L’Hermione

Posted on August 10, 2015 by | 23 Comments

By Vladimir Brezina

L'Hermione at the South Street Seaport, NYC

The Hermione was a French frigate that, most famously, in 1780 carried the Marquis de Lafayette to America with news of French help for the American Revolution. The Hermione was then a brand-new ship, having been built in Rochefort, France, in 1779. She survived only another few years, being wrecked in 1793.

L'Hermione under sailBut now there is Hermione 2.0! A full-scale replica, she was built again in Rochefort and launched in 2014. Earlier this summer, she sailed across the Atlantic for a tour of the major US ports of Franco-American historical significance.

We went to see her when she arrived in New York City.

Here is a selection of photos from that visit (click on any photo to start slideshow):

L’Hermione among the other historical ships at NYC’s South Street Seaport
The flag, hard to miss
The ship entire
On the other side of the pier: El Galeón Andalucía, a Spanish ship at least two centuries older
Enjoying the day
Long line to board L’Hermione
The deck is full of visitors
We join the line
Every line has a function… and there are a lot of them
The lion figurehead
The cannon
The lion displays the fleur-de-lis
Colorful details
Back to the 18th century
The Captain, perhaps
Dr. Franklin takes the wheel
This being a French vessel, there had to be a chest to store the champagne…
Back in the 18th century, pirates were probably discouraged from boarding
Lines carefully coiled
Looking up the mast
Canvas and hemp
Farewell to L’Hermione

And here are more photos of L’Hermione’s visit to NYC by tugster.

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23 responses to “L’Hermione”

  1. 2geeks3knots | August 10, 2015 at 7:40 pm | Reply

    Magnifique! (Sp?) Oh, you guys MUST go see that new rap musical, “Hamilton.” Mr. Lafayette didn’t come off so well, LOL… a bit late to the party. You will love it!!!! Thx for a great post. See you soon!!!! J&A

    Like

  2. sklcolorado | August 10, 2015 at 7:44 pm | Reply

    Way cool. Haven’t been aboard one of those old sailing ships in 20 years. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Colline | August 10, 2015 at 7:47 pm | Reply

    She is definitely a masterpiece.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread | August 10, 2015 at 8:17 pm | Reply

    We were up in Maine when they stopped there. It is always impressive to see tall ships. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Sue | August 11, 2015 at 2:54 am | Reply

    Goodness! That must have taken some building!

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  7. Anne Bonney | August 11, 2015 at 8:41 am | Reply

    Great photos – what an experience!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Pit | August 11, 2015 at 2:58 pm | Reply

    Fantastic pictures: thanks for sharing. What I also discovered – I hadn’t known that before – is that one of the famous “Flying P Liners”, The “Peking” is docked in NY harbour as a museum ship. Now that’s another itiem on my bucket list.
    Have a great day,
    Pit

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  10. M.Winter | August 11, 2015 at 9:02 pm | Reply

    Oh the ropes! I could easily get them tangled!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. bluebrightly | August 11, 2015 at 9:44 pm | Reply

    Love those old ships – they’re breathtaking on the water.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Pit | August 12, 2015 at 10:07 am | Reply

    Thanks for the info and the video: ever so interesting. I’m sorry to hear about the possible fate of the Peking. :( I’m not quite sure, but I believe there’s only one other surviving, the Passat, in Travemuende, Germany. And they have problems financing the upkeep, too.
    Have a great day,
    Pit

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    • Vladimir Brezina | August 12, 2015 at 12:45 pm | Reply

      According to Wikipedia, there are four Flying P-Liners still in existence:

      The Pommern is a museum ship in Mariehamn, Finland.
      The Peking is a museum ship in New York City (South Street Seaport).
      The Passat is a museum ship in Lübeck’s sea resort Travemünde, Germany.
      The Padua is the only ship still active: she is today a school ship and sails as the Kruzenshtern under Russian flag.

      Many more are now gone.

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  13. Pit | August 12, 2015 at 8:00 pm | Reply

    Thanks so much for the info. I should at least have known about the Kruzenstern. We jokingly called her “Dieselstern” because, miraculously ;) she could move in the tall ship races when all the other windjammers were stuck in a fog with no wind.
    Have a great time,
    Pit

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    • Vladimir Brezina | August 12, 2015 at 8:47 pm | Reply

      Even the Hermione 2.0 has an engine (well hidden). I was wondering how she could keep such a tight schedule up the East Coast if she was sometimes obliged to wait maybe for days for favorable wind to enter port, as Hermione 1.0 would have done in the 18th century, but apparently ships are beyond that now :-)

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      • Pit | August 14, 2015 at 11:07 am | Reply

        Well, there’s nothing against an auxiliary engine, isn’t it? In my long-bygone sailing days I was always happy to have one – just in case.
        Have a great weekend,
        Pit

        Like

  14. Brenda Davis Harsham | August 17, 2015 at 9:22 am | Reply

    Made a flashing visit to NYC yesterday. I think we saw her, too. Not as closely as you. :-) Great pictures.

    Liked by 1 person

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Comments are most welcome!