La Morue en Fete, Binic, Brittany, France. (1st – 4th May 2008)

Every year since 1997, La Morue en Fete has presented a feast for lovers of old sailing ships and boats and with a taste for traditional seafaring music. Held in the small Breton town of Binic, once the principal morue (salt cod) port of France, the event showcases many vessels which have been lovingly restored by their owners and which are regularly sailed in the seas around France and England. The town itself is built around the ancient port, now a flourishing marina, and the event is held in the streets and cobbled lanes around the port. The 10th event last year attracted almost 50,000 visitors and it is expected that this year’s event will attract many more.

This year’s festival starts on Thursday 1st of May at 1700 with an arrival parade by old sailing vessels and restored fishing boats of all types  which will then be on view in the port. The following three days will be filled with events ranging from displays of long forgotten shipwrights skills, through to folk, Celtic rock and traditional concerts by Breton and visiting musicians and a grand fireworks display held in the port. As the reason for the festival is to remember the hard labours of the Breton fishermen who fished for cod in Newfoundland waters in the 1850s visitors will be able to sample ‘morue’ at one of the many food stalls crowding the quays of the port.

Owners of treasured old sailing ships and fishing boats who wish to attend with their vessels will be made most welcome and should make contact in advance as detailed below.

Further information is available at http://www.binic-la-morue-en-fete.com or contact peter.birnie@wanadoo.fr