FORGIVENESS BATELLERIE-PLAISANCE-MARINE

The " term; Pardon" indicate, at the origin, a Breton pilgrimage. " pardons" sailors extended, during times, with Shipping and also sometimes with the Pleasure. The idea to organize a forgiveness " Shipping-Plaisance" , gathering the two components, germinated, in 1995, in the spirit of some persons in charge of the Yacht-club High-Sambre (YCHS), of Landelies (Belgium - Province of Hainaut - entity of Montigny-the-Lime, on the Sambre river, upstream of the lock n°9), and of former boatmen, mainstays of the Boat-Vault of Marchienne-with-Bridge. The initiators thought that it would be welcome to create an occasion of meeting between professional marines and marines of leisure, to support a friendly bringing together and contacts between users of the water way, without any distinction. Indeed, these two categories of flying personnel still too often cross or sail of preserve while being unaware of because they are known little about. In addition, river tourism developing more and more, yachtmen and boatmen will be brought more and more to côtoyer.

The 1st FORGIVENESS BATELLERIE-PLAISANCE took place in September 1995. The marina of Landelies being too small to contain the barges and, in any case, the demonstration claiming a strong symbol, in fact the yachtmen moved, with the meeting of Shipping, and moored with Marchienne-with-Bridge, near the Boat-Vault, point gathering, residence, social service and high-place in charge of emotional significance for the professional boatmen in activity or pensioners, whatever their philosophical designs. The reception of the boatmen was positive and thus were created the conditions of a made dialog of comprehension and reciprocal regard.

It was felt that this demonstration answered the wish of much and one decided to republish the operation annually. In 1996, the Marine answering the invitation of the Committee of Forgiveness pleased to him to be the Guest of Honor of the demonstration and delegated its river patrol craft P902 RELEASE to represent it. In 2001, Forgiveness " Shipping-Plaisance" became officially Forgiveness " Shipping-pleasure-Marine" and the Chief of Staff of the Belgian Navy inaugurated a monument with Forgiveness, taking again the symbols of the 3 components of Forgiveness: shipping (an anchor and a propeller), the Pleasure (a bar with wheel) and the Navy (an anchor).

The demonstration, of nature as well national as international and opened with the general public, proceeds each last Saturday of September and immediately following Sunday. Its watchword: friendship and solidarity between flying personnel. As of 2002 the tradition of the Flame was established. Brought by boat, this Flame of the Friendship lights the Flame of Forgiveness solemnly, saturdays. Sunday takes place the mass of Forgiveness, followed blessing of the boats. For more details, please consult: http://pardon.i-clic.net/