Stopover in Sète 2024: pirates, cannonballs, rifle fire… at the heart of the naval battle!

La Grace a combattu contre le Shtandart. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

The sailors had no mercy on their adversaries! Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

The Shtandart fired a large number of cannonballs at the enemy boat. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

On Wednesday March 27, in the old Sète basin, two 18th century sailboats simulated a naval battle. On board the Shtandart, the cries of the sailors rage…

"Davaï ! Davaï!"("Allez" in French) shouts a Russian sailor from the Shtandart. This Wednesday morning, on the blue waters of the Mediterranean, the Russian frigate launched an offensive against the Czech sailboat La Grace. For this new edition of Escale à Sète, the (false) naval battle between two 18th century sailboats returns to rage.

"This is the first time that so many shots have been fired from cannons"

With masts at least 32 meters high, the hundreds of spectators of this mock naval battle understood that the sailors on each boat were not freshwater sailors. The great shots of blank cannons resonated in the basin for around forty minutes.

Dressed in pirate clothing such as white blouses, short pants or tricorn hats, around twenty sailors from Russia, France and Spain fought against Grace.

Vladimir Martus, captain of the Shtandart

Vladimir Martus is the Jacques Brel of navigation. He is the builder, owner and captain of the Shtandart. Originally from Saint Petersburg in Russia and passionate about sailing, he joined a sailing club at the age of 14. Following his studies at the State Maritime Technical University, he became interested in Russian frigates of the Tsarist Empire. Thanks to the plans made available by the Hermitage Museum, he began to reconstruct with his own hands, in 1994, the model of the flagship of the fleet of the Russian Tsar, Peter I.

Since 2000, he has wandered with his crew between European ports, on international maritime festivals. "My goal is to share the romantic history of the piracy", he reveals. "When we see our boats, visitors touch with their fingertips this dream of returning to this bygone era." Through his trips to four corners of the world, it preserves "a heritage of Russian naval history, connected with Europe", he insists. "Today, I would like to be able to travel back and forth freely to my hometown."

Vladimir Martus, captain of the Shtandart. Free Midi – Baptiste Ansé

"Reload, reload", yell Thibaud, the shooting leader. This volunteer , on board the Shtandart for three years, assures that "this is the first time that he fires so many shots from cannons". Since this response, around ten shots have been aimed at their opponents. "It’s funny, it smells like gunpowder and all the sailors get involved in the game", declares Thibaud, the hands all black from the powder. To explode all these cannons, two methods are used: with electricity or the old fashioned way, with powder.

A live show

our Spanish volunteer Maria, "even though it’s a bit messy, I loved it ! This is the third time I've done it." At the end of the show, no winner: " The most important thing is fun, not knowing who wins, the Spanish girl likes to say.

From Quai Samary, the spectacle lived up to expectations. Marius, 9 years old, "s’is even believed because of the "Pam" cannons&amp ;quot;. "You were scared for a moment, no ?", continues his mother, amused. Not far from them, a young couple found "the battle impressive." "We were in it", confirms Tristan. "With the cannons, the disguises of the crew, it makes the show very lively", concludes Delphine.