L ‘ armada dans le port de Rouen
The armada in Rouen’s harbour
Il y a quelques années nous étions invités par nos cousins René et Chantal à visiter un grand rassemblement de voiliers formant une armada en provenance de différents pays du monde dans le port de Rouen à l’ embouchure de la Seine. C’ est vraiment impressionnant de contempler cette forêt de mâts et de gréements. Nous essayions d’imaginer à quoi ressemblait la vie des matelots face au vent et à la houle. Nous avions l’image d’un port du passé jusqu’ au XIXème siècle avant l’ utilisationde la vapeur
La vie sur ces bateaux devait être dangereuse mais je me souviens d’un romande Roger Vercel « Remorques » dans lequel un personnage qui avait connu le temps de la marine à voile regrettait aussi son charme particulier. En tout cas on était loin des choses qu’on appelle bateaux comme les gigantesques porte –conteneurs et même les récents bateaux de croisière
Some years ago we were invited by our cousins Rene and Chantal to visit a large gathering of sail boats called the armada coming from all nations in the world in the port of Rouen at the mouth of the Seine. It is very impressive to contemplate the forest of masts and riggings. We tried to imagine what life was like sailors on these boats to play with the wind and sea swell. We had the image of a port of the past until the nineteenth century before the use of steam..
Life on those boats was dangerous, of course , but I remember a novel by Roger Vercel titled “ Remorques “ ( trailers ) in which a character who had known the time of the sail ships was regretting its charms . In any case we were far at this ancient times from those things we call boats as the gigantic container ships or even the new cruise ships.
Drunken Sailer – Irish Rovers – Chant de marin pour le plaisir. J’ai appris cette chanson à 15 ans, mais je ne suis pas sûr qu’on m’ait tout appris, à cette lointaine époque. !!
fauquetmichel 
Very interesting! When I was young, in 1976, the “Tall Ships” came to Newport harbor in Rhode Island, where I grew up. We had a small boat and went out to see these big sailing ships from all around the world, and it was wonderful. It was fun to see all the different sailors and hear all the different languages.
Those big sailing ships were like a dream for us.
Wonderful photos Michel, I can only imagine life aboard these ships. I recall an armada of sailing ships came to Miami and we were able to go on board and below deck. It was very exciting! ❤
Is not your memory of those sailing ships inspiring you a poem about travel over sea , Holly?
Actually, I was only about ten when I went to see the Sailing Ships off Biscayne Bay. It was very exciting! Remember it vividly even now.
10 years old is the age of wonder and fascination (which happily continues)
Indeed. Somethings are unforgettable
I have great memories from the time where I was three before the war II !
I’m sure. The war must have been a horrendous time to live through.
Yes, Holly. I have a lot of memories . I lived on the French coast in front of England . ( really a war area )
An horrific time in world history. ❤️
Sounds very interesting. Glad to see a post from you my friend.
My mind is dry like my kidneys !!! 🙂 Thanks.
Your welcome.
Love the toe tapping music! I saw some tall ships years ago, can’t remember where though. I was taken with how small the quarters were. No tall sailors I guess.
I see you keep great memories of those tall ships, Bonnie.
Wonderful post Michel! I remember seeing ships like this for a sailing festival years ago. And one is permanently docked in Baltimore, from our revolutionary war.
I checked Baltimore on Google. There is an historical fort.(1820)
Yes Fort McHenry. Our national anthem was written there, during the war of 1812 with the British.
Yes , I learnt this, Nico. Thank you.
🙂⚓
That song is fun and makes my feet dance! 😀
How wonderful that you got to visit those ships! They look so majestic! But, I can’t imagine being on the seas in them for months at a time… 😮 that had to be so rough! Ha, it’s no wonder the sailors got drunk once in awhile! 😉 😛
(((HUGS))) and ❤ 🙂
I have just read a book where English migrants crossed the Atlantic on these tall ships. It was hard!
great photos of the tall ships, it must have been a very challenging lifestyle!
