Tonnerres de Brest - Mexico shines as guest nation

by RivaCom on 18 Jul 2012 For Tonnerres de Brest 2012, following Morocco, Russia and Norway, it was Mexico’s turn to shine on Tuesday as guest nation. The debut was huge both for Mexico and for Brest as this is the very first occasion on which the country has come to the Tonnerres de Brest with its offerings.

On display were exhibitions, treasures from the ocean depths and tortillas of course! However, surely the real showstopper had to be the Cuauhtémoc, the elegant Mexican three-master. Indeed the sail training ship was a fantastic sight for the crowds, who were out in force again, particularly as the skies cleared leaving beautiful blue skies and a fine breeze. It was also a fine way to highlight what was one of the most incredible scientific expeditions of all time, which left the port of Brest in 1785, only to be lost with all hands in 1788 offshore of Vanikoro in the Pacific Ocean; an expedition led by Lapérouse.

At the Tonnerres de Brest this Tuesday 17 July, Mexico was the guest nation and for just reason. The maritime history of Mexico spans over 30 centuries and two oceans, from the beginning of Mayan civilisation, but for many today it was a veritable journey of discovery for European visitors. For many the star of the Mexican village was the Cuauhtémoc, a beautiful three-master measuring nearly 90 metres in length and visiting Brest for the first time.

This display of grandeur is a reflection of the maritime history of Mexico, which stretches over 30 centuries and two oceans, from the beginning of Mayan civilisation. It has crossed tacks with the boats of Europe and France in particular many times since the epic journeys by the conquistadors in the early 16th century through until the heroic resistance of the port of Veracruz (to attacks in 1825, 1839, 1847 and 1914, which were respectively launched by Spain, France and America) and including the Mexican expeditions made by Napoleon III.

Largely unknown by the general public in Europe, the maritime heritage of this country is open to research and discovery, both by visitors and the Mexicans themselves through an in-depth scientific exhibition on display in various marquees in photo format providing visitors with a veritable journey of discovery!

Late morning today, the Mayor of Brest, François Cuillandre, went along to the inauguration of the Mexican village on the right bank of the Penfeld, to inaugurate the village of this grand maritime nation. The village testifies to an age-old maritime heritage for which Mexico is very much committed to sustainable development. Jean-Claude Lardic, Deputy Mayor of Brest, highlights the importance of the presence of the Mexican delegation:

'Mexico, today's guest of honour at the Tonnerres de Brest, is a great maritime nation and represents the South American continent. Brest and Mexico have some solid relations developed through their scientific cooperation, with the focus on the oceanographic domain in the Gulf of Mexico. In accepting our invitation, they have done us the honour of coming along with the splendid Cuauthémoc, a three-master belonging to the Mexican Navy.'

Ethiopia is also present in Brest, indeed this is their third time, and they have brought us their oldest, most fragile boats, yet they couldn't be described as ephemeral. Indeed the papyrus open boats from Lake Tana have been around since the time of the Egyptian temples over 5,000 years ago, and others made of balsa from Lake Tchamo have been around for over 20,000 years.

This morning at 1030 hours, seven to eight Ethiopian pirogues descended the Penfeld to greet the Moroccan village, that of Norway and finally Mexico, to whom the day is dedicated.

For José-Marie Bel, President of the Queen of Saba association, which represents Ethiopia at the festival 'It's a profession of faith. We need to make people aware of the Ethiopian heritage in countries beyond its borders as it's especially rich in treasures as the cradle of humanity…'

Throughout this Tonnerres de Brest 2012, the 'Brest in the time of Lapérouse' programme transports visitors two centuries back in time. An emotional sequence on the site this afternoon with a very special visit from the descendants of Jean-François de Galaup, the Count of Lapérouse, and representatives from the town of Albi, which is where the famous Naval officer was from.

Franckie' 83 years old: 'I'm the skipper of Fabienne, which is a 1959, an oak crayfish boat. I travelled up from L'Aber Wrac'h (to the South) and I took it quite slowly so the journey took about five hours, but she's proved her seaworthiness already!'

