France knows how to do it better, perhaps !

Shaz77

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Jul 2025
Messages
88
Visit site
Am watching Roger Barnes at a small boat and jazz festival. He seems to be at some boat festival or get togeather every time I watch him. Do you think the French know how to do it better than us. Not long ago people on here were complaining about an unannounced rave on the shore of the River Orwell. Too much noise people said. The French seem far more tolerant to a bit of after dark noise.
 
Yes. Wandered down to Carnac on saturday where the town put on a celebration of being awarded world heritage status for asterix and obelix setting up some stones.

Nobody, online or in person whinged about the moneybeing spent, or the noise but just cracked on and enjoyed it.

After some big races round the corner in la trinité they put out tents and have bands by the capitainerie office and nobody whinges about that either.

Same in ireland. Whole of wexford was taken over this summer and last to host the fleadh. Ed sheeran did an impromtu. Nobody was whinging.

Seems to me brits take whinging to an art form guided by the daily fail and telegraph.
 
Am watching Roger Barnes at a small boat and jazz festival. He seems to be at some boat festival or get togeather every time I watch him. Do you think the French know how to do it better than us. Not long ago people on here were complaining about an unannounced rave on the shore of the River Orwell. Too much noise people said. The French seem far more tolerant to a bit of after dark noise.
P.s. seems to be able to attract the fair sex with his dinghy and tent!!
 
Am watching Roger Barnes at a small boat and jazz festival. He seems to be at some boat festival or get togeather every time I watch him. Do you think the French know how to do it better than us. Not long ago people on here were complaining about an unannounced rave on the shore of the River Orwell. Too much noise people said. The French seem far more tolerant to a bit of after dark noise.
Yes, the French do it well and appreciatethe economic benefits to their towns. I have attended 5 French classic boat festivals that are organised by/with the local town, with music and food that goes on to late in the night over several days and a big slice of the town is fenced off with people from all over paying to enter the town to experience and enjoy the party. Many of the locals volunteer to help organise.
 
Last edited:
Just this weekend we attended Live at the Loch. It was probably the sixth festival this year in the British Isles we’ve attended. We didn’t even plan, we often turn up and something is happening.

You may not have received an invite, but we have plenty of festivals.
 
Am watching Roger Barnes at a small boat and jazz festival. He seems to be at some boat festival or get togeather every time I watch him. Do you think the French know how to do it better than us. Not long ago people on here were complaining about an unannounced rave on the shore of the River Orwell. Too much noise people said. The French seem far more tolerant to a bit of after dark noise.
Roger and unannounced rave are rather an odd juxtaposition! The dinghy cruising association organises gatherings around the U.K.; there are periodic great glen raids which combine festivities and sailing; various traditional boat gatherings; an annual RIB “rendezvous” at Easdale which has some sort of catering and attracts dozens of boats; smaller “SIB” and “RIB” gatherings around the country; various club and class association musters; sailing cruising Scotland annual rally; this year the American cruising association cruise in company. Some of which involve music as well as food / sailing…
Just this weekend we attended Live at the Loch. It was probably the sixth festival this year in the British Isles we’ve attended. We didn’t even plan, we often turn up and something is happening.
There seem to be plenty of small “festivals” which are very welcoming to visitors by sea and even more options for live music in most large sailing destinations. If there aren’t enough organised trips that intentionally tie in with them it’s very easy to solve this - all the OP need to do is put together an itinerary and publish it for others to copy/follow. If you get enough of a following the destinations may even be extra helpful with mooring arrangements, discounts, etc.
 
The amount of unannounced raves on the River Orwell, mid summer, in the last five years is miniscule. Young people having fun, teenagers and early twenties being impulsive but loads of complaints. Some one on here said the British are wingers.... Correct, and those who complained were probably thoroughly boring people in their teens.
 
When I was younger the word would spread around town (on a warm Friday or Saturday summer night) lets all go to Nacton shores on the River Orwell for a bonfire, bbq and swim. it did not mater if the tide was in or only half way in. People would walk out on the mud and then on returning spend hours using handfuls of sand and grass to clean their feet. Impulsive good times.
 
The GGR was originally planned to depart from an English harbour, but none of them wanted to have anything to do with it unless they were able to charge big fees.

So Don McIntyre took his business to France who welcomed him with open arms.
The French see yachting as an inclusive sport.
I think the RYA used to have a nifty slogan to encourage more people onto the water in this country:

“Get a boat, get afloat” 👍

Now perhaps you sail around and are perceived as

“Got a boat? Hello,cash cow! ” 😳
 
Top