Annabel J - Parade of Sail from Brest to Douarnenez Festival 2012

Bisquine de Grandvillaise by Kathy Mansfield

Parade of Sail from Brest Festival 2012 to Douarnenez Festival returning via Brittany ports to Plymouth.

This 8 day summer voyage extravaganza starts in the French Naval Port of Brest during the Brest 2012 International Festival of the Sea - a huge tall ships and traditional boat gathering held every 4 years.

Brest is a massive harbour and it is the sort of active festival that encourages boats to go out into the nearby Rade de Brest (huge inland sea) and sail. If Annabel J is not too deep inside a raft of similar vessels and can get out, you may get an evening sail in. After 2 days enjoying the festival and racing in Brest, Annabel J will join the big Parade of Sail down the coast to Douarnenez.

Grand Regatta from Brest to Douarnenez

For those joining in Brest for the voyage back home, enjoy the atmosphere of the festival at Brest including the Grande Finale Fireworks. Then take part in one of the largest flotilla of tall ships, small traditional craft and classic yachts in the world. The organisers are calling it a race, but it is a race like no other. The fleet leaves Brest to sail out the famous narrow approaches with crowds on either side, then heads south down the stunning limestone coastline with the brave option of sailing between the Tais de Pois rock pinnacles.

Douarnenez 2012 - a fete for wooden boat lovers

This intimate French Festival of the Sea is a mecca for wooden boat lovers, photographers and artists who love to soak up the scene of a sea of masts and working boats alongside wooden wharves or in the historic fishing port of Rosmeur. It is also an active festival for crews with lots of activities, races and sailing re-inactments out on the water. The medieval streets are a perfect venue for musicians and ships crew who want to step back in time to an era where fishing and trade was under sail and boats dryed out alongside stone quays.

Douarnenez itself has two ports: The old fishing port, on one side of the town and the river basin, Port de Rhu, with its wooden wharves and waterside bars on the other. The town is medieval in origin and has fascinating architecture and narrow streets.

Action out on the Water

The French are brilliant at creating a spectacle and they encourage vessels to take part in races and sailing demonstations each day, so you will much more than a nautical tourist. The skills you have learnt sailing Annabel J down to Douarnenenez will be put to good practice as she and numerous traditional boats with bowsprits manouvre out of harbour each day for a spot of action on the water.

Explore Brittany

At the end of the Douarnenez Festival Annabel J will sail North up the Biscay coast of France and up the Chanel de Four between the wild and lonely island of Ushant and the corner of France before crossing the Channel to Plymouth.

On the way we may stop at Cameret Sur Mer, or perhaps a small fishing port off the Chanel de Four. Cameret or L'Aberach both have excellent restaurants we have vistied before with crews -full of the charm and character.

Maximise your Sailing in France

This is an ideal voyage if you prefer lots of sail handling and spectacle out on the water, French coastal sailing and by the end of the week you will feel like a true traditional boat sailor - ready for your potentially challenging 95 mile passage across the channel to Plymouth.

If you want to escape for a decent length summer sailing expedition, do a bit of offshore passage making and social sailing with all nationalities at the festival, why not consider doing the two French Festival voyages back to back (see offer below).

DISCOUNT FOR booking both voyages

AJ1210   9th - 17th July - Brest 2012 (Falmouth - Brest) £960 for 8 days.

AJ1211  18th - 26th July - DZ 2012 (Brest - Plymouth) £960 - 8 days

BOTH      9th - 26th July - Brest & DZ 2012 & Brittany Ports £1820

If you want to participate in the best combination of European maritime festivals for traditional boats then we are offering both the above voyages on Annabel J for reduced price of £1820 - 16 days saving £100 and saving transport costs to or back from France.