They have been there for several months, years or even decades. Abandoned by their owners, the wrecks of the Quelmer boat cemetery are one of those places that fascinate. Every day, hikers walking the GR 34 stop to observe these curious silhouettes worn by the Breton tides. Many take the opportunity to photograph them, spreading their legend on social networks. But in the end, who knows what these old boats are doing there, stranded on the banks of the Rance? And who knows their history? Probably not many people. While this spot, well known to the inhabitants of Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d’Armor, will probably be the scene of digestive walks during the end-of-year holidays, 20 minutes wanted to tell you about a great initiative launched by a handful of enthusiasts. Called “Stranded Memories”, this sound walk allows the curious to discover some astonishing stories of these abandoned carcasses.
We owe the idea for this podcast to the members of the association for the development of research in maritime archeology (Adramar). Based in Saint-Malo, the structure has always campaigned for the conservation of local heritage. With this new project carried out by the Musair company, it chose the sound tool rather than the classic information panels. “Our idea is to bring this cemetery to life because we pass by without knowing what they are saying,” says Yann Gaonac’h, archaeologist from Adramar, with humor. “These boats are memories of local history, markers of time. They are the vestiges of shipbuilding techniques that have disappeared. It’s a memory that is leaving. Because the sailors who sailed on these ships are either dead or too old to testify. »
A ghost ship that wandered on the water
Headphones on, boots on, we discover the story of four wrecks immobilized in the sand and mud of Quelmer. We think in particular of the Zoulou, this old shell boat which was abandoned in 1991 by its boss but which left alone one stormy day. “He had wandered around the Rance like a ghost ship. The captain and his sailor had gone to look for it and had themselves punctured the hull to immobilize it,” says Yann Gaonac’h. At that time, Europe paid bonuses to fishermen who abandoned their old vessels to preserve the resource. Since then, the legislation has changed and it is forbidden to abandon your boat, particularly for obvious environmental reasons. Since 2021, the tax on sales of new boats allows for free treatment of wrecks.
The Quelmer podcast also allows you to discover the story of the star President Raoult who brought thousands of residents and visitors across for fifty years. “There were two companies which carried out the crossings: a green one and a white one. They were waging a truly terrible trade war to get travelers on board.” Both companies would eventually sink in 1966 after the inauguration of the Rance dam. This bridge definitely torpedoed the metal launches. But their carcass and their soul are still clearly visible in Quelmer, where they were abandoned.