Prestigious, hundred-year-old boats gathered in the Old Port of Marseille
For this 12th edition of the Voiles du Vieux-Port, organised by the city's five yacht clubs (CNTL, Société Nautique de Marseille, Union Nautique Marseillaise, Yacht Club de la Pointe Rouge and La Pelle), prestigious old boats are gathered together in Marseille's harbour. There are currently 200 vintage sailing boats in the world, most of them established in the Mediterranean. Marseille has thus become the unmissable meeting place for these boats, most of which are over a hundred years old.
This year there will be around forty boats moored in the heart of the Old Port of Marseille. Visitors will be able to admire them on their return to the port at nightfall until the next morning.
Among the hundred-year-old sailing ships we can count on the presence of Alcyon 1871, Moonbeam of Fife or Thistle. Some are even classified as historical monuments, such as the Palynodie II, which belonged to Gaston Defferre. The Société Nautique's Tradition Pole also supplies part of the fleet: Nan of Fife, Jour de Fête or Sonda.
An event marked by old rigging regattas
These century-old ships built between the second half of the 19th and the end of the 20th centuries will also compete in regatta courses and are classified in three categories. The "Epoque" Yachts built in wood or metal, launched before 31 December 1949, the "Classic" Yachts built in wood or metal launched before 31 December 1975 and the "Spririts of Tradition" Yachts built from 1970 onwards using modern techniques and materials but keeping their period look.
To follow the regattas as closely as possible, the "regattas in sight" operation has been set up by the Office de la mer and Voiles du Vieux-Port and allows the public to board boats free of charge.
