Trying to identify a boat design

I am trying to identify the attached painting. I have had no success so far but think it might help if I could narrow down the boats in the painting to a particular geographical area.

I think it is somewhere in continental Europe (from some clues on the reverse of the painting)

Any help would be much appreciated

 

Is that 'C C' on the sails? May be Cornish Crabbers.

Someone more knowledgeable than me can probably tell you if this is the case.

 

Thanks for that suggestion - I shall make some enquiries in that direction.