Replica of William I warship

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/25/french-team-build-replica-william-conqueror-warship

An interesting project!

[Duncan Head]

It is hoped that the new Mora will be ready to sail the Channel in 2027...

They'll need to be careful - small vessels crossing the channel are not always welcome these days. (Not that they were very welcome in 1066, of course.)

[Erpingham]

"We have the Bayeux tapestry and a plan of La Mora's sister ship...."

Fascinating that they have a plan of an 11th century warship.  Didn't think we had plans, rather than descriptions, of ships till the Renaissance.  Be interested to see how detailed this plan is.

[Duncan Head]

Indeed the French project website linked to mentions the lack of 11th-century plans - "Malgré l'absence des plans de l'époque..." - so quite what the G is referring to I do not know.

[DBS]

My assumption was that they meant that they were making assumptions based on the Roskilde vessels - so "physical evidence" rather than a plan per se.  Great that they are doing it in one sense, but it does amuse me that the French want to build a non-French ship, to commemorate an invasion mounted by a distinctly non-French duke and his mates, at a time when, as Duncan alludes, cross-Channel "invasions" are a bit of a hot potato.  Bless 

Suppose could be worse - at least they are not rebuilding the White Ship and inviting Rosbif royals aboard...

[Erpingham]

I think we should recall the French graciously hosted the Agincourt anniversay celebration in 2015, so I think we should be equally accomodating for their invasion attempt   

[DBS]

A former colleague of mine, a young officer in the Blues & Royals of Anglo-French parentage, led the Captain's Escort of the Household Cavalry through Paris for the 2004 Bastille Day parade.

StJohn was naughty enough, however, to insist on riding a horse named Agincourt on the day...  He was not allowed to take Agincourt's stablemates Waterloo and Trafalgar along as well, however.

[Denis Grey]

A long time ago - indeed a very long time ago - someone (?a Government Minister, ?a senior civil servant) expressed surprise at the willingness of the French to co-operate in commemorating the 150th anniversary of Waterloo.  Then someone explained to him that the following year would be the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

[Nick Harbud]

A long time ago - indeed a very long time ago - someone (?a Government Minister, ?a senior civil servant) expressed surprise at the willingness of the French to co-operate in commemorating the 150th anniversary of Waterloo.  Then someone explained to him that the following year would be the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

Everyone knows the French won the Battle of Waterloo.  There is even a book on the subject.

Incidentally, I had to guffaw at the French government's requirement for the proposed vessel to be examined for seaworthiness.  I mean, none of 40,000 individuals braving the English Channel in rubber dinghies during the last year has ever troubled themselves about such pettyfogging bureaucracy.

[Erpingham]

Incidentally, I had to guffaw at the French government's requirement for the proposed vessel to be examined for seaworthiness.  I mean, none of 40,000 individuals braving the English Channel in rubber dinghies during the last year has ever troubled themselves about such pettyfogging bureaucracy.

I strongly suspect the French want their multimillion euro ship to be more durable than a single use rubber boat    The perils of not checking the seaworthiness of your Viking ship type replica were highlighted in the Ormen Friske disaster way back in 1950.  Folks have been more safety conscious since.

[Nick Harbud]

I strongly suspect the French want their multimillion euro ship to be more durable than a single use rubber boat    The perils of not checking the seaworthiness of your Viking ship type replica were highlighted in the Ormen Friske disaster way back in 1950.  Folks have been more safety conscious since.

Maritime safety has traditionally never been a concern of ship owners (or their insurers).  I mean, until the introduction of the Plimsoll Line, the common practice with old ships was to overload them with iron ore or coal and, when they inevitably sank, collect the insurance.  According to the Lloyds Register, no ships had