Sailing through History

The Hermione in Rochefort

After 17 years of construction and more than four months at sea ended the journey of the replica the frigate Hermione, the symbol of French support for the American Revolution
On 18 April, Hermione, replication of the frigate with which Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, were from Rochefort party on 10 March 1780 to help insurgents the Americans in the war of independence against Great Britain (see naval art N 50, 72 and 76), sailed from the same locality to embark on its journey toward memory the American coast No more armed soldiers, even if for a noble cause, but a crew of sailors, including 77 54 volunteers, commanded by Yann Cariou for a mission of more than four months, with sixteen airports, meetings and cultural exchanges Every time symbolic stops, as the first to the Canary Islands, the Spanish friendship, Christopher Columbus and the great explorers who had reached The Atlantic crossing was not any serious problem: twenty cost and good seaworthiness were allowed very good averages: 10 knots with 11 Tips The first official stop was the Chesapeake Bay, where on September 5 1781 a battle took place between French naval vessels 24, under General de Grasse, and an English fleet commanded by Admiral Graves The success was essential for the continuation of operations and led to the surrender of lord Cornwallis, the British troops at Yorktown ... follows