The crew is expecting me at 5am.
– Isabelle Lebrun
It is dark, only 2 degrees and the city of Rouen is calm.
– Serge Baillivet
But on the sailboat we are agitated, the departure is approaching.
– Serge Baillivet
We cast off, we turn around to find ourselves facing the Flaubert bridge which has risen to let us pass.
– Serge Baillivet
Barely leaving Rouen, we warm up with a good coffee in the kitchen of the sailboat.
– Serge Baillivet
The opportunity to chat with Colin, one of the sailors.
We are moving at a speed of 8 knots, about 14.5 hm/h.
Raphaël, Pilot of the Seine is on board with Tugdual Jaouen the captain, at the helm
– Serge Baillivet
We are heading for Caudebec-en-Caux (Rives-en-Seine), but a stopover is planned in Duclair to bring up the CM2 students, journalists and members of the Armada 2023.
– Serge Baillivet
The captain gathers the crew for some instructions before the manoeuvre.
– Serge Baillivet
We rush to board at Duclair.
– Serge Baillivet
The captain of the Frenchman and Pierre-François Forissier, president of the Grand Voilier Ecole association, welcome young people on board.
– Serge Baillivet
If the Frenchman came to Normandy, it is for his educational mission but also for the promotion of the Armada 2023 in Rouen from June 8 to 18.
– Serge Baillivet
And if during this time we visited this 3 masts.
– Serge Baillivet
The Frenchman has a sail area of 2,895.60 m2 but he nevertheless uses his engine as on the Seine.
For sleeping several cabins are available.
– Serge Baillivet
The aft cabins, on the hull, the 4-person bedroom, or individual cabin.
– Serge Baillivet
The large exhibition room around the history of the sailboat and the mission of Commander Charcot who in 1904 left for Antarctica for a scientific expedition aboard a boat which was already called Le Français.
– Serge Baillivet
The sailboat Le Français was built in Denmark in 1948. In the 1960s it was used as a fishing support vessel. It was then bought back in the UK in 1981 and served as the setting for films like “The Three Musketeers”, “Shackleton”…
From now on, the home port of the 3 masted Le Français is Saint-Malo.
– Serge Baillivet
Our journey continues aboard Le Français, and the Brotonne bridge appears
– Serge Baillivet
As we approach Caudebec-en-Caux, we are busy preparing tonight’s meal.
– Serge Baillivet
Carrots and mushrooms, it’s a change from the potato chore!
On the Mika deck, Aurélien and the other sailors prepare for docking at Caudebec-en-Caux.
– Serge Baillivet
Before resuming its journey to Lorient, the 3-masted Le Français is making a quick stop this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Caudebec-en-Caux.
– Serge Baillivet
Thank you to the crew of the sailboat Le Français for their welcome on board.
– Serge Baillivet