La Recouvrance

Schooner La Recouvrance is a symbol and ambassador of her owner, the city of Brest, France. She is named after a famous district of the city where sailors’ wives prayed to Notre Dame to protect their sons and husbands away at sea.

Toulon Voiles de Légende - La Recouvrance

Symbol of marine heritage

The ship was once thought lost forever. However, thanks to the Recouvrance project founded in the early 90s she was successfully brought back to life.

La Recouvrance is the replica of an “aviso”, a military boat dating from the beginning of the 19th century, used for communications between navy vessels and ground forces.

Gradually the boat’s duties were extended to include surveillance and protection of merchant shipping off the coasts of the West Indies and Africa. Construction of the ship started in 1991 as part the national "Bateaux des Côtes de France" contest.

The boat is the joint product of the initiative of an association and enthusiastic rallying of the community of Brest. This magnificent sailing ship, proud representative of Ponant’s maritime past, was launched on July 14th, 1992.

She was fitted out in 1993 and works on her interior were completed in spring 1996. Ever since, in her capacity as ambassador flagship of the city of Brest, she has taken part in numerous maritime heritage festivals and tall ship races.