Spend half a month as pilot cutter crew in Brittany

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

Brest Festival – Sailing action with hundreds of vessels

The best way to experience Brest International Festival of the Sea is to sail there on a boat stunning enough to impress the French, but small enough to go out sailing in the Rade de Brest when the mood takes us. With only 6 guest crew on board, skipper and mate, Tallulah is perfect for that, but big enough for her feel like a ship rather than a small boat on the cross channel passage from Cornwall to Brest.

Shoreside at these festivals is amazing, but the French really encourage everyone to go sailing during their nautical festivals. Its all about creating a scene. Once you have relaxed from your journey, we aim to go out for a day sail or two and cross bowsprits with tall ships and traditional craft from around the world. The Rade de Brest is an inland sea big enough to accommodate a few hundred vessels going for a blast in the sunshine. Its a photographers dream.

This is the first proper Brest Festival gathering for 7 years so it is going to be full of energy and excitement ashore, but out on the water its a delight with searoom to enjoy the passing sails, and even anchor away from the festival site for a chilled evening.

Join the Throng Ashore – Brest is a sailors city

Ashore the festival site is huge, with many wharfs, outdoor cafes and stalls. The city wall encloses the dock area, or you wander though to the Naval dockyard. There is live music, fireworks most nightsThe  and floodlit nautical processions, much eating and drinking and sailor socialising. The bigger tall ships are generally open to the public, but it is almost as good to stand under their rigging and soak up the history of each nations maritime history.

Part 1 of a Double Summer Festival in Brittany

This voyage is only part one of a double festival summer expedition on Tallulah. This 7 night voyage joins in Newlyn and finish in Brest, during the end part of the festival. The next voyage crew join to take Tallulah, with the whole fleet, to Douarnenez temp fetes 2024. It you can spare the time to do both voyages back to back then it will create memories for a lifetime. In our view these festivals are so much better visually than a tall ships festival as the boats taking part are predominantly wooden ships or small working craft that represent maritime traditions and culture from around the world.

Public transport tip is to take the train to Penzance for nearby Newlyn. Return from Brest to Roscoff (good train/bus connection) then ferry to Plymouth.If you have the stamina then there is a combined voyage which runs for 15 nights (16 days), featuring both Brest and Douarnenez Festival.
ends in Brest

TH090724 9th-16th July (Newlyn-Brest) Sail to Brest and enjoy festival. Depart before the mass parade of sail from Brest to DZ. 7 nights £1400
TH160724 16th July-24th July (Brest-DZ-St Mawes) Join in Brest. Take part in the epic fleet sail to Douarnenez Festival & sail to UK 9 nights £1700

THX090724 Combined voyage 9th-24th July 2024 (Newlyn-Brest-DZ-St Mawes) SAVE £200 and do both voyages 15 nights (16 days) £2900

The Sea Journey to Brest

Tallulah will be in Newlyn for the start of your voyage to Brittany. Preceding your voyage is Mousehole Sea Salt and Sail Festival. This intimate Cornish harbour festival is just south of Newlyn, in the port of Mousehole. Whilst it is on a tiny scale compared with Brest, several of the bigger boats attending will also be sailing across the widest part of the English Channel to be part of Brest or Douarnenez festival with our Celtic cousins.

Maybe we will be sailing in company with luggers and small boats with tan sails braving the crossing, or more than likely it will be just Tallulah getting an ocean like experience in the Western Approaches. This edge of the Atlantic was a ship hunting ground for pilot cutters historically but today we will have our eyes peeled for marine wildlife. The fast tides and shallowing seas are rich in nutrients, fish, diving gannets and dolphins.

Chanel du Four & Lonely lighthouses

As the shanty song sings “From Ushant to Scilly is 35 leagues” so our 90-100 mile passage to the wild west corner of France will be timed to catch the tidal race down through the Chanel du Four.

The dark, forboding present of Isle d’Ouessant (Ushant) is a distinctive landmark on route. Some of the tallest lighthouses in Europe remind us to focus on our navigation, but the Chanel du Four between Ushant and mainland France is wider than you think, with many beacons to funnel the fleet southwards towards Pte De Mathieu and the entrance to Cameret and Brest. Bring a Hornblower book with you to set the scene. This is the famous seascape for the British Naval blockade during the Napoleonic wars.

If there is time and the right weather we may stop somewhere like L’Aberwarch or Lampaul on Ushant itself. Cameret Sur Mer is another option and great for seafood restaurants.

