French leg included in 2007 Goodwill Raid
The 2007 Celtic Goodwill Raid will include a loop to France and back to hook up with around 30 French boats.
The third raid took place last year and saw around 106 leisure sailors and
motorboaters enjoy a cruise-in-company from Wales to the West Country and on to Southern Brittany.
People can do the entire two months, or join for individual legs as they wish. Stop-offs are timed to coincide with local festivals and events and the feedback from those who took part in 2006 was overwhelmingly positive.
The 2007 calendar includes a new marina opening celebration, sea food tastings, Celtic watersports, sea shantie singing and Celtic music festivals.
That’s not to mention a 500-boat regatta, a classic boat regatta, two Celtic markets and the Last Night of the Proms, where people will be able to have an aperitif and supper in the cockpit while watching the Proms on a giant quayside screen.
Organiser Will Sutherland says: “There will also be numerous quiet anchorages in mainland creeks and out on the offshore islands, with opportunities to go and do your own thing alone or in smaller groups, to go ashore for discovery adventures and to have the occasional BBQ on the beach.”
Each Raid is limited to 35 boats, so get your entry in asap. Each Raid last nine days: two weekends and the five days in between.
The Route
The 2007 programme starts in Scotland in June and finishes in the Channel Islands in September, visiting Ireland, Devon, Cornwall, North Brittany, the Solent, Normandy, Jersey, Guernsey and South Brittany en route.
Raid Scotland
16th June to 24th June
Northern Ireland Feeder
23rd June to 7th July
Raid North Wales
30th June to 8th July
Raid Irish Sea
7th July to 15th July
Raid Northern Brittany
12th July to 22nd July
Raid Devon & Cornwall
21st July to 29th July
Raid Southern Brittany
28th July to 12th August
Raid Channel Isles & Normandy
24th August to 9th Sept.
Will says: “Our route takes us down the Firth of Clyde, the Irish Sea and St Georges Channel to Falmouth. A loop round the English Channel takes us across to the North coast of Brittany, to the Channel Islands and back along the South Devon and Cornwall coasts to Falmouth again. The route then crosses the Channel to Raid Southern Brittany, before returning for Raid Normandy and the Channel Islands.
“There will be feeder flotillas linking Raid Scotland with Raid Irish Sea, from Ireland to the start of Raid South Brittany and to the starts of Raid North Brittany and Raid Normandy & the Channel Islands.”
Full route details are on the website and can be downloaded in pdf format.
These files are being updated as more visits and social arrangements are made: Click here
The full programme is also on the website. This link will take you directly to it.
Pictured: Some of the 850 who sat down to Moules et Frites at one of the French stop-overs last year.
