2034 marks the 500th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's discovery of Canada. To mark this major event in the history of navigation, a team of enthusiasts is embarking on a major project: the construction of a replica of one of the ships that accompanied the explorer from Saint-Malo on this expedition into the unknown. Their goal? To revive the ship's history by completing its construction within ten years, and then undertaking an Atlantic crossing.
Reawakening the history of an exploration ship
Brieg Guyon, a descendant of Jacques Cartier's family, grew up in Saint-Lunaire, steeped in admiration for the explorer and his discovery of the Atlantic. A graduate of the École Centrale engineering school, specializing in marine engineering, he took his first steps in shipbuilding at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, before working as a project manager in the field of marine renewable energies. Passionate about history, nautical adventures and shipbuilding, Brieg conceived the idea, as early as 2021, of building a replica of one of the ships quoted in this extract from the Relation du voyage de Jacques Cartier de 1534: '' Departed from the harbor and port of Saint-Malo with said two ships of about sixty tons each, both equipped with sixty-one men, on April 20, 1534 ''. History is largely unaware of the circumstances surrounding Jacques Cartier's first voyage, when he set out three times from Saint-Malo to explore the New World. Only the names of the ships and members of subsequent expeditions have survived, relegating the first to the silence of oblivion. The Jacques Cartier 2034 Association was born of this desire to revive this forgotten page of the past, with a crew determined to launch La Nouvelle Hermine in 2034 on the ocean towards the St. Lawrence to mark the 500th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's exploration of this territory, which was renamed Canada.
A "new" Hermine
In the absence of any documentation on the boat whose replica is envisaged, it was decided to name this boat "Nouvelle Hermine", in homage to the emblem of Saint-Malo and Brittany, these regions whose fishermen had preceded the kings in the exploration of distant lands hitherto unknown to Europe. Two of the ships in the fleet of Jacques Cartier's second voyage already bore the names "Petite Hermine" and "Grande Hermine"; and since the real ship of 1534 is nowhere to be found, the one of 2034 must inevitably, according to the association, be a "new" Hermine.
The Jacques Cartier Association refuses to see this ship as a mere reconstruction. Their dream is that, in 2034, they will be able to relive the thrill of the first voyage in 1534, thanks to a "resurrected" ship. To achieve this, the project will draw on the most recent research and seek to generate new ones, in order to guarantee unquestionable historical authenticity. What's more, the adventure of 2034 will undoubtedly be "new", as it will involve new players, new destinies and new technical challenges: a cultural initiative that intends to address contemporary societal and economic issues. In the words of its members, ''.. la Nouvelle Hermine is not intended as a simple commemoration, but as a passage, a true remembrance. More than that, it will be an invitation to re-discover the world, the ties that bind France and Canada, a re-interrogation of our past, our origins, the history of the Great Discoveries and that of Canada's First Nations ''.
The historical challenge of reconstruction
In the quest to reconstruct one of Cartier's ships, the association is faced with a problematic gap: no plans exist, or at least they haven't yet been discovered. It will therefore be necessary for its members to immerse themselves ''step by step'' in 16th-century writings and documents, in order to seek out detailed descriptions of similar vessels, transatlantic voyage reports, and any other elements that might shed light on the design and construction of these early ships. '' With these clues in hand, we'll be able to make technical choices, detail our general architecture and draw up manufacturing plans says the team.
Rebuilding a period ship
'' How can we, in the 21st century, build a 16th-century ship when the craftsmen, journeymen and know-how of that era have disappeared? How can we ensure that we respect the assembly and outfitting techniques of that distant period? ask the founding members. For their association, this represents a real challenge requiring constant arbitration between respect for period construction techniques and the imperative of guaranteeing modern seaworthiness, in particular to ensure a safe crossing of the Atlantic.
Managing an eco-responsible worksite
The association sees this project as a strong commitment to the preservation of the environment. While the use of sail propulsion reduces carbon emissions during sailings, these contractors will also have to take into account the overall impact on the environment, such as engine propulsion, energy consumption of the shipyard, transport of materials, and other aspects.
To this end, these nautical heritage enthusiasts have teamed up with those who promote the skills of sailboat building. Their expertise will help them give new life to a centuries-old boat.
Project stages
2022-2029: historical studies, design, communication, fundraising.
2029-2031: manufacture of the hull: keel, planking, stern, caulking, stern castle...
2031-2033: fitting out the ship: upper deck, paintwork, sails... Sightseeing tours possible, depending on construction site.
2033: launch, sea trials, completion of outfitting, propulsion and seaworthiness.
2034: Atlantic crossing.
Aids and partnerships
On the one hand, the collaboration between the Jacques Cartier 2034 association and the A.D.F.J.C.C (Association des Descendants des Familles de Jacques Cartier et de ses Compagnons) was fruitful. In addition, students from ESG Rennes' Master 1 Entrepreneurship program focused on economic strategy, while students from the École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées presented the conclusions of their pre-study of the Nouvelle-Hermine's dimensions, carried out over 2,500 hours by 15 engineering students. The budget, estimated at 3.3 million, represents an appeal to all companies, foundations and passionate patrons. The search for funding has begun. The studies have been transferred to a firm of naval architects who will finalize the plans and validate the feasibility of this reconstruction, taking over from the study carried out by the association and ENSTA.
Tonnage, the primary concern
The association has only one valid piece of information concerning Jacques Cartier's first two ships: their ton capacity, which was "two ships of sixty tons each". After extensive research and consultation, the Jacques Cartier Association sought the expertise of Eric Rieth, Director of Emeritus Research at the CNRS and head of the Naval Archaeology Department at the Musée National de la Marine in Paris. Mr. Rieth concluded that the Bordeaux barrel of the 1681 order was the most plausible hypothesis. Following this, the Cartier technical team, in collaboration with ENSTA's Hull Architecture group, carried out a simulation to determine whether sixty 1.44 m3 barrels could be accommodated in the first hull designed using Rhino software. The results were conclusive: it is possible to store 60 barrels in the space below deck, confirming the initial estimate of the ship's dimensions.
" The purpose of our association is to commemorate the peaceful discovery of Canada, and to bring to life and relive, through a love of adventure, the breathtaking moments of the discovery of a New World "The association concludes. " With the help of historians and specialists, we want to reconstruct the portrait of Jacques Cartier, a navigator still shrouded in mystery, and the destiny of brilliant builders and heroic crews ".
