On the Mast today - April 26 - Welcome to the greatest game you never heard of

by Tayloe Washburn

Today the Mast celebrates a game that is so exhilarating that it impels you into an evangelical frenzy and in bringing the good news to family and friends, you are greeted with nothing more than an uncomprehending stare.  Welcome to Petanque.

Some aspects of Petanque are quite different than many American sports.  It’s simple to play, but hard to master. The strategy is obvious, yet it’s superbly subtle and multi-layered.  The equipment is inexpensive and lasts for years; it’s very low tech, nothing but a baseball-sized steel boule (ball). And you can play it anywhere; we frequently play at RV campgrounds, baseball fields or gravel parking lots, in addition to regular Petanque courts.  It’s incredibly easy to learn.  The most un-American aspect is that the language used by a typical Petanque player to describe the terrain, equipment, techniques and strategies are French!

Our local Petanque courts on a beautiful day

Pétanque has only one core objective: get your boule closer to the jack or cochonet (small wooden ball) than your opponent’s. No running, no special technique, no athleticism required. This simplicity makes it accessible to everyone — children, retirees, newcomers, and seasoned players alike.  Because players throw from a stationary position (“feet planted”), pétanque is ideal for all ages, all fitness levels, mixed groups and people with limited mobility.  This inclusivity is a major reason the game spread so widely.  We have played informally wherever we travel in our RV, and played tournaments in Iceland, Morocco, California and Spain, with Corsica and Amelie Island, Florida on the 2026 schedule.

3 types of Petanque boules with the target cochonet (little piglet)

Pétanque is as much about social connection as competition. Games are slow-paced, conversational, and often end with a shared drink or snack. For newcomers, Pétanque is a powerful way to meet people, practice language, and feel part of a community.

While pretty much unknown in America, Petanque is woven into French culture and Petanque courts can be found all over France and in former French colonies all over the world.  It’s a game where strangers become teammates within minutes.   It’s strategic, not physical.  The game rewards patience, observation, precision and tactical thinking.  This makes it engaging without being exhausting.  In short, Pétanque is popular because it’s easy, welcoming, inexpensive, and socially rich — a game where the rules are simple, the company is good, and the barriers between strangers dissolve quickly.

A workshop for our group on how to”point” and “shoot” in Petanque

While I had seen games in France, I first played it in the small town of Port Townsend.  We are lucky to have 17 Petanque courts at a nearby state park. Our group, the Port Townsend Petanque Alliance -  HOME | PTPA | Port Townsend Petanque Alliance | Boule Sports - has 77 members, many of whom gather every Sunday and Wednesday at 1:00 PM to play.  Most of us enjoy the community we share as much as the strategy and challenge of playing teams of two or three.

Flag of our local club, the Port Townsend Petanque Alliance

Here is a brief recap of rules Petanque World | Game rules of petanque)  and a video of a match in France - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXfXoSNxJr0.  In this troubled nation and world we’re all navigating, taking time to build community in whatever form works for you is a good thing. Pétanque invites us to slow down, pay attention, and share unhurried time with others. Give it a try.

The Mast today celebrates Pétanque and the community it creates.

Atop the Mast: the flag of our local club, the Port Townsend Petanque Alliance

On the Yardarm: the flags of France, home of Petanque, and the United States, where the sport is gradually growing in popularity.