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BARQUE LA SAVOIE 

 

La SAVOIE was built in 1896 in la Belotte near Geneva by Prudent BORCARD on the request of the PERAY family of Meillerie, her home port. Her registered number was n°513. She sailed until 1939 and was demolished in 1945. The actual replica's licence number is LY2076. She is registered under the name SAVOIE 513 in tribute to her famous ancestor. 

1  - The rudder: the helm (3m long, 600kg) steered by one or two men, had to be removed in order for the ship to berth astern for unloading. 

 

2 - The Deck: its convex shape made of larch wood has a vault effect which allows to carry heavy loads (50 to 250 tons) and facilitates the water to drain away.

 

3 - Accommodation area: basic accommodation for the crew. Sails and riggings were stored in the "grange", situated in the ship's bow.

 

4 - Chains: placed under the deck and equipped with wire-strainers, they reinforce the ship's structure and can be regularly tighten in order to prevent the hull from moving appart under the heavy loads.

 

5 - The frames: they are supported by the silver fir keel. The deck's "barrots" are made of oak, a hard wood sought after as twisted trunks and branches can be adapted to the hull's shape.

 

6 - Bowsprit: horizontal, enables to hoist the jib.

 

7 - The stem: It was redressed to protect the deck from sea sprays. The top of the stem, called "rode", reminds of the spurs we could see on galleys and represents the shipyard's coat of arms.

 

8 - The "apoustis": Side decks allowing to move on when the deck is loaded or to use the "étire" (long wooden steel tipped stick). They are supported by "bancalards", pieces of wood that were used to hold the galleys' paddles.

 

9 - Lateen yards: They are 27 meters long et sur lesquelles and the sails are fixed on them. They are made out of one piece of spruce wood, the larger end ("bordon") facing down.

 

10 - The winch: was used to pull the rudder blade up (mobile part of helm), while berthing.

 

11 - Lateen sails: without any boom, thus frees the deck which can be fully loaded. The sails are made of 57 cm linen strips stitched together.

 

12 - The forre mast: is slightly angled forward.

 

13 - Wheelbarrows: were used to load stones (200 kg per wheelbarrow) on the deck. The stones were arranged in two long piles looking like walls called "barins".

 

14 - The main mast: made out of larch wood. Pulleys are situated at the top of the masts, with chains going in and supporting the lateen yards. 

 

15 - L'étire: is a 4 to 5 meters wooden stick used to push the boat forward in lack of wind or to help manoeuvre when approaching the shore. 

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