A Mediterranean journey
The Tarzan adventure began in 1950 in Sfax, Tunisia, at the Manno shipyard. This motorized schooner, built for the Marinello brothers of Sicilian origin, had an oak hull and an auric rig. Measuring 33 meters long overall, with only 21 meters of hull and a further 12 meters for the spars, 5.20 meters wide and between 38 and 40 tons displacement, she was initially designed for sponge-fishing under sail.
Inspired by Neapolitan schooners, the Tarzan is the last representative of the "gangaviers", traditional Mediterranean boats that have been using the gangave, the precursor of the trawl net, to catch sponges since the mid-18th century.
When the country gained independence in July 1957, the Tarzan's fishermen, fearing the nationalization of the fleet, set sail at night in the company of other boats. After an eventful three-week crossing of the Mediterranean, they reached the port of Sète in the Hérault region, where the Tarzan remained moored for two years. From 1960 to 1980, the Tarzan, transformed into a trawler, took part in the fish-fishing campaigns in Sète.
Decommissioned in 1980, it changed owners, passing into the hands of a yachtsman before finally being bought by William Chérino. In October 2009, it was listed as a Historic Monument.
The challenge of restoring the Tarzan
In December 2012, the boat was shipped to Locmariaquer in Morbihan, becoming part of a restoration project with the Fonds de Dotation des bateaux du Patrimoine. Unfortunately, the president, revealed to be a swindler, embezzled the funds dedicated to the restoration, leaving the boat to its sad fate.
In 2014, the association "Les Amis du Tarzan" took on the mission of saving this sponge fishing boat, a witness to the Tunisian exodus. As soon as the Tarzan was acquired by the association, volunteers mobilized to study the modalities of its restoration. To finance this undertaking, a subscription was launched in 2015 in collaboration with the Fondation du patrimoine. The funds raised enabled the abandoned boat to be transported to the Guip shipyard in Brest, Finistère. The Tarzan is presented at the 2016 Fêtes de Brest in the hope of raising the necessary funds. Unfortunately, the project took a long time to materialize, and the boat remained on the quayside.
A tricky trip to Narbonne
Since Monday November 27, 2023, the Tarzan, previously out of the water in the port of Brest, has been carefully loaded onto a trailer for transport under strict surveillance, due to its classification as a Historic Monument. The maneuver, which was particularly delicate due to the ship's age, took almost 5 hours and unfortunately resulted in the keel bending. Despite this incident, the boat set off on an 800 km journey to its final destination in Narbonne, Aude, where it will be restored to its original condition. Her arrival is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
The words of William Chérino
When asked about the source of his unwavering commitment to the restoration of the Tarzan since its acquisition, William Chérino explains that it simply stems from his curiosity to go to sea and embark fellow travelers to share and enrich their mutual knowledge. This impulse stems from a trajectory begun in 1990 with his previous vessel, Soliman, now renamed Santo Sospir and still active within the S.O.S Grand Bleu association, based in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
William Chérino's persistence in carrying out previous projects is testament to his dedication to safeguarding the Mediterranean maritime heritage. It is this same unwavering commitment that has extended to the Tarzan. Its transfer to Narbonne thus resounds like a last chance for this boat, which had been waiting in the shadows in Brest for 7 years.
Work schedule
The association "Les Amis du Tarzan" recognizes the extent of the work required to restore this boat. Renovation of the Tarzan is envisaged within the framework of a collaboration with an integration project, led by Yann Pajot, a marine carpenter approved by DRAC Occitanie, within the Conservatoire Maritime et Fluvial des Pays du Narbonnais.
The restoration will preserve the authenticity of the original materials and techniques, while complying with N.U.C. navigation standards and the criteria linked to her classification as a Historic Monument. The process of restoring the Tarzan will take place in six phases, and is scheduled to run until 2028:
-
2023: 1st phase of work. Return to Narbonne for restoration at the CMFPN as part of an integration program.
-
2024: 2nd phase of work on the axial structure and rigging, carried out under the supervision of Yann Pajot, maritime expert for Drac Occitanie and manager of the Chantier d'Insertion.
-
2025: 3rd phase of work, including edging and replacement of the root clamps.
-
2026: 4th phase of barroting, deck, bulwark, painting and landscaping work (1st part).
-
2027: 5th phase of refurbishment work (2nd part) and mast (1st part).
-
2028: 6th phase of work on the mast (2nd part) and launch in Occitanie.
A promising future
Once restored, the Tarzan will offer an immersion in traditional sailing and a greater understanding of the marine environment. At the express request of the DRAC, she will be fully equipped for sailing and demonstrating sponge fishing under sail. What's more, it will be able to join traditional sailboat gatherings and regattas. She has already been asked to take part in the periodic Tall Ships Experience, a series of events aboard large sail training ships that welcome the general public and offer training to young people in seafaring professions.
You can contribute to this restoration project by making a donation at www.fondation-patrimoine.org
