Around since the 18th century, the launches, jolly-boats and other gigs, long boats that perform well under sail but also rowed, served the moored ships, as pilots, as fishing vessels and even as life boats. These boats have been having a come back for the last twenty years and thanks to the new designs and newly built replicas they have provided fun and sail training, for many youths during the Atlantic challenge competitions.

These boats answer a new demand in leisure sailing, a whole new fleet of small boats has been built over the last 15 years. Perfect for playing Swallows and Amazons, easy to rig, to transport and to put to water these boats allow families to discover less frequented waters. They are replicas of European and American dorys, Norwegian faerings, boats from the Shetlands or Breton mizzen boats. These boats have inspired architects to build new types also easy to transport such as Ilyrs, Abers, Doryplumes...

Known for their elegance, their perfect finishes, bronze fittings and teak, lovely varnishes, these were the gentlemen's dreams. Built for racing or cruising, about a hundred years ago for most, have been cared for and permit the legends to live on with their way of life, just like Viola or Pesa.

In the 60's, young people with modest revenues were able to discover sailing and with their income new more affordable boats were put on the market. Sea worthy, comfortable and quite fast a new generation saw the day : Corsaires, Muscadets, Cognacs elegant and modern plans created by architects such as Herbulot and Harlé have since given much pleasure to sailors and their apprentices.

The Golfe of the Morbihan was home for hundreds of fishing vessels such as the Sinagots and Forbans and regularly received the visits of coasters and other fishing vessels. A great number of sailors on the Chasse Marees, luggers, brigs that marked the maritime history of the golfe, of which many replicas will be present during la Semaine du Golfe.

"Classic yachting ", it is not only  "Sails" ! The "Gulf's Week " never forgets this beautiful flotilla which knows how to play with engine power, which associates the elegance of hulls and the mechanical ingenuity! We think of the sparkling "racing machines" of The Riviera or the Lake Como at the time of "Dolce Vita" as well as the attractive riders of the Thames or the Seine at the time of open-air dance halls... So, we wait for former speedboats and all the "brands" of classic motorboats but also the old lifeboats, the former fishing barges recycled into pleasure boats, the lovely small British "steamers"....
Rivas, steam yachts, cabin-cruisers, runabouts, old launches, ...