BISQUINES

If there's one legendary ship in the Bay of Cancale, it's the bisquine. This boat, whose origins could be Basque, reached its apogee and its most beautiful lines between Brittany and Normandy, in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel. At the beginning of the 19th century, this new type of rig made its appearance in our region, possibly imported from Normandy. It effectively replaced the square rigging. In 1827, the port of Saint-Malo recorded the presence of two bisquines.

 

In Cancale, throughout the first half of the 19th century, square-riggers and bisquines coexisted in the harbour, as evidenced by the 1856 painting by Gilbert preserved in the Cancale town hall. Over the decades, the hull's rather heavy lines were refined and its proportions became more harmonious. The sail area was impressive, making it possible to dredge oysters with four ‘irons’ (dredges) or fish with a larger stick trawl. The foremast is straight, while the mainmast has a strong rake and a bowsprit for the larger boats. The mast, which is not shrouded, is made of pitch-pine.

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The bisquine is at its most elegant during regattas. Weather permitting, a third row of sails is added to the fishing rig, making it the most heavily sailed fishing boat in France. Summer jousts are hotly contested, particularly those against the Granvillais. Some family disputes between the two sides meant that the ‘fâcheries’ lasted for years.

 

The shipyards of La Rance and Cancale built them until 1914, when motorisation signalled the end of this magnificent boat. Since 1987, the Cancalaise has been plying the bay again. She is the town's best ambassador.