Lizzie May - Brest to Douarnenez 2012 - 3 days - £390 - FULL

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).

Mini Voyage from Brest to Doaurnenez

This voyage will take in the last night of Brest, Parade of Sail to Douarnenez and the Douranenez Festival.

You could sail to Brest on Eve, AJ or Lizzie May and add on this mini voyage to maximise your enjoyment.

If you have time, then you could stay on Lizzie May and return to Milford Haven.

With so many boats at the festival, you really have so much choice on where to sail to and from, and for how long.

On Lizzie May there will be a voyage out to Brest Festival, a crew change in Brest and a voyage to Douarnenez Festival.  From Douarnenez she will set sail for MIlford Haven. The beauty of French festivals is that also encourage all the boats to go out sailing during the day – so Eve, Bessie Ellen Annabel J and Lizzie May can sail in company and go out into the Rade de Brest amongst the colourful fleet of sailing ships.

LM1209   Thurs 12th July - Weds 18th July   Falmouth - Brest                       £780   6 days

LM1210   Weds 18th July - Sat 21st July       Brest - Douarnenez                   £390   3 days

LM1211   Fri 21st July - Thurs 26th July         Douarnenez - Milford Haven   £650   5 days

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 Bessie Ellen, Eve, Lizzie May or AJ, you will 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.

Grand Regatta from Brest to Douarnenez

For those joining in Brest for the voyage 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 British are always welcome. There will be a lot of boats and ships coming from Brest so the sailing adventure will continue.

Information on the Official Brest 2012 website Click Here