2016-08-24 Anse des Laurons, Provence to Port de Sete, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

After a calm night in the safe anchorage in Anse des Laurons we continue our journey west

For the next 40nm (74km) is the Rhone Delta where France's largest river reaches the Mediterranean. Over 1000's of years the delta has formed into salt lakes and low lying land which continues increasing in size every year

For the next 40nm (74km) is the Rhone Delta where France’s largest river reaches the Mediterranean. Over thousands of years the delta has formed from silt being deposited into salt lakes and low lying land which continues increasing in size every year

As we intend to venture into the rivers and canals of France via the Rhone in the future we made the decision to bypass the Rhone Delta area

We pass a cardinal marker near the mouth of the Rhone

We continue west past low lying land and quite shallow waters

Continuing on south west to the town of Sete where we were promised a spot in the main harbour as the marina was full!!

After travelling most of the day around the southern coast of France we approach the town of Sete

We follow a fishing boat with a very noisey flock of excited seagulls hovering around, into the port

After Ric radioed into the port a young man comes out to show us the way to a spot along a quay in the large harbour

As there were no cruise ships due to dock along this quay for another few days, we were fortunate to get a spot here in such a good position

We took our bikes into town to have a look around and found the port where we were berthed, was very close by

Sete is an old town which has numerous canals and is situated not far from Agde

Sete is a small town with a population of less than 50,000 people

Sete is an old town which has numerous canals and is situated not far from the town of Agde

The town has prospered with tourism since it became the eastern terminal of the Canal de Midi, a popular canal in France with locks and one can hire a boat and travel either up or down stream

The fishing industry is a very important industry in the town and unlike other ports it is a working port with trawlers coming and going every day

Today preparations are being made for the water jousting event

Water jousting is an ancient water sport where 2 boats with oarsmen and a jouster standing on a raised platform at one end with a pole and a shield in hand. The boats approach one another and the jousters attempt to knock each other off with the poles into the water

Water jousting is an ancient water sport where 2 boats propelled with oarsmen and a jouster standing on a raised platform at one end with a pole and a shield in hand. The boats approach one another and the jousters attempt to knock each other off into the water with the poles