger King]

Only for the return journey Dave and last year was the first time we'd done that. I'm sure the Newhaven-Dieppe route was sub £200 in the past, but the Portsmouth-Cean route is closer to £500, or more if you have a return crossing cabin.
We've only paid a £35 deposit, so if the Newhaven-Dieppe crossings become available, we may swap back to that.

Paul

Blimey. That'd buy a couple of nights in France and a Dover-Calais crossing, and a nice drive through France instead of a horrible one to Portsmouth (depends where you start from, obviously). Must admit I prefer spending time in the car to time on a boat!

[Dave Woodward]

Don't think time spent on boat has a direct impact on time spent in car Roger, especially when I'm drinking and sleeping

[Roger King]

I was thinking of Portsmouth-Caen being longer on the boat than Dover-Calais, and Caen-Le Mans being shorter in the car than Calais-Le Mans. But you're probably better placed - getting to Portsmouth from here's horrible.

Mmmmm... drinking and sleeping... definitely up for that

[chriskcode]

I tried to book the Newhaven crossing a couple of weeks ago, no chance even though I changed departure days and we're not coming straight back after race finish. Typical, move 200mile away and Newhaven only 15m away and now can't get on it!

Just reflecting on another route, my 70 Mach 1 Mustang won't be ready in time, but just done a deal on a 67 fastback mustang which although looking a bit rough around the edges as some panels in primer, should be here for early spring so perhaps might use that or the X3 will make another trip to France via the long route of Calais and this time spend some more time on a slower trip sightseeing on the way down, decisions, decisions......

Chris

[Paul Blore]

Hi Chris,

I've been in touch with DFDS regarding the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry and they haven't released the timetable yet, so don't worry. They should have been published about 2 weeks ago, but they've been postponed until the new year.
I've provisionally booked Portsmouth - Cean, but it's ridiculously expensive. You'd think it was a Caribbean cruise rather than a cross-channel ferry. However, when the Newhaven - Dieppe schedules are released, I'll probably swap to that as I've only paid a £35 deposit so far.
That being the case, we'll probably meet up in Brighton again for fish & chips on the sea front.

Regards,
Paul