Sail to Brest and Douarnenez Festivals and back to Devon on Brixham Trawler Provident

11 day adventure Voyage & French Festival Special on a Historic Brixham Sailing Trawler

There has been such an early high demand for Brest and Dournenez Festival this summer, Brixham Trawler Provident is now joining her bigger sister 'Leader' in a double festival extravaganza.  We have now almost lost count of the Classic Sailing opportunities to join in this once every 4 years gathering of the best traditional sailing craft in the world. Sailing there in various length voyages are Leader (almost full), Provident, Eve, Lizzie May, Bessie Ellen, Annabel J.

Well loved charter boat & historic ship

She can take upto 12 guest crew and carries a skipper, mate, cook and deckhand with plenty of space below and on deck.  The French love historic fishing boats and you can bask in the glory that you are on an original, not a replica.  Tan colour sails tend to go down well with the French too !

This voyage is 11 days of action from sailing over 100 miles from Brixham in Devon accross the Channel, navigating down past Ushant to the walled Naval Port of Brest.  A few days at the festival and then an amazing parade of sail down the coast to the more intimate port of Douarnenez.  The ship sails back to her home port in Brixham so there are no complicated transport issues.

Brest 2012 International Maritime Festival of the Sea

The themed title this year is "Les Tonnerres de Brest 2012" - or "Shiver me Timbers"

Brest 2012 (Les Tonnerres de Brest 2012) is a huge gathering of traditional craft from coracles and fishing vessels from Africa to towering windjammers. Eagerly awaited every four years, and followed by the more intimate Douarnenez Festival of the Sea further down the Brittany coast – the event is a mecca for music lovers, photographers and adventure sailors. Few festivals can match the spectacle of over 2000 sailing ships out on the water, and being out there with them is the best way to experience this sailors event. (Brest Festival dates: 13-19th July 2012)

Five Classic Sailing vessels going to Brest Festival

In Brest 08 the event has proved so popular with our Classic Sailing adventure sailing customers, that we have ended up sending three pilot cutters south - Eve, Annabel J, Lizzie May plus two masted historic ships Bessie Ellen and Leader are all heading for the double bill of summer festivals - Brest and Douarnenez.  Lizzie May and Bessie Ellen sailing all the way from Scotland!

 The beauty of French festivals is that also encourage all the boats to go out sailing during the day – so Leader, Provident Eve, Bessie Ellen Annabel J and Lizzie May can go out into the Rade de Brest amongst the colourful fleet of sailing ships and maybe try an informal race or two between us.

What is Special at Brest 2012

Many themed parades of sail will sail through the harbour, or the parade of Classic Yachts.

Night time fireworks, light shows and illuminated night parades of sail and Bastille Day celebrations.

There are boats from over 25 countries including special features on tradiional craft and tall ships from - Mexico, Russia, Norway and Indonesia.

The hugely entertaining Mexican Navy crew from square rigger Cuauhtemoc will be in port, as well as tall ships from Russia and the huge Norwegian three masters Sorlandet and Statsraad Leehmkuhl.On shore are Viking and Russian villages, cossack dancers, and all sorts of food and craft displays.

The Festival where you actually go out and sail

As crew sailing Leader, Eve, Lizzie May or AJ, you will usually have a chance to take an active part in a dynamic demonstrations of international maritime history out on the water. It is not compulsory but daily the organisers encourage boats to sail in an out the harbour entrances, and go for a blast in the adjacent inland sea of Rade de Brest.

Key Events at Brest 2012

Finish of Krys Ocean Race 2012

A new multihull Trans Atlantic Race from New York to Brest is timed to end during the festival and world records may be broken. The MOD 70 (Multi hull One Design) Project claims to represent the future of offshore racing on a state of the art one design multi hull that will pit crews against each other on a level playing ground.  You may well see these amazing craft under sail as the French crews will want to show off once they return home, and the finish will attract all the famous names in yacht racing.

Grand Regatta from Brest to Douarnenez

Enjoy the atmosphere of the festival at Brest for the last evening and usually 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.

Temps Fete sur Douarnenez
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. This year the Guests of Honour will be from the basque Country but Cousins on Cornish Boats are always welcome. There will be a lot of boats and ships coming from Brest so the sailing adventure will continue.

Returning to Devon via the Chanel du Four and maybe calling in at a french Port on the way, maybe Camaret Sur Mer or L'Aberach both with excellent restaurants and full of the charm and character Brittany is famous for.

Information on the Official Brest 2012 website Click Here