Escale à Sète - Sports

The "Capelet Tournament" was on the program for  the Escale today - as usual, I had no idea what this meant! My dictionary indicates that it is a piece of horse equipment... Somehow, I didn't think that applied. I decided to go and see for myself just what this was all about.

As you can see, we have a team of fellows, each attempting to run up a pole placed diagonally across a canal. The objective is to grab one of the hats at the end. Without falling. In the cold water.

They are accompanied by music

I think they get extra points for spectacular falls

I'm not sure what happens if they make it to the hats..

Escale à Sète - Parades!

The Escale is full of parades - of all sorts!

Boats - aka Navirade...

Music! With drums, oboes, and bagpipes (see the album for very short videos)

Sailors (and others) in Costumes from the 1700's

La Fayette

Escale à Sète - The Tallships

Thursday at the Escale was my day to visit the Tallships! Les Grands Voiliers!

My first visit of the morning was The Giant, The 17-story high Russian Monster, known as The Kruzenshtern! (To read more, click here)

Kruzenshtern and El Galeón Andalucía

Some of the 257 crew members

I'm sure they have to occasionally climb up...

A long way up

A long way down

El Galeón, a reproduction of a Spanish Galleon from the 17th century, was right next door! Read more about it here. Read more about Galleons here.

The tour included the below-deck areas too - this is the officer's area, and a cabin

After these two, I grabbed a bite to eat, then went on to another Russian! The Shtandart is a reproduction of a much older (1703) and smaller (34 meters long) frigate. Read more here.

My final visit of the day was on La Grâce, a ship from the Czech Republic (which is landlocked, and has no seaport!). Read more here.