The oldest sailing Newfoundland dog in France seriously weakened by a parasite

The last sailing Newfoundland in France, the Marriedwill he ever find the waters again? In June 2023, the ship celebrated its centenary with great fanfare in Granville (Manche). In November 2023, the ship which was used for cod fishing off the coast of Newfoundland in the 1920s, leaves its home port for Port-en-Bessin (Calvados), in order to carry out the ten-yearly inspection of its hull and its masts. The 44.90 meter long sailboat has not sailed since. During the inspection of the hull of the three-masted ship, a fungus which eats away the wood, close to dry rot, was discovered.

« The fungus pierced the wood of the hull, which is six centimeters thick »specifies Stéphane Gautier, director of the public interest group Marité (GIP Marité), owner and owner of the boat. The director indicates that the Married is forced to remain on hold while awaiting its restoration, which « amounts to three million euros excluding tax ». The estimate takes into account the repair of the wooden hull, as well as the change of propulsion currently provided by a diesel engine. « We want to replace it with a hybrid engine. Even if the sailboat mainly sails with the force of the wind, the engine is used to maneuver more easily in the port »adds Stéphane Gautier.

Given the scale of the operation, the board of directors of GIP Marité met on October 25. It is made up of the Department of Manche (81%), the town of Granville (9%), the town of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue (5%) and Fécamp (5%), the maritime and river heritage association and the Amis du Marité association. All the stakeholders have decided to launch a sponsorship campaign among individuals and businesses. In this race for donations, GIP Marité will not sail alone. It is supported by the Heritage Foundation which has opened an online fundraiser. The collection of donations should extend until 2026. The foundation’s website estimates the launch of the first phase of work between 2026 and 2027. « You have to look for very specific oak wood, with the right curvature for the hull. It’s going to take time »regrets Philippe Hamel.

The Marrieda story of succession

Launched in Fécamp in 1923, for the shipowner Charles Le Borgne and named in honor of his daughter Marie-Thérèse, the Married took around twenty sailors for six to eight months of cod fishing off the coast of Newfoundland, hence the name Newfoundland. « The crossing lasted a month and a half, he took on board six dories – fishing boats -, six-meter rowing boats which were launched to anchor lines of 2 000 hooks with whelk as bait »tells the Figaro Matthieu Alluin, captain of Married. It came under the Danish flag in 1930 and practiced deep-sea fishing in the waters of Iceland and Greenland. During the Second World War, “ the Married is requisitioned and carries out supplies between Scotland and England », explains Stéphane Gautier. From 1946, the ship passed through the hands of several owners until its purchase by the Swedes in 1978. “It was abandoned in the mud flats on the Islands Faroe »he adds. Twenty years later, the navigator Gérard d’Aboville, president of the Maritime and River Heritage association at the time, learned that the boat was for sale. Under his leadership, the GIP Marité was created and purchased the Newfoundland in 2003 for 1.6 million euros.

The show’s studio Thalassa

The magnificent three-masted ship, covered with sixteen white sails, rose to fame in 2004, when it hosted the television show Thalassa and its flagship presenter, Georges Pernoud. « Thanks to the show, many sailing enthusiasts became interested in it. »underlines Philippe Hamel, vice-president of the Amis du Marité association. Made up of around a hundred volunteers, the association participates in the promotion of the ship and supports the professional crew in maintenance work and certain deliveries. Since 2012, the ship has offered half-day excursions in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, or full-day excursions to visit the Chausey archipelago, located about fifteen kilometers from Granville.

In 2023, the Married will have welcomed more than 3,000 visitors. « With a daily rate of 80 euros per person, the economic plan of the boat is viable »explains Philippe Hamel. After the parasite was discovered in its hull, the ship’s navigation program for the year 2024 was canceled. For a century, the ship has weathered many storms. The vice-president of the Friends of Marité association counts on generosity « companies in the maritime sector » for this vital restoration, which would allow the Married to proudly set off towards the horizon at the end of the 2020s.