Hermione’s new crew heads for the Channel
Dozens of new recruits will take to sea this month on the first leg of a three-month journey to sail the replica frigate Hermione to Normandy for the 75th anniversary commemorations of D-Day.
Training started in December when the 56 new gabiers – many of them volunteers – were sent up the rigging of the three-masted wooden vessel to make sure they could handle the 40m height.
Then they were handed a thick manuel du gabier to learn every inch of the ship, a total of 250 new words, dozens of knots, and tests to make sure they knew their way up and down the rigging.
Hermione, under Captain Yann Cariou, leaves on April 4 for Cherbourg (May 4-8), Dieppe (10-13), Ouistreham (14-17), Nantes (25-28), Brest (June 1) Caudebec-en-Caux (5-7) and then up the Seine to Rouen (7-16).
Gabier Charles, 24, who has already had one trip on Hermione, joins for the first part of the voyage.
He said: “I trained as a sailor so learning the traditional techniques was similar but also different.
The sails and ropes were new but the safety training was the same. There is a lot to learn and it is physical hauling the ropes and changing sails.
“Last year in the Mediterranean we had a lot of work because the winds were very changeable so we were on constant watch.
“It was complicated but we had no heavy seas. Even when the sea is calm, it is stunning to be so high – but you are concentrating so hard on your work you do not notice... when you do, it is awe-inspiring.”
