Marseilles feluccas 

‘The road onwards to Marseilles was thronged with country people. Some drove their carts laden with melons, pumpkins and tubs filled with grapes. Some travelled on foot, some on asses with little panniers. The women all rode sideways, with both their feet in the same pannier.’ € This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024). 

The Role of Feluccas in Marseilles' Maritime History

In the early 19th century, Marseilles bustled with maritime activity, and feluccas were a common sight in its harbour. They were open boats, with lateen sails and pointed bows. A lateen (or latin-rig) is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. The felucca is a traditional wooden sailing boat with a single sail used in and around the Mediterranean. Passengers used feluccas for short journeys within the harbour and for longer coastal excursions. Tourists used them for sightseeing. Merchants used them for transporting goods. Feluccas were known for their manoeuvrability and agility, navigating the often-choppy waters with relative ease. Feluccas are still found in the Nile River and the Red Sea regions of Egypt and Sudan. But they are no longer thought suited to the Mediterranean's open waters and stronger currents.

Felucca Design: Agility on the Mediterranean

Feluccas served a diverse range of purposes in Marseille. Passengers used them for short journeys within the harbour, while longer coastal excursions offered scenic exploration opportunities. Tourists enjoyed sightseeing tours, taking in the city's harbourside sights from a unique perspective. Merchants also utilised feluccas for transporting goods, their agility allowing for efficient movement within the harbour. While feluccas are no longer prevalent in the Mediterranean due to stronger currents, their presence in Marseille's harbour during the early 19th century reflects the city's deep connection to maritime trade and cultural exchange. Today, feluccas can still be found in the Nile River and the Red Sea, serving as a reminder of their enduring legacy as traditional sailing vessels.