Brest 2008

Roach1948

Roach1948

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www.dallimoredesigns.nl
Anybody thinking of going over there next year? I have never done a French maritime festival and people tell me they are great! Has anybody that has been have any feedback on their experience as I am tempted - but it is a long way from the East Coast; is it worth taking the yacht?


www.brest2008.fr
 
Long time ago now, but I went to the event in 1992, and it was absolutely brilliant. It started off in Brest, with a fleet of tall ships thrown in as well, and then all the smaller boats sailed round to Dournanez and carried on with the parties there.
And so many wonderful boats to look at! Would have been nice to have had a digital camera then......
 
It maybe worth your while contacting these people..........

www.goodwillraid.com/index.php

They are hoping to attend the function as guests I believe. Brest only occurs every 4 years and this year is set to be over the Bastille day celebrations which should provide for some good entertainment!

Tom

PS "anybody thinking of going over there next year" Short answer Yes but not with the boat as I'm in the North West!
 
I'm hoping to get over - mind you, I'm still trying to recover from the last one! It is a fantastic event made all the better if you can move on to the Douarnenez one afterwards. The French certainly know a thing or two about organising these events. Puts us to shame I'm sorry to say. The only worrying thing was the purchase there of a tin of posh nosh whose contents were, according to the ship's dictionary, 'Duck's muffs in grease'.......Yeuk!
 
I have been to 3 of them, each as good as the other. I would certainly recommend it. If you can take your accommodation with you you do not have to leave the site, if you need a rest from the sights and sounds on shore, you just go sailing. I have only attended with my Shetland Eela boat on its trailer, so have not done Douarnenez, due to the difficulty in finding accommodation 'cos it is so popular. Many boats do travel from the UK, the Old Gaffers arranged a sail in company in '04, calling at French OGA harbours on the way. I really urge you to give it a try.
Nick
 
I went in 2000 as part of a visit ot the UK and enjoyed it enormously. I was staying on a farm in the village of Sizun with others, so I could only vist the site during the day. I was surprised as I was leaving to see hordes of people streaming towards the site area. I thought that they were nuts, as the day was just about finished. I found out later that the day was just beginning, and the place comes alive after dark, and goes on until the wee hours. I understand that it always takes in Bastille Day, as that is when the French start their summer holidays.
Peter.
 
Roach

Sadly I had to miss the last one - I was supposed to be going on a French fishing boat from Morbihan, but a wean graduating from Aberdeen stuffed that. They got seriously stormbound for 4 days so mebbe it was a blessing...

But go for it. Take the boat. You will have a great time.

Another one to go to is Semaine du Golfe

Been to the last 3 and they were great.

Ferinstance

Semainedugolfe2007010.jpg
 
Barring disaters Black Rose will make it over for both Brest and Douarnenez and she is based on the Blackwater I did Tralfalger 200 with her which was amazing in its self (selden got to bed before 4am) but according the old hands Brest is even bigger and better than that.
None stop shouldnt take you more than 50hrs.
cheers
Pip
 
Planning to take Ocean Pearl there, then Douanenez too. I went to Dz in 2002 by road and it was great. Ended up sleeping on the beach one night and various boats after that.....so I hope it will be more comfortable this time!
I keep getting asked how do you get that XXXXy great main up, so I have done another short video on You Tube. Might keep you entertained for a few moments! Look forward to seeing you there!

Nick.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u8W6MZS6gCo
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F56EqDJuOAA
 
Went to Paimpol festival this summer on Hermees, just as a visitor, not allowed to join in because not a sailing boat. We have been to 4 festivals there now (every 2 years) but will not be going back again next time. Why? It has changed from being a family-friendly event with great music, maritime events, sculling races etc into nothing more than a very loud pop festival. Security staff during the day are everywhere and too over-eager to stop you going shopping and coming back with any glass so no wine, bottled beer etc, but in the evening they were mysteriously absent. there were too few toilets so the vast crowd of drunken youths were peeing into the water and over the boats all the way round the harbour. there were pools of vomit, fights and rowdy behaviour all night long, with crowds of youths breaking onto boats to party or shouting and running up and down the pontoons all night.
I wasn't happy taking my daughter ashore after 9 at night as we were hassled by drunks, and they were just as bad the next morning. Very sad as the old boats are still wonderful and the street entertainers and stalls are great, but just not worth the hassle anymore. We tried to mention all this at the harbour office, who do a great job trying to organise all the boats, but it has grown out of control and is too crowded and not pleasant anymore.
All IMHO of course (written by Rich's SWMBO PirateQueen as he can't type this much!)

Spot the guy on the drums on this yacht,

P8040002.jpg


P8040001.jpg


P8030083.jpg


P8030054.jpg





PS,,, copy of this post sent to paimpol
 
I have herd on the grapevine that at least two smacks (one below) are intending to go form the East Coast. But I think one is going by low loader and the second is looking into having the boat shipped out by a specialist deck cargo company. As you say long way form the east coast, can’t say personley what it like but people who have been say its good
http://www.boadicea-ck213.org.uk/
 
Well I have to say that I am veryt very tempted. I don't have a lot of time, so was thinking of maybe doing weekend sailing down the South Coast, to say maybe Plymouth and do the crossing from there. So any tips on cheap places to leave a 22footer for week at a time along the South Coast, within walking distance to a train station, very much appreciated.

The I thought I would leave the yacht in France afterwards to explore the Morbihan (which I have always wanted to do) so any tips again on where to leave a a 22fter cheaply in France, near a low cost airline airport, much appreciated.

I am really looking forward to my cruising plans this Summer!
 
All I hear is good news about the Morbihan. So it is definately on the list.

The weekend coastal journeys will be something like this:

Orwell-Burnham
Burnham-Faversham
Faversham-Fareham
.....?
...?
<u>Two Weeks Off</u>
Plymouth - Brest
Brest - DZ
DZ - Morbihan

Not sure about the route back, or whether to overwinter abroad. Maybe I can coast hope along the French Coast on weekends using cheap ryan air flights before crossing back up to the UK.

Any Suggestions welcome. Bear in mind I have never sailed the South Coast before.

PS - the reason that I am stopping at what might seen to be odd places is that I know people in them. But I sort of run out of friends/local knowledge along the South Coast.
 
Try for Orwell-Ramsgate. With an early start and a long early summer day you should be fine. Then Ramsgate-Dover or Calais. You can either go down the French side, but it'll give you transport problems, or you are pretty limited to the marinas along the south coast. Eastbourne, Brighton (or Shoreham), then Solent.
 
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