L'Étoile, a school of resilience for young sailors

Having left her home port of Brest at the end of February, the topsail schooner set sail for the Mediterranean for a four-month deployment. This iconic sailing ship of the Marine nationale has the mission of training young sailors and strengthening the bond with the French public, as part of the 400th anniversary of the Marine nationale. Thus, L’Étoile made a port call in Toulon, docked at the quay of the préfecture maritime from March 20 to 23.

A WITNESS TO HISTORY

Built in 1932 in Fécamp, L'Étoile is an "Icelandic" type schooner, a replica of the vessels that used to set off for fishing campaigns of up to nine months on the Iceland banks, immortalized by Pierre Loti in his novel Pêcheur d'Islande. "This boat is a witness to French maritime expertise," emphasizes the commander. Its history is marked by World War II. Having joined England following the appeal of June 18, 1940, she proudly flies the flag of the Forces Navales Françaises Libres (FNFL) adorned with the Cross of Lorraine. During the conflict, she contributed to the training of FNFL sailors, as well as some Royal Navy sailors. The current deployment, which ends in late June, is a great moment of sharing. "The idea is for the crew to be able to exchange with young French people and the not-so-young," the commander specifies. The journey takes place in several phases. A first part in the western Mediterranean includes port calls in Marseille, Port-Vendres, Canet-en-Roussillon, and Sète. L'Étoile then heads east towards Monaco, Cannes, and Nice, before visiting Corse with stops in Bastia and Ajaccio. Each port call is an opportunity to visit the ship and for young trainees from the Préparations Militaires Marine (PMM) to embark for a first experience at sea.

A SCHOOL OF CREW SPIRIT

While the sailing ship is a heritage gem, it remains an operational training tool. "It is a boat dedicated to training young sailors. Far from the technologies of modern frigates, the students learn the fundamentals of the sailor's trade, community life, and endurance against the elements. We learn all about crew spirit and resilience, resilience is the key word. On board, the 12 students are integrated with the 15 sailors of the permanent crew and participate in night watches as well as the most complex maneuvers," the commander insists. The ship thus welcomes officer cadets, but also young people from the École de Maistrance and the École des Mousses. Maneuvering and maintaining such a vessel require a constant investment from the crew. The sailors are assigned on board for three years, the commander for two, with a one-third renewal each year to ensure a perfect transfer of expertise.

Measuring 38 meters long with a 32-meter hull, L'Étoile displaces about 200 tons. Her draft reaches 3.60 meters and her masts peak at 42 meters. Her speed, depending on the wind, can reach 12 knots in favorable conditions. Her twin, La Belle Poule, fresh from a four-month refit, will cross the Atlantic in May to participate in the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.