From June 20 to 23, 2024, the quays of the Old Port and the Bassin des Chalutiers in La Rochelle will come alive for four days of celebration of boating in all its forms for the first Fêtes Maritimes de La Rochelle. The event is designed to be popular, family-friendly, cultural, educational and festive. It will bring together 125 old rigs, including three-masters, classic yachts and heritage boats. Here are a few details of the program.
Celebrating nautical know-how and traditions
Free and open to all, whether local players, schoolchildren or stakeholders, this free event will be spread over 4 days of festivities. On the program, you'll find a host of events highlighting Charente's nautical heritage:
âeuros¢ Barrel-rolling, caulking and seamanship workshops, restoration of a traditional boat, sail-tanning and fish-smoking demonstrations, mini historical re-enactments in costume, creative artists (boat-drawing workshops, seascapes on wood, paintings on nautical charts...).
âeuros¢ Yawl races, sculling competitions, traditional boat trips, paddleboat rentals, miniature boat rentals for children or families.
âeuros¢ Themed cultural and educational exhibitions, photo and drawing competitions...
âeuros¢ Music: Concerts featuring traditional sea chanteys, world music and local artists will be scheduled during the day and early evening.
Sailing through the Charente and Breton inlets
On June 15 and 16, 2024, coastal and inland ports will be the scene of celebrations dedicated to traditional boats. Decorated with flags and honored by local associations, these units will be promoted by the local authorities and ports concerned.
From June 16 to 19, more than 80 traditional boats, including lasses from the Marennes, traditional riggings from the Gironde estuary, sloops from the Pertuis, Auric cutters from the Rhone, and sardiniers, will take part in an armada bound for the Old Port of La Rochelle. The event will be organized by Patrimoine Naviguant en Charente-Maritime (PNCM), in collaboration with the Fêtes Maritimes de La Rochelle and some twenty associations. This lively show on the water will be visible from the coastal strip, notably in the great bay of La Rochelle, from Châtelaillon-Plage to the shores of the Pertuis.
For the tall ships, the stopover in La Rochelle represents a new stage in an Atlantic loop program that will take them from La Rochelle to Brest for the major quadrennial event from July 12 to 17, via Bordeaux and Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Classic yachts in the trawler basin
Under the aegis of the Yacht Club Classique, created in 2005 to bring classic yachts moored on the quays of the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle into motion, the area at the far end of the Bassin des Chalutiers will be dedicated to fine yachting, on an 11,000 m2 afloat space.
On either side, over 5,000 m2 of quayside will be laid out as a promenade, stretching as far as the Maritime Museum, offering a view of some sixty classic yachts, from 10 to 20 meters, moored below. These vessels will perform demonstration sailings. An explanatory tour, detailing the origins of the vessels, will be available.
Heritage boats in the outer harbour
In this 29,950 m2 space, the Charente-Maritime department's fleet of heritage boats will be on display. More than 80 of the department's heritage vessels, of various categories and sizes, will be on display, ranging from fishing and pleasure boats to service and scientific vessels. These vessels bear witness to the nautical history of the Atlantic coastline, from the Charente-Maritime to the Gironde coasts. The fleet includes a variety of boats such as pinasses, oyster ferries, lasses, trawlers, gabares, pilot boats, motor dredgers, tugs and buoy tenders, as well as iconic vessels like the Joshua and Damien. Explanatory panels will be set up around the basin, allowing the public to discover the history of each boat.
Visit and privatization of the Tall Ships
The highlight of the event will undoubtedly be the Tall Ships at the Bassin des Chalutiers. Occupying an area of 22,000 m2 afloat, with 770 meters of quay, these majestic historic 2-, 3- and 4-masted sailing ships, measuring between 40 and 60 meters, will be fully decked out and open to the public. The ships will arrive in La Rochelle by 5pm on Wednesday June 19, and will take part in the departure parades starting on Monday June 24. Although no sailings are planned for technical reasons, a dozen or so large commercial sailing ships or training boats, as well as one or two French Navy vessels, could be present. Visits will take place alongside the quay from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from June 20 to 23, with tickets available from the Tourist Office, at the site entrances and on the event website, offering different pricing options.
The tall ships at berth will be available for privatization from June 19 to 22. Interested companies, institutions and associations can take advantage of this opportunity to organize parties on board, from 8pm to midnight.
Putting young people at the heart of the initiative
For the FMLR association, the appropriation of nautical culture must pass through the younger generations. Local children will have the opportunity to dream and discover three-masted sailing ships, plunging into the imaginary world of pirates or projecting themselves into the lives of fishermen of the last century.
Free exhibitions and educational tours for schoolchildren on Thursday June 20 and Friday June 21 will answer their questions about the construction, origins, operation and conservation of traditional boats.
Informed volunteers will accompany the classes, and a drawing competition on traditional boats will be organized with the participation of volunteer schools.
Awareness-raising initiatives will be carried out in advance with schools in the La Rochelle area, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Education, the Rectorat and interested teachers.
Innovations
An "Innovation" area will be dedicated to exploring La Rochelle's maritime economy, showcasing initiatives in favor of eco-energy sobriety such as the use of sails or other veliac systems as a means of assisting the propulsion of merchant ships, hydro-generators, or recycling measures...
The maritime professions area will showcase the diversity of future careers, offering employment opportunities in the sector. Specialized high schools and training centers will be on hand to guide young people, parents and job-seekers.
The Fêtes maritimes de La Rochelle et de la Charente-Maritime will mark a first for the department. These four days of celebration will offer everyone the opportunity to discover the nautical imprint that exists in the local culture. The Fêtes maritimes de La Rochelle association, headed by Christian Marbach, has already begun mobilizing its volunteers, aiming to gather between 150 and 200 volunteers.
