The Stopover boats in Sète 2024: La Grace, or Czechia, the other country of piracy

La Grace reviendra montrer sa coque jaune dans le port de Sète. Midi Libre – PHILIPPE MALRIC

This two-masted ship, expected at Escale à Sète 2024, is undoubtedly the only representative of the Czech sailing navy. The yellow-hulled sailboat is a replica of an 18th century pirate ship commanded by a merry band of enthusiasts

You can be Czech and love ocean racing and old boat sailing events. From this passion shared by Josef Dvorski and his friends was born La Grace. It was in a shipyard located near the Suez Canal that the happy band benefited, in 2008, from local construction techniques to gradually build their brig, expected once again this year for Stopover in Sète.

The pirates' favorite ship

These light and fast two-masted ships were the favorite ships of 18th century pirates and as the Czechs had a 1768 drawing, with dimensions, by the Swede Frédéric Henri de Chapman d&rsquo one of these ships, they did not procrastinate. It was also somewhere, an opportunity to pay homage to one of the only pirates in their country, Augustin Herman (1621-1686), who roamed the seas at the helm of… La Grace.

Logbook

Name: La Grace
Type : brick
Launched in 2010
Czech Pavilion
Home port: Prague
Length: 32.3 m
Mast height: 25 m
Sail areas: 364 m2
Number of sailors on board: 14

Pierced hull

After two years of construction, a few drops in morale and other joyful moments, the sailboat was finally put into the water in 2010. And suffered some inconveniences shortly after when, at anchor off the coast of Marbella, it was caught in a storm. The mooring lines let go and La Graceran aground on a beach: hull pierced. A collection will raise enough funds to repair it and for it to start attending all maritime gatherings of its kind.

Where and when to see it ?

From March 26 to 28, Quai de la République then Quai Durand until April 1. Entrance with the single ticket which gives access to the deck of all tall ships. Ticket office: quai de la République or at the tourist office and on the website escaleasete.com

The crew's grain of madness

And we can't miss it. Cannon fire Because the crew of The Grace still has that little grain of madness from its beginnings. He is always dressed as a pirate, shouting whenever he can while often giving loud cannon shots as soon as he leaves a dock. He will give it again this year during the naval battle. In her brand new livery, since La Grace arrives straight from Tunisia where the brig has been rebuilt and repainted from the keel to the top of the masts.

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