A classic gaff rigged chalutier (trawler) singles up, ready for sea.
Before steaming out, between La Chaine and Saint Nicolas.
A candy striped lighthouse. . . . .
. . . . .marks the entrance to the dock which Stargazer shares. . . .
. . . .with a small fleet, of assorted veterans of the sea.
Kept rigged and ready for the regular (except during heat waves!) weekend parade of sail.
In the former fish dock, historic ships great and small are moored before the Maritime Museum.
Here too the majority of craft live in their natural element.
One exception is Bernard Moitessier's renowned steel ketch Joshua.
Comfortably leading the Golden Globe solo round the world race, Moitessier famously decided to sail on, to the Pacific Islands, instead of crossing the finish line: "To save my soul." Thus gifting the win to (Sir) Robin Knox-Johnston, aboard Suhali.
Today Joshua is ashore, due to the irreversible rigours of rust. Back in 2000 she still sailed regularly. And was loaned to 'One-Way-Jaques' (Peignon), to attend the start ceremony of that year's Europe 1 Transatlantic Race. Instead, he succumbed to Moitessier's ocean roaming urge, and raced. Placing third. Tried for theft, One-Way-Jaques was reputedly fined one Euro, in retrospective rent. Payable to the La Rochelle Maritime Museum.
Picture Credits
Joshua at Sea courtesy of Barry Pickthall
Joshua at the Museum courtesy of DR
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