Milsurp After Hours

She is almost ready...........Her sea trials will start in September this year. ( I have my name in the draw to participate in one of them if posible )

Below is the route she will take next year and the ports she will visit.




http://www.hermione.com/accueil/

Here is a video of the progress of construction from the beginning


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZppaT-M ... 7703#t=142

Interesting.

She is now out of the dock....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESzc8i0 ... ploademail

First picture of her at sea. It appears that one of here engines is not working so she is currently in la Rochelle for repairs to it - once the Italian manufacturers find the problem
Her sailing qualities, however, are considered excellent...............

And to think sailing ships like that..back when they were state of the art...didn't have engines. Docking them in a port must have taken real skill back then. No tug boats either.

I remember some amusing, to the spectators, times when I've turned in a narrow slew, under power, on a fast moving tide and struggled to aim the bow of my small boat for the trailer guide rails without turning sideways and having to quickly back off and try again.

She has a couple of electric 'outboards' for maneuvering in port - a requirement of the safety certificate......................

As a one time (briefly) square rigger sailor I have followed her building with great interest; now if they can be persuaded that the exploits of Jean François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse are justification for a voyage Down Under.......

Here she is arriving in Bordeaux yesterday (Image from Alain Verna)

Here are a fantastic set of photos of her leaving Rochefort for the first time.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/latourdes ... 4962/show/