Brest/Douarnenez 2004, Who's going?

**Hughman** · 08-06-2003, 08:38 PM

Brest July 9 - 16, 2004

Douarnenez July 16 - 20, 2004

And if anyone has been to past events, what are the highlights?

**martin schulz** · 08-07-2003, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by Hughman:
And if anyone has been to past events, what are the highlights?

...are you kidding?

...just to give you an idea.

I will be there crewing on either Willow Wren :

...or Präsident Freiherr von Maltzahn if fellow Forumite Kurt still wants me on board:

**Hughman** · 08-07-2003, 08:31 PM

[quote]Originally posted by martin schulz:

Originally posted by Hughman:
[qb]And if anyone has been to past events, what are the highlights?...are you kidding?

Martin, Thanks for the boat porn. I can't imagine how one can see all the events/boats/activities/andwhateverelseisgoingon and not become dazed after two weeks of these consecutive festivals.

While it's a days drive for you, it's a major undertaking for a family of five from the USA. I'm starting a process of getting organized, and selecting a focus so as to remain sane.

I should plan on going crazy?

I was at the WoodenBoat show for three days, and still missed major portions - and I know where to look!

I hope this thread will garner some comments from the EU forum members.

[ 08-07-2003, 09:33 PM: Message edited by: Hughman ]

**Venchka** · 08-07-2003, 08:49 PM

Hughman,

A source of information closer to home is Mike (I can't remember his last name right now), the Director of the Apprenticeshop in Rockland, ME. I know he was there last year and is fluent in French.

**Jeremy Burnett** · 08-08-2003, 03:26 AM

Brest is very big, very crowded,you will see more of the larger boats there.The Naval dockyard is worth seeing especially if you are a fan of Hornblower or O'Brian.Douarnenez is a fishing Town with a much smaller harbour where you will see smaller local boats and yachts with good all round access.One usually spectacular part of the event is when the fleet sails from Brest to Douarnenez.For land based spectators the best views are from the cliffs south of Camaret which is south of Brest overlooking the Toulinget channel(Hornblower again) or from the Cap de Chevre on the north side of the entrance to the Bay of Douarnenez.None of the distances are great by car.Contact www.brest2004.fr. There is an airport at Brest,my brother in law flew in to there via Paris from NY for the last one.

**Andrew Craig-Bennett** · 08-08-2003, 03:45 AM

I think I might take a shot at getting there in Mirelle.

**Hughman** · 08-08-2003, 09:23 PM

Thanks, Jeremy. Thats the stuff!

Andrew, need crew?

**Hughman** · 08-12-2003, 09:27 PM

I can see I'd better practice my French....Ah, well, I'll start by studying a wine label...

So:
Are campgrounds an option in Brittany?

Whats a practical travel guide for this region?

**TimH** · 08-12-2003, 10:00 PM

What a weird rig on that top boat....look at the rake angles on those masts! very strange [img]smile.gif[/img]

**Venchka** · 08-12-2003, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by TimH:
What a weird rig on that top boat....look at the rake angles on those masts! very strange [img]smile.gif[/img]

Or possibly very French?

**TimH** · 08-12-2003, 10:34 PM

leave it to those frenchies...no wonder the Brits kicked their asses

**martin schulz** · 08-13-2003, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by TimH:
leave it to those frenchies...no wonder the Brits kicked their asses

...then again, everybody reading, O' Brian, Forester or Kent knows that the french built the better boats. they just didn't have enough experienced officers and crew in the Napoleon Wars.

**Andrew Craig-Bennett** · 08-13-2003, 05:26 AM

Those French luggers are very fast and close winded - the chasse marees were very sucessful privateers, and a hundred years later Claud Worth, cruising off Brittany in "Tern 2", (see thread on that boat) challenged a fleet of fishing boats to an informal race as we all do from time to time and was left for dead.

Let me be the first to say that the French take classic boat matters very seriously, and we have much to learn from them!

**Jeremy Burnett** · 08-13-2003, 09:35 AM

Le camping is popular in France,there are plenty of sites.The Michelin guide for Brittany is very good,not sure if it lists camp sites,mine is on the boat so not to hand! If you contact the Brest people they will send you tourist information.Maybe a travel agent will have a list.I have a copy of the official brochure with the following dates.9 July welcome of boats,crews only.10th July Official opening to public.11 -15th "Jours de Fete,including 14th July which is a great national holiday in France.On 16th is the"Great Regatta" towards Douarnenez,start around 9am. Sometimes its possible to "find" a ship when you arrive.Hope this helps.

**Hughman** · 08-13-2003, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by Jeremy Burnett:
Hope this helps.

very much, thanks.
Hugh

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