Rendez-vous de l'Erdre 2006

On the first weekend of September there is a big jazz festival here in Nantes. Big deal! What has this got to do with boat building? Well, along with the festival there is a regatta "Yachting and Canotage" over three days involving traditional pleasure boats. This years edition had a small fleet of 9 steam launches including one from the river Thames crewed by subjects of her Gracious Majesty.

Many home made boats in the fleet including the 9 square metre sharpie. This class was active from 1941 on the river. The building materials were supplied by the FFV (Fédération Française de Voile) so in order to sail, one first had to be an amateur boat builder! In 1990 only two boats were still sailing. Meetings like the "Rendez-vous" has rekindled interest in traditional craft however, and around ten boats are out of the garages where they lay idle.

What would a meeting like this be without "Jolie Môme"? =:-D This year three boats showed, none of which were built by yours truly unfortunately. Two open boats and a decked version took part. Looking at this one I was pleased to note that the ones I built had much better looking filets. Also there were a few spots where the builder had sanded through the outer veneer of the plywood... All in all the varnished epoxy has held up well - the boat was built in 1998. The decked boat and the second open one were rafted out so didn't get the detailed inspection. The decked boat is visible in the gallery and is a polyester hull (I build the boat that was used as the plug when the mould was made).

I have put a heap of photos in the gallery for you to study. If you are in Nantes at this time of year the weekend is a very pleasant affair. But a word of warning - pleasant on the water only because the banks are packed with milling throngs, turning what is usually a five minute stroll, into a 45 minute elbow bashing struggle. We prefer listening to the music from the comfort of our canoe out on the water and far from the madding crowd!

www.rendezvouserdre.com (French only)

Tony
September 2006