SPECIAL EVENT Brest International Festival of the Sea 2012 & Brittany Summer Expedition

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)

Three 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 ended up sending three pilot cutters south. Eve, Annabel J, Bessie Ellen and Lizzie May are all heading over to both Brest and Douarnenez in 2012. Lizzie May and Bessie Ellen both sailing from Scotland!

On Eve of St Mawes there will be a voyage out to Brest Festival, a crew change in France and a voyage back via Douarnenez Festival.  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.

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 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.

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.

DISCOUNT FOR booking both voyages

EV1221  11-17 July - Brest 2012 (St Mawes - Brest) £720 - 6 days

EV1222  18-26 July - DZ 2012 (Brest - St Mawes) £799 - 8 days

EVBOTH 11-26 July - Brest & DZ 2012 & Brittany Ports £1299

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 Eve of St Mawes for reduced price of £1299 - 15 days saving £220 and saving transport costs to or back from France.

Grand Regatta from Brest to Douarnenez

For those joining in Brest for the voyage back home, 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 Cornwall via the Chanel du Four and 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

 Eve racing at Brest 2008 - Lara and the girls