Ronan Begoc, staying on a boat at the show: 'I've been to the every Tonnerres de Brest festival since the start. I really like the mixture between what's on the water and what's on land. The nightly parade of boats and the beautiful classics are really interesting and I like the fact that everyone is happy here so the atmosphere is always great. All the visitors are happy and you're never disappointed at the festival. It's a lovely exchange of ideas and histories and it is a reminder of where we've come from and it's interesting to see the difference between old and new.'

Keith and Lynne Tullett (Vivona): 'We're here with our 12 tonne Hillyard and our son and daughter, Alex and Rose are here on their nine tonne Hillyard, Dawn Lady. We journeyed here from Falmouth, which took us about 24 hours, whilst our children made it here in 22 hours. There were a number of us making it here together and conditions were pretty lumpy at times with a force four, five or six, but we managed a top speed of about 8.5 knots, which was pretty good going. We've been coming here for the past four editions, the last two on the Hillyard, and we really enjoy the atmosphere here. I even got to shake hands with President Hollande when he came to the show so you can't say better than that!'

Dave Stickland (Tashana): 'The trip from Falmouth took us about 30 hours as we went around the outside of Ushant at the time as the tides weren't favourable. This is our first time at the Brest festival and it's very well organised and out on this pontoon it's nice and quiet and you're ideally placed for all the fireworks too, which have been brilliant. We're given everything we need on arrival to ensure that we're environmentally friendly too, which is quite something.'

Ronan on a Muscadet: 'This boat has been a member of the wider family since she was built in 1965. On the way there she did about 6.5 knots upwind and 9/10 knots under spinnaker. This is the second time my father and I have attended Brest twice now as the ambiance is great and there's always something new and exotic to see and it's great having so many boats on the water.'

Mr Dengrenuine on a Mousquetaire with his three kids: 'Designed by Herbulot, this is the legendary sailing boat for the Les Glenans islands and the second series had this little transparent dome, which is obviously a great help with vision in a storm. We're the fourth owner. It's our first time at the Tonnerres de Brest and we're really enjoying it. There's really something for everyone so plenty to keep the kids occupied!'

Chris Stone (Master of Hardiesse): 'We sailed to Brest from Falmouth in a steady north-westerly wind. We travelled around 140 miles with a tour around the outside of Ushant. She's a 1974 Percy Dalton design auxiliary gaff ketch, with an L.O.A. 15.3m and a displacement of 40 tonnes. She is a sail training ship so we usually have 14-17 year olds aboard during the school holidays. It's the kind of event you can enjoy whatever you age so that suits us!'

Jonathan Cully (Jorodeta): 'Nine of us, three families, have sailed from Newry in Northern Ireland to here in Brest on this boat, the youngest being just four years old. It was very lumpy around the Scillies and took us around a week. It took us 19 days to get the boat ready for the trip from Northern Ireland. She's about 14m and weighs in at 20 knots but you can get around 10/15 knots at best, but an average of around 7.5kts. It's great to be here and there's lots to see. Best of all is sailing with all the other boats around the harbour – you don't get a chance like that very often!'

Today saw the very first visit to the show of Cuauhtémoc, is a three-masted vessel measuring 89.72m, whose purpose today is to organise, train and enrol, equip and direct forces under the command of the Mexican Navy for the accomplishment of its overall mission and the full exercise of its functions.

She is also intended to cooperate with the Mexican Government by safeguarding the legal framework, carry out different activities in order to safeguard and protect the sovereignty of the State and protect maritime, lakeside and river traffic within its territorial jurisdiction as directed by the Supreme Command. Her home port is in Acapulco, Mexico and she is named after the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc, whose name means 'Swooping Eagle'.

The figurehead represents the young Cuauhtémoc at the beginning of the 16th century and reflects a time when Hernan Cortes colonised this civilization for the Spanish crown. The Aztecs were defeated after a gruelling siege on their capital and Cuauhtémoc was taken prisoner, but not even torture could force him to reveal the location of the treasure so Cortes had him executed. Since then, for Mexicans he has represented fighting spirit and independence. Launched in Bilbao in 1982, the Cuauhtémoc has enjoyed many adventures at sea.

