Hermione to set sail for America
Lovingly built replica of 18th-century frigate begins historic voyage, 235 years after her namesake crossed Atlantic
THE LOVINGLY built replica of French navy frigate Hermione was due to set sail for the United States again today, 235 years after the original crossed the Atlantic to help America win the war of independence.
After completing successful sea trials in the Bay of Biscay, Hermione’s 80 crew members - including 18 professional sailors and 54 young volunteers, some of whom have never been at sea before - have been making final preparations to sail the three-masted 65m ship from Ile d'Aix along the route to Boston made by General Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, to bolster revolutionaries fighting for an independent United States.
The volunteers have had to master various traditional sailing skills, including knot tying, as well as developing a head for heights for stints in the rigging. They were expected to be waved off by thousands of well-wishers, including President Francois Hollande.
The original Hermione took General Lafayette to the America to rally rebels fighting Britain in the war of independence.
The lovingly built 21st-century version of the vessel is expected to arrive at Yorktown in Virginia, on June 5, where US troops led by George Washington supported by General Lafayette’s French soldiers scored a decisive victory over the British in 1781.
Also read: French players in US independence
She will then head to sail into the bay of New York just in time for Independence Day celebrations on July 4, with an expected escort of hundreds of local yachts.
The original Hermione took six months to build in 1778. Her replica took a painstaking 17 years to construct, and made use of the talents of hundreds of craftspeople from around the world.
Also read: Hermione takes to sea at last
Veteran of seven round-the-world trips Yann Cariou will captain the ship on her history voyage.
The project cost €25 million, and has been financed by more than four million visitors to the shipyard in Rochefort where the ship was built, as well as through crowd-funding initiatives for specific parts of the ship.
Lafayette is still easily recognised in France. Hundreds of streets and squares - including Lafayette Square, opposite the White House - are named after him.
You can follow the voyage via the Hermione2015 website here, or by following the Twitter handle @hermionevoyage