This merry sailor song brings back many memories, we learnt it school 🙂
Thanks for the joy …
We understand, Kate, the sailors neeeded this kind of song to give them courage.!
and they had their daily rum ration so that would have helped too Michel 🙂
I wonder if they were drinking with a large glass or a small glass or directly at the bottle ? 🙂
a tankard I believe, the more the merrier 🙂
A tankard is also convenient to made Punch with white rum , sugar sirup and spice !! 🙂
ooh now you’re tempting me Michel 🙂
I first heard the song while I was in college. Later I heard it often as my oldest daughter was involved in Revolutionary War Re-enactments, and they sang and played a lot of those songs. However I didn’t learn all of those verses. I’ve never been on a sailboat, and I don’t remember ever seeing the tall ships. Glad you were able to go and see them.
Nevertheless, this song is in your family , with your oldest daughter , Gracia ! 🙂
When I was studying in a Catholic Convent I remember reading about the Spanish Armada. It was a powerful story.
The photos are amazing and grand Michel.
The Spanish great armada has been beat by the tempest and not by the English fleet. Thanks Zakiah. ❤
How interesting and cool that such historical vessels are still active and sailing today
They are like relics from the past.still alive.
Great photos and memories! I was able to see a ship and it was not a comfortable place to live – and people did live on them because it took so long to travel from one place to another. The song made me smile. We learned that song in 3rd grade music class but it was a much sanitized version. I heard it sung once at a reenactment and it was very bawdy!
I have just read a book where English migrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean on these tall ships. It was hard and needed a very long time.
I remember the Irish Rovers! Thanks for the remembrance to earlier times, dear Michel! Much love to you and the family, ❤
Lavinia
What is the harbour nearer of your farm, Lavinia ?
We are two hours from the Pacific Ocean. Yachats or Newport would be the closest, although both are a long drive from here.
C est grandiose, bonne journée ,faites attention à vous par cette chaleur. Je vous embrasse bien fort carole
Merci Carole et Bravo au nouveau kiné.
The days pass quietly here. No boats to entertain. Not even a parade to keep us busy. Maybe we should get to one of the Great Lakes for a summer visit?
I wish you and Janine a beautiful summer. 🌻🐝
Getting a tall sail boat on the lake Michigan would ask the ship be built directly on the lake , Rachel! 🙂
Somehow I lost my comment so I hope this doesn’t post twice. I just marveled at the fact that people actually used those ships and what a wonder! Listed to the video and have never heard anything but the first verse before. I think those sailors were a pretty salty lot! 😉
Beauty ( ships ) and humor ( song ) are gathered , Susan . I reassure you have posted one comment and not two! 🙂
Exciting to see those tall ships. We(human beings0 have traveled on ships for thousands of years..long before trains, planes and automobiles.. We live in an area of many inland lakes and the boats here are mainly pontoon or sail boats. There were large ships on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland…going from Cleveland to Detroit. It was 2015 (or was it 2016) that we went on the wedding cruise from Key West to Central America…Many people here in our neighborhood have boats for just pleasure…nothing like he majestic tall ships that you describe here in your fascinating remembrance. I’m glad you are feeling ok. You are in my prayers for comfort and peace.
Love,
votre amie,
Francoise.
I read about Cleveland on Google . It is a dynamic and interesting town. I know this town id in your heart, Françoise .
That song did put me in a dancing mood. It is awesome to see the sail boats. Here in Canada, during the summer we have a boat competition, where people make all forms of boats and goes around the Rideau river. It is fun.
The boat festval on the Rideau river is certainely something very interesting to see, Angy..
bonsoir Michel,
certainement que c’est un spectacle très coloré tout cet enchevêtrement de mats et de gréements … et suis certaine que cela fait rêver. Mais je sais aussi qu’il y a un monde fou et des bousculades chacun veut voir le mieux possible.
bises et bonne fin de semaine !
Tu as raison, Maidy . En ce qui me concerne je me contente de voir ce que les photos ci-dessus indiquent :vue exterieure et vue d ‘ensemble .
https://kmaidyblog619200677.wordpress.com/
Ce sont impressionantes, Michel. I can recognize one ship that looks Swedish. Is the one on the left in the second row the Göteborg? I hope you had an enjoyable time in Rouen. Warmest summer wishes to you and your family.
Oui, Louisa, le Gôteborg vient régulièrement. Beau navire .
I love how you always manage to think of interesting topics to report. This one reminded me of one of my favorite books, Two Years Before the Mast, by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., a journal of a young man’s journey up the California coast in 1834. It was fascinating to hear his descriptions of cities I’m familiar with and his trials and tribulations as a sailor.
The mid- XIX centurie when the Americans were conquering towards the west on the sea and on the ground is the topic of numerous novels .
I’ve always been fascinated by ships and wonder how it’s like for sailors centuries ago
Sailors ‘s work was tough on those sail ships, Suzy.
What a beautiful experience and fantastic photos!!!!! A sailor’s life is not one I envy!
Not for me either. 🙂 I like seeing them but no more! 🙂
Bonjour Michel,
Je me souviens de cette fête dans le port de Rouen dont tu nous avais ici parlé sur ton blog.
Espérons que de tels rassemblements puissent très bientôt être à nouveau autorisés !
Ces marins à l’époque, c’est certain, étaient très courageux, et ceux d’aujourd’hui le sont encore.
Magnifiques bâtiments intelligemment construits et entretenus !
Amitiés, AM
C ‘était un rassemblement international . Celui que je présente date de 2013 , il y en a eu un autre en 2019.
Coucou mon Ami MICHEL Quel rassemblement mais là avec le covid Cela ne peux avoir lieu
Mes pensées à partager avec vous
Il nous reste une vie malgré le temps qui court
Il nous reste cette vie pour bien remplir nos jours quel quand soit son parcours
Il nous reste la vie pour chercher l’ amour ou celle de l’amitié
C’est vrai que nous cherchons parfois
A nous raccrocher au passé
Sans trop savoir pourquoi , surtout sans trop vouloir y penser
Mais l’on sais bien qu’au fond de soi
Que le temps coule comme un sablier
Qu’importe mes Amies Amis il faut le vivre l’instant présent et profiter de nos journées
Belle Journée ou Bonne fin d’après-midi a toi dans le calme et la douceur
Bises amicales
Bernard
Tu as raison, Bernard , un tel rassemblement de bateaux et de foule ne pourrait pas avoir lieu maintenant avec le Covid qui peut sévir à nouveau.
I just wanted to stop by with some ❤ , prayers, and (((HUGS))) 🙂
You and your family have been on my mind and in my heart, Michel.
🙂
Thank you very much , Carolyn.
You’re welcome! 🙂
We saw the tall ships when we were in Charleston South Carolina. I didn’t get good pictures because there was a crowd of people and we could barely see. You got some really nice pictures.
Those sail ships are really impressing. They remain in your memory , Gail.
Love this post.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
Beautiful ships! What a fun and peppy song! Makes me smile! 🙂 ❤
I find the tall ships very interesting, but never have been able to be where I could actually walk up to them. Life on those ships must have been very hard and dangerous. But they are so beautiful. Love this wonderful post.
Hello Michel.
What a lovely post. Tall ships visit Finland every fourth year. I have made few posts about them when they visited different towns. Latest is from Kotka.
The tall ship in your post on the left is called Götheborg. Here is my post when it visited Helsinki in 2009.
Tall ship Götheborg / Gran Velero Götheburg / Grand voilier Götheborg
At the and of this post there are three links to my posts.
Have a great day!
Sailing ships of old have always interested me, Michel! They would have looked magnificent on the oceans, but the dangers of the seas are to be respected.
What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing it! We saw the Tall Ships (that’s what we call these big sailing ships in the USA) in New York Harbor the year they re-dedicated the Statue of Liberty. They are so beautiful!
I am going to post on my facebook page about my experience seeing the Tall Ships and also my experience seeing the paddle wheelers come up the Mississippi as part of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial celebration.. I will tag you so you can find it easily.
I will read this up coming post , with pleasure, Nancy ❤
I believe several world navies have sail boats like this to train their novice sailors. I know, too, the US Navy maintains one (“Old Ironsides”), USS Constitution, that dates back to the origins of the nation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution