Captain’s Chronicle No. 5: Hermione's Ballast: Stable and Strong, Like all tall ships, the Hermione must balance an array of heavy masts and rigging – which reach almost 150 feet in height – with a mass of weight evenly distributed below decks, especially while under sail in heavy winds. This essential counterweight is known as ballast.
On the Hermione, its ballast totals 225 tons, and it is critical in assuring the vessel’s stability. Besides a ‘flotilla’ of heavy iron bars (See photo above) placed within nooks and crannies in the deepest depths of the ship’s hold, Hermione’s ballast also consists of various modern-day technical installations, including a pair of diesel motors, an electric generator and other traditional below-deck cargo consisting of cannons, cannonballs and other nautical supplies.
As with other tall ships of this era, Hermione’s ballast is comprised principally of pig-iron bars, each weighing from 15-30 pounds. These bars were selected because they were relatively easy to handle and install; yet collectively they deliver the necessary weight and stability. Additionally, 12 tons of granite blocks from the city of Rochefort rounded out the remainder of the needed ballast in Hermione’s hold.To be sure, in story seas, this ballast must remain in place.
Should it shift in a violent pitch, it could spell mortal danger with the ship capsizing owing to the un-harnessed movement of loose ballast.
Fortunately, our Association’s volunteers undertook this operation, which lasted several months, all under the direction of Nicolas Massé (See photo above).
So deep within Hermione’s hold, strong crossbeams form a network of tight containments, each hugging its ballast of pig-iron bars or granite blocks securely in place. The installation of these pig-iron bars is laborious work; it must be done by hand.
One by one, each bar was placed by hand as ballast in Hermione’s hold, a total of 21,000 pieces. The installation of these pig-iron bars is laborious work; it must be done by hand.One by one, each bar was placed by hand as ballast in Hermione’s hold, a total of 21,000 pieces.
Last but not least, each ballast containment features an interlaced net (See photo at left), made of strong rubber strands, to prevent each bar and block from sliding from its appointed position.
This final act of ballasting in Hermione’s hold takes place in the middle of the vessel: 80 more tons of pig-iron and granite bars and this operation is done!
Next, we will have to contend with loading 50 tons of cannon, but that’s another sailor’s tall tale…..For some time now, a growing number of Hermione’s artisans and woodworkers, eager to see Hermione under sail, clamored to be on board a “tall ship” while at sea.
Wishing to be part of Hermione’s nautical crew, they petitioned and received financial support for their educational endeavors from the Association Hermione-LaFayette, one of whose aims is to train future sailors and boatswains, or senior crewmembers. This is because there are not enough French sailors today with tall ships’ expertise.
An ideal opportunity came about this past autumn when the Russian war frigate Shtandart (above), set off on a short voyage from St. Malo, in Brittany, to La Rochelle in the Charente Maritime region of France. This vessel is a replica of Czar Peter the Great’s first great warship, which was originally launched in 1703. With construction beginning in 1994, the “new” Shtandart was completed in 1999, after five years of hard work, financed entirely via private donations. Since then, the Shtandart operates as a hands-on naval school for young sailors, as well as participates in many tall ship gatherings across Europe.
Earlier this autumn, a group of nine people came aboard the Shtandart in St. Malo--two iron forgers, four sail riggers, a yachtsman, a volunteer and even a captain, comprised of several nationalities: Swedish, Canadian and French. The sail rigging of the Shtandart is actually quite similar to that of the Hermione, although the Hermione is ½ the Russian’s size. Nevertheless, the sailing principles are identical.In early fall, everyone waited for a bit calmer weather--winds at this time varied between 5 and 8 knots with gusts up to 42 knots!
While our sea legs (and stomachs) were put to the rough test after crossing the Raz de Sien, a stretch of water located between the Isle of Sein and the Pointe du Raz in Finistère in the Brittany region of France, we all welcomed reaching the Gulf of Gascony, on our way to La Rochelle, with cresting waves of only 12-to-16 feet high!
Despite difficult weather conditions, and seasickness for some of our group, overall the team performed well under inclement weather and fatiguing conditions on board an authentic 18th century war frigate.
But what images and memories we all have of this remarkable voyage!
In a final flourish, Vladimir Martus, the Shtandart’s Commander, pictured at right, in a striped shirt, took us through an afternoon into the wind--a highly technical undertaking.
The ease and rapid grace of these challenging course changes surprised us all and demonstrated the ingenious maneuverability of an 18th century frigate.
As with other tall ships of this era, Hermione’s ballast is comprised principally of pig-iron bars, each weighing from 15-30 pounds. These bars were selected because they were relatively easy to handle and install; yet collectively they deliver the necessary weight and stability. Additionally, 12 tons of granite blocks from the city of Rochefort rounded out the remainder of the needed ballast in Hermione’s hold.To be sure, in story seas, this ballast must remain in place.
Should it shift in a violent pitch, it could spell mortal danger with the ship capsizing owing to the un-harnessed movement of loose ballast.
Fortunately, our Association’s volunteers undertook this operation, which lasted several months, all under the direction of Nicolas Massé (See photo above).
So deep within Hermione’s hold, strong crossbeams form a network of tight containments, each hugging its ballast of pig-iron bars or granite blocks securely in place. The installation of these pig-iron bars is laborious work; it must be done by hand.
One by one, each bar was placed by hand as ballast in Hermione’s hold, a total of 21,000 pieces. The installation of these pig-iron bars is laborious work; it must be done by hand.One by one, each bar was placed by hand as ballast in Hermione’s hold, a total of 21,000 pieces.
Last but not least, each ballast containment features an interlaced net (See photo at left), made of strong rubber strands, to prevent each bar and block from sliding from its appointed position.
This final act of ballasting in Hermione’s hold takes place in the middle of the vessel: 80 more tons of pig-iron and granite bars and this operation is done!
Next, we will have to contend with loading 50 tons of cannon, but that’s another sailor’s tall tale…..For some time now, a growing number of Hermione’s artisans and woodworkers, eager to see Hermione under sail, clamored to be on board a “tall ship” while at sea.
Wishing to be part of Hermione’s nautical crew, they petitioned and received financial support for their educational endeavors from the Association Hermione-LaFayette, one of whose aims is to train future sailors and boatswains, or senior crewmembers. This is because there are not enough French sailors today with tall ships’ expertise.
An ideal opportunity came about this past autumn when the Russian war frigate Shtandart (above), set off on a short voyage from St. Malo, in Brittany, to La Rochelle in the Charente Maritime region of France. This vessel is a replica of Czar Peter the Great’s first great warship, which was originally launched in 1703. With construction beginning in 1994, the “new” Shtandart was completed in 1999, after five years of hard work, financed entirely via private donations. Since then, the Shtandart operates as a hands-on naval school for young sailors, as well as participates in many tall ship gatherings across Europe.
Earlier this autumn, a group of nine people came aboard the Shtandart in St. Malo--two iron forgers, four sail riggers, a yachtsman, a volunteer and even a captain, comprised of several nationalities: Swedish, Canadian and French. The sail rigging of the Shtandart is actually quite similar to that of the Hermione, although the Hermione is ½ the Russian’s size. Nevertheless, the sailing principles are identical.In early fall, everyone waited for a bit calmer weather--winds at this time varied between 5 and 8 knots with gusts up to 42 knots!
While our sea legs (and stomachs) were put to the rough test after crossing the Raz de Sien, a stretch of water located between the Isle of Sein and the Pointe du Raz in Finistère in the Brittany region of France, we all welcomed reaching the Gulf of Gascony, on our way to La Rochelle, with cresting waves of only 12-to-16 feet high!
Despite difficult weather conditions, and seasickness for some of our group, overall the team performed well under inclement weather and fatiguing conditions on board an authentic 18th century war frigate.
But what images and memories we all have of this remarkable voyage!
In a final flourish, Vladimir Martus, the Shtandart’s Commander, pictured at right, in a striped shirt, took us through an afternoon into the wind--a highly technical undertaking.
The ease and rapid grace of these challenging course changes surprised us all and demonstrated the ingenious maneuverability of an 18th century frigate.
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