In 1780, the Marquis de La Fayette left Rochefort to bring reinforcements overseas to the troops fighting for American independence. The journey was swift on board the Hermione, crossing the Atlantic in 38 days. The Hermione was a light but sleek frigate with its 26 canons, a ship which nevertheless measured 44 metres in length and 11 in width. A local association, Hermione-La Fayette, has since 1997 been working on the construction of a near-perfect replica of the historic ship (with only a few modifications to respect modern day regulations). The Chantier de l'Hermione, the specially-made shipyard, was designed to accomplish this highly-technical undertaking, but also to accommodate visitors who wish to learn about the project. Once finished, the Hermione will be sailing off to new adventures on the high seas, or docked in harbours on both sides of the Atlantic.
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