Since Wednesday, Nantes residents have been able to see the first sailboats moored at the Quai de la Fosse. These elegant boats made the trip for the third edition of Overflow of the Loire, one of the main events on the French nautical calendar. In addition to a copious program of entertainment, the highlight of this festival on the Loire will be the “grand nautical parade” this Saturday 3 June.
A fleet of 200 character ships is expected, including three prestigious guests: the famous three-master belembuilt in Nantes in 1896, theOosterscheldea Dutch schooner dating from 1918, and Frenchex-Kaskelota three-masted boat of Danish origin dating from 1948. All three have the particularity of having had a history of transporting goods by sail (cocoa, rum, brick, etc.), the theme chosen for this edition.
The public will also be able to see the three-master Grayhoundthe lugger Corentinthe English sailboat black jokethe dinghy trivialtuna Doethe barge Jules Vernethe steamboat Lechalas or the old roquio Chantenayamong others.
From Saint-Nazaire to Nantes this Saturday
The start of the ascent of the Loire, by the maritime flotilla, will take place at 1 p.m. at the Saint-Nazaire bridge. The regrouping with the river boats is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. at Le Pellerin. The entire fleet will pass under the Cheviré bridge around 5:50 p.m. Arrival announced in Nantes, quai de la Fosse, at 6:45 p.m. The ships will remain in Nantes on Sunday, before a departure scheduled for Monday morning, around 7 a.m. In parallel, a véoparade is scheduled for Saturday, from 3 p.m., from Couëron to Nantes. Dance performances are also scheduled.
The previous editions of Débord de Loire took place in 2016 and 2019. More than 100,000 people attended the 2019 nautical parade. Some 200,000 visitors are expected this year for the entire event. Débord de Loire is organized by the cultural association of the summer, with the financial support of several local authorities.