Sailing is the national sport of Brittany. The Venète flotilla was, in Caesar’s time, one of the most powerful in the world. Sailors from Brittany covered the world, and provided exceptional talent to the National Marine. Terra-neuvas, these splendid sailing boasts, crossed the Atlantic until the 1930s, hunting for Tuna and Sardine.
Today, sailing is a passion for many Bretons. Throughout France, and Europe, Brittany is viewed as the centre of sailing, thanks to its enviable geographical position, and its history. Wind comes from every direction, and in a variety of strengths, and the tides provide a constant challenge. It’s not an easy coastline to navigate along, but as the locals say: “if you can sail in Brittany, you can sail anywhere”. And experience shows that they are right.
Thanks to its fishing industry, Brittany has provided generations of sailors. In order to be first on the scene when shoals of fish appeared, they perfected the art of the regatta centuries before it became a sport. Supported by shipyards and renowned carpenters, Brittany sailors became a world reference.
It was after the Second World War that the first sailing clubs appeared, and they multiplied rapidly, giving birth to internationally renowned talent. The best know was Glénans, which takes its name from one of the most beautiful archipelagos in Brittany. The success of a local competition sailor, Eric Tabarly, lead to the first “pleasure ports” being built. Today, millions of amateur and professional sailors call a Brittany port “home”. It’s a welcoming region, capable of adapting to change, and many famous sailors honed their art on these waters: Pajot, Gautier, Autissier, Kersauzon, Artaud, to name but a few.
Stroll along the dock at Trinité, the Mecca of competition sailing, where the finest yachts are resting. Or try Sauzon, on Belle-Ile, where fishing and pleasure boating mix, a fantastic scene on a sunny day. Brest is home to the “Formula One of the sea” – a brief look will suffice to tell you that here, sailing is more than a sport…
And as we say: “In Brittany, for sailing, it’s great weather all year”
Les Abers
On the north coast of Finistère, along the channel coast, there is a landscape so unique that you’ll not see it anywhere else in France. Cliffs and capes, estuaries, islands, bays, beaches, all intersperse along the coast. Rivers meet the sea, fields end at the beach – nowhere else can you find such a perfect mix of earth and water. Rias and abers are the keywords of this region. La ria (spanish) is a valley “invaded by the sea” of which there are many in Brittany. L’aber (a Celtic word meaning “mouth”) is a Brittany “fjord” in which river and sea argue their case, depending on the tide. At high tide, the sea penetrates far inland, seeming to follow the river to its source. At low tide, the sea rereats and the river, thin and timid, it seems, flows towards the distant ocean. These movements of fresh and salt water have sculpted fantastic and savage landscapes at A’Aber Wrac’h, L’Aber Benoit, and L’Aber Ildut. Wildlife is particularly rich and diverse in such areas. Herons, cormrants, ducks, geese, seagulls live happily in this fresh / salt-water environment, inhabited also by numerous different seaweeds. As long as anyone can remember, the seaweed harvest has taken place with horses and tractors – originally it was eaten, but nowadays it has new markets in the cosmetic and industrial sector.
By boat, you can explore the Abers, and experience the richest of nature’s scenery. Stop in the tiny villages which are on the banks of these fjords, enjoy a coffee in the warmth of a local bar, while listening to the fishermen reminiscing about how it used to be…