Rade De Brest

The Port of Brest will welcome vessels attending with a crew meal, if we get the timing right, but equally there is festival street food, local bars, or showers beckoning. after a bit of time ashore to soak up the atmosphere, then a more relaxed day sail in the Rade de Brest is usually popular. Last time Tallulah’s skipper was at Brest Festival it was a heatwave and almost all the boats set off mid morning to enjoy cooling sea breezes out on the water. The Rade de Brest is a big inland sea with several large river estuaries joining it, so there is plenty to explore and boats all around.

 

 

 

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail.

SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD

We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities, and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation.  There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.

AGILITY & FITNESS

Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application.  If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better. 

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Tallulah

Included

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life jackets and harnesses)
• All meals on board & refreshments throughout the day
• Bed linen, duvet, pillows
• wooden rowing boat activities
• 2 x Stand Up Paddleboards & bouyancy jackets (on summer voyages)

What is not included

• towels
• Alcoholic beverages
• Towels
• wellie boots
• waterproof jackets & trousers 

What to Bring

Please limit yourself to one soft bag or rucksack as there is limited storage space on board. No suitcases please!

Tallulah does not have waterproof jacket and trousers yet, so please bring a properly waterproof jacket and trousers on all voyages.

Walking and cycling waterproofs are usually adequate and much lighter to pack, so there really is no need to buy a coastal sailing jacket (unless you really want an excuse to invest in your future sailing). If you need any advice, or lack of a jacket is preventing you participating, please ring us on 01326 53 1234

• Proof of Covid 19 vaccination dates & status (See our terms & conditions: Basically to be safe for all guests and crew in a confined space we ask that you keep your covid vaccination status up to date with appropriate boosters. All crew and volunteers will be expected to be vaccinated too).
• warm, windproof jacket for days when you don't want to wear a waterproof jacket
• Hats for sun and cold weather.
• At least two sets of warm clothes - layers e.g. tracksuit bottoms, shirts, fleece jacket, wool jumpers, thick socks, and neck scarf. It can get cold at sea even in mid summer.
• Swim suit, towel, and suntan lotion.
• we have space if you want to bring a wetsuit for wild swimming or SUP adventures
• Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes.
• Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can come over deck if rough*.
• (An alternative to boots in summer is to bring another pair of flat shoes with a good grip in case the first pair get wet).
• All terrain type sandals are great for dinghy trips ashore – but you do need shoes which protect your toes for sailing.
• Scillies trips – Walking boots are useful and can be these can be worn on deck too
• A small rucksack is useful for going ashore
• Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
• Passport for European or Ireland Voyages, Reciprocal Free Health Care card in Europe.
• Please bring a passport on French trips
• Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasick tablets - check with your Doctor, which brand if you suffer asthma or are on medication.
• RYA Cruising Logbook or similar if you want to log your sailing experience e.g. sea miles, night hours
• Musical instruments are always welcome.

Alcohol

Tallulah does not always have wine bottles for sale on board so you are welcome to bring modest quantities of alcohol, (unless it is an alcohol free voyage) e.g. to drink with evening meals, but drinking whilst sailing is not allowed.

 

 

Fantastic experience where we were given expert help and advice by Debbie and crew. I never thought we would tack Talulah into Falmouth harbour but we did, what a fun experience and soooo enjoyable. Highly recommended and will be booking up again soon, thank you

Howard - July 2023

This was the first time I had sailed, and although I suffered from seasickness a couple of times, the experience was something that I could not have even imagined. The crew were all very helpful to a "newbie" and would think of another sailing trip, but perhaps in calmer waters .

Anonymous happy customer - July 2023

Fantastic day! The skipper (Debbie) kept it interesting by rotating crew and still maintaining full control! Amazing

James - July 2023

Debbie is great, she has a great passion for sailing and is very knowledgeable about boat building too! Anthony was extremely helpful, they make a great team and they made us feel very comfortable on board. Understandably, there is limited space and privacy but I slept really well which I really did not expect! Would love to sail again with Debbie and Tallulah.

Caroline Spring 2023

Thanks for looking after us very well. Good to be in safe, sure and pleasant hands...It was a nice experience I've wanted to try for a long time. Thanks for making it a good one...I love what you're doing and your courage and I wish you great success.

Diane

Great to sail on another class of sailing vessel with an experienced skipper and mate. I enjoyed the sailing a lot. The crew were very helpful and the food was very good.

Peter

Sailing on Tallulah

Both Debbie and Jess were excellent. Both were good at explaining things and very patient. I have also been out on Moosk and Agnes. Going out on Tallulah with Debbie and Jess was by far the best experience.

Alasdair, Spring 2023

Photos and images of the striking 44ft pilot cutter Tallulah, offering charter voyages for individuals, couples and groups from 2022.  Based in St Mawes, Cornwall. No experience is necessary and a local skipper as your guide.