--- ARMADA ROUEN 2008 ---
There is little doubt that this fifth edition, to be held from July 5 to 14, will be as successful as its predecessors.
With the entry into service of the 6th bridge of the River Seine in the spring of 2008, forming its own Arc de Triomphe for the "ARMADA ROUEN 2008", Rouen will be in the media spotlight that year as well. The list of tall ships, old-rigged sailing ships, private yachts, and naval vessels that have decided to be present is getting longer by the day.
A noteworthy innovation for the next edition will be the presence of "Sail Training International", an international association that organises races of sailing ships around the world, as a partner of "Armada Rouen 2008".
It has chosen Rouen as the point of departure to Liverpool for the prologue of the "Tall Ships' Races 2008". Liverpool will be the point of departure for the race to Maloy in Norway on July 18 and to Den Helder in the Netherlands.
Equally worthy of note are the institutional and private partners as well as the large numbers of volunteers who selflessly donate their time, efforts and funds, in some cases for years: without them, the festival on the quays of Rouen would not be what it has become.
The fact that the event, including access to the quays and visits to the boats is free of charge, means that no one is excluded, be they rich or poor, alone or with a family to feed. The Armada is for everyone.
