GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The 140th anniversary of the Lake Geneva paddlewheelers saw 8,000 people brave mixed weather in Nyon, with another 1,700 on board the CGN’s five steamboats for a “naval ballet” Sunday 19 May.

Photos, ©2013 CGN

The 1.5 hour-long display of maneuvers choreographed by First Captain Olivier Cheseaux ended with a flourish, as the five steamboats let out an impressive loud whistle and 2,000 biodegradable balloons were released into the air.

The boats that took part in the display today: The “Montreux” (1904), leader of the flotilla, the “Savoie” (1914), the “Simplon” (1920), the “Rhône” (1927), and the admiral boat of the fleet, “La Suisse” (1910).

Nyon and the CGN together sponsored the birthday party, and the Lake Geneva museum in Nyon as well as the Chateau de Prangins museum were free of charge.