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On July 18, 2024, the Bay of Brest came alive at 7:30 am with the departure of several hundred sailboats bound for Douarnenez for a grand maritime parade. This event, awaited since 2016, marks the opening of the Fêtes maritimes de Douarnenez, which will run until July 21, 2024. Thousands of people watched this exceptional spectacle from the coastal paths, taking advantage of the natural grandstands offered by the region.
This year's parade focuses on the preservation of marine flora and fauna. Sailors are invited to go around the pile of peas at the western end of the Crozon peninsula.
The parade brings together some 800 old rigs, including some of the most famous historic ships. At the head of the procession, the iconic French sailing ship Belem leads the way, followed by La Recouvrance, Etoile du Roy and Éric Tabarly's Pen Duick VI. The show is completed by vessels such as the Saint-Michel II, a replica of a Jules Verne boat, and the Wylde Swan, a 62-meter sailing ship from 1920. Smaller boats, meanwhile, have taken the lead, offering a varied and colorful panorama.
