The lighthouse at Le Kereon in the Iroise Sea was the last sea lighthouse to become automated, in December 2003. Before then, relieving a keeper was a treacherous task that required a talented captain and crew on the relief boat.
Filmmaker Thierry Marchadier produced a documentary on offshore light keepers in 2000, and a 2-minute clip of a keeper change was recently posted on YouTube.
Although this kind of steel-nerved seamanship and athleticism is no longer required at Le Kereon, the feat is no less impressive.
Note how nonchalant the keeper is when his boots finally hit the deck of the boat.