She covered 26,000 nautical miles in 180 days, crossing the Atlantic in 17 days, and rounding Cape Horn in 1993. Its cadets working amongst its masts are a sight to behold. The training-school devours the miles for the past three decades: author of an Atlantic crossing last just 17 days, she even rounded Cape Horn in 1993.

John (‘Jack') Laurent Giles (1901-1969) was a famous yacht designer. He and his company designed more than 1000 boats from cruisers, racing yachts to 'megayachts'. He is best known for his design of displacement sailing yachts like the famous 7.6 metre Vertue of which 230 boats made, or Wanderer III. His famous Myth of Malham (designed in conjunction with John Illingworth) a revolutionary light displacement racer, inspired by developments in aeronautics. The novel design helped win the Fastnet Race in 1947 and 1949. The updated Miranda IV of 1951 had a rudder separate from the keel, which heralded the arrival of the modern period of yacht design.

Laurent Giles described as part of his design philosophy that a yacht should have ‘the utmost docility and sureness of manouvering at sea, in good or bad weather'.

His boats were designed to maintain a steady course with minimal action by the helmsman but respond instantly to the helm if the need arose. He was awarded the honour of Royal Designer for Industry in 1951.

The Laurent Giles sailing yacht archive includes the famous and prolific Vertue, Wanderer and Brittany Classes as well as many one off custom designed auxiliary cruising yachts, motorsailers and Super-yachts, International 12m, 8m and 6m Class racing yachts. Inshore and Offshore racing yachts, I O R, Channel Handicap and one design racing yachts, day boats and dinghies. The motor yacht collection includes displacement, semi displacement cruisers, hi-speed craft and speed boats and beach boats. Super-yachts and tenders, Pilot Cutters, fishery protection cutters, ferries, harbour launches and service vessels. Survival craft, lifeboats, working boats, tugs and a wide variety of other diverse commercial vessels complete the portfolio.

Laurent Giles has collaborated with most of the leading production boatbuilders of his time, Azimut, Bennetti, Cheoy Lee, Bowman Yachts, Moody, Salterns, Seamaster, Valdettaro, Westerly Marine Construction and Westerly Yachts to name a few. Individual classes include Centaur, Longbow, Discus, Konsort and Konsort Duo, GK 24 and GK 29, Salar 40, Carbineer and Grenadier, Giles 38, the R.N.S.A 24, Sopranino, Trekka, Audacity and many more.

There are three of Giles' boats at the Tonnerres de Brest: Aziliz, Madalaine and Tumbelina. Aziliez is a Westerly Centaur and has an LOA of 8.7m. Dennis Rayner's designs had launched Westerly Marine in the UK as a successful yacht production company, but by 1967 it was felt that fresh ideas were needed for a new range for the 1970's. Jack Giles of Laurent Giles had recently launched 'Bluebird of Thorne', a 50-foot twin keeler, for which he had done extensive tank testing. The tank testing decided it; he was the man to approach for the new state of the art twin keel designs. The first effort was a bit of a disaster, since Laurent Giles had come up with what amounted to a development of the existing Westerly 25, which David Sanders thought was 'all curves and no substance.'

David Sanders was very disappointed and said so to Jack Giles who immediately perked up and said 'so you want a proper yacht?'

The result of this co-operation, the 'Centaur', has a very low waterline over beam ratio, a clean canoe body and twin bilge keels of aerofoil section. Under sail the boat performs remarkably well to windward at a very modest angle of heel and under power did all that was expected of her and, in addition, showed unusually good handling characteristics when going astern.

The layout below decks is spacious for a boat of only 26ft, overall having four comfortable 6ft. 6in. berths, a separate toilet compartment and a dinette arrangement, which can be converted into an additional double bunk. Despite the space below decks, there is still a 6ft. 6in. self-draining cockpit, a feature of the boat, which appealed to the American market to which an appreciable number of 'Centaurs' were exported. The Centaur was officially launched at the London Boat Show 1969, and was an immediate hit worldwide. Tonnerres de Brest website