Inseparable from Sète, maritime jousting is a spectacular nautical sport with a family transmission. The city has no less than seven societies and a jousting school, which participate in perpetuating this local tradition. The tournaments follow one another from mid-June to early September, punctuating the summer, and are preceded by a parade of jousters in traditional attire. The competition opens with a pass of honor, then the jousters present their spears and shake hands at the crossing of their boats. The two contenders perched high on the tintaine of the boats try to make their opponent fall into the water with their spear.