Since 1992, the French city of Brest has been hosting an international maritime festival of superlatives every four years. On seven days in July always around the French national holiday, the bay of Brest becomes a stage for parades of ships from a bygone era to the present and thus to a paradise for everyone who is enthusiastic about sailing ships. 712,000 visitors, 1,050 registered boats and ships, 9,000 members of the crew and 1,500 musicians, these are some of the official numbers from the 2016 event.

The bark "Cuauhtémoc" from Mexico and the Russian sailtraining ships "Kruzenshtern" and "Sedov" were already among the large sailing ships on the quayside. The Argentine Navy showed itself with its sailtraining ship "Libertad". In 2016, the Portuguese sister ships "Creoula" and "Santa Maria Manuela" lay right next to each other. These 4-masted schooners were used to fish for cod off Newfoundland until the 1970s. Poland was represented by the brig "Fryderyk Chopin", the 3-masted schooner "Kapitan Borchardt" or the fully-rigged ship "Dar Mlodziezy". From the Netherlands, visitors in Brest marveled at the "Stad Amsterdam", an eye-catcher wherever the sailing ship appears. The French sailing ships "Belem" and "Marité" represented their homeland. In 2004 Norway sent the "Christian Radich" and "Sørlandet" and in 2012 the "Statsraad Lehmkuhl". In 2004, still under the Ukrainian flag, the "Khersones" participated in the sailing festival in Brest.

HM Bark Endeavour at the Sail Brest 2004

Encounter in the bay of Brest

During the maritime festival, Brest opens the historic naval port to its visitors. At the tip of the harbor, the French sailtraining ships are presented then. In 2004 the Australian fully-rigged ship "HM Bark Endeavor", an authentic replica of an 18th century merchant ship, was moored there. There was a number of times the Russian "Shtandart", a replica of the frigate of Tsar Peter the Great based on the model of the British admiralty ships at the beginning of the 18th century. 2012 the "Götheborg" from Sweden, a replica of an 18th century East Indiaman, participated in the Brest festival. In 2016 they proudly presented the "L'Hermione", a replica of a frigate with which France supported the American colonists in their struggle for independence around 1780. In this harbor picture fitted very well the "Étoile du Roy", 2004 still under the old name "Grand Turk", which is based on the French frigates of the 18th century. In 2004 the "Matthew" from England came. She is a replica of a carawell with which the Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto (English John Cabot) sailed from Bristol to North America and back in 1497. Finally lay there in 2016 the "Victoria", a replica of the ship from Ferdinand Magellan's squadron, with which he started for the first circumnavigation of the world in 1519. In 2004 I saw there the "Hansekogge" from Kiel, who did not shy away from the long journey from Germany. Brest Castle, which also houses a maritime museum, always gave this spectacle a very impressive ambience.

Norway flies the flag

Coquilliers in Brest 2012

A reason to travel to France is the fleet of French replicas of workboats, which are often presented under full sails on such occasions. The sailing festival in Brest is often the occasion for sailing ships to be launched too. In 1992 the "La Recouvrance" was launched into the water. At the 1996 Sail after the restoration, the "Notre Dame de Rumengol" was launched the second time.

In France, and there is no other way of expressing it, ships are literally staged on such occasions. The port basin is used day and night as a presentation stage. The ship demonstrations are moderated in a professional and verbose manner. At night, colored light from spotlights illuminates the sails and there is often music. Since the French national holiday is celebrated at the same time, visitors can experience several fireworks of a special kind.

Anna Rogde and Arawak at the Sail Brest 2004

Viking boats

There are many guests from England, Ireland and the Channel Islands too. There are also numerous Dutch sailing ships, which we know from the  Hansesail Rostock. No other nation is so successful in welcoming guests on day trips.

And sailing ships from Germany? In 2004 the Hajkutter "Carmelan" the Nordic Jagt "Norden" and "Alvekongen" and "Johanna Maria", both modeled after the Norwegian rescue ketches by Colin Archer, visited the festival in Brest. In 2008 I saw "Pippilotta" and "Sigandor", and I was a guest on "Freedom& quot;. In 2012, "Alexander von Humboldt II" lay on the quay and I saw "Sigandor" as well as the "Ernestine" and the Ewer "Petrine", which are at home in the waters around Rügen. In 2016 the "Ernestine" followed the invitation from France again. The well-known researcher Arved Fuchs also visited Brest in 2016 on the return trip from his Expedition Ocean Change on board of the "Dagmar Aaen" before sailing to the  Haikutterregatta at the Danish Nysted and to the  Hanse Sail Rostock.

Etoile de France and Le Renard

Van der Rest Sailing Charter

On land nautical know-how, the latest scientific advances, but also regional economy and culture are presented too. In nation villages changing from event to event, you can get to know the diversity of the world's maritime cultures, Russian hospitality, Portuguese wine, Dutch herring, British fish & chips or Polynesian tattoo art. There are always music and dance performances. From the sea and the seafarers inspired music can be heard practically everywhere, even when watching the ships on the piers. Unmatched are the French fireworks and ship parades with music and light art during the night.

The highlight of the final day in Brest is the parade of all ships in the bay and the crossing to Douarnenez. For all two years the fishing town of Douarnenez is the host for a maritime  summer party. Then it will take another four years before Brest becomes a mecca for ship lovers again.

Fêtes maritimes de Brest