French to commemorate 70th anniversary of war visit (From Boating Cornwall)

French to commemorate 70th anniversary of war visit

9:00am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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Glynn Gray-Read who comes from Penryn but now lives in Riec sur Belon, Finistere, Brittany is helping to organise a special boating event in Cornwall this year.

Mr Gray-Read is a member of a yacht club in France, (ANPLF) which is twinned with Mylor Yacht Club.

He owns an old gaffer and attends local French events “with my crew of French Mercenaries and we have a lot of fun”.

He and others, will be coming to Cornwall during the summer commemorating a visit made by a French vessel from the Ile de Sein 70 years ago.

Le Corbeau de Mers is a langoustine fishing boat from the island which made that historic trip to England during the war. She was accompanied by the Le Rouanez ar Peoc'h and the Maris Stella On board at the time was Pierre Couillandre (the skipper) and 26 local people from the island. All of them were responding to the broadcast by General de Gaulle on June 18 1940. With other boats - Le Rouanez ar Peoc'h and the Maris Stella, they moored at Newlyn, on June 27, 1940.

“Last year we were asked if we would like to accompany the “Corbeau des Mers” on the 70th anniversary crossing from Ile de Sein to Newlyn on June 26,” said Mr Gray-Read.

The idea grew and now there should be about 15 old gaffers and 15 newer boats taking part in the historic event.

“All the able bodied men from the Ile de Sein left their island to join De Gaulle after his broadcast on the BBC on June 18, 1940. It would be like all the men from Scilly going off to war,” said Mr Gray-Read who added that there would be a a civic welcome at Penzance as Concarneau is also twinned with the town.

Mylor Yacht Club have just produced their year book where more information about the event can be found as well on the website www.sein-newlyn.net June 17 and 18 at the Isle of Sein, is the start of the events under the auspices of “Comité de Commémoration” and on June 26 a flotilla of traditional boats will set off for Cornwall.

The Corbeau des Mers and other vessels are expected on the morning of June 28, while a flotilla of modern boats will leave l'Aber-Wrach on June 28 heading for Mylor.

There will then be a series of planned events in Cornwall, including a regatta of oyster boats in Falmouth Bay on July 2, sailing from Falmouth to the Helford Passage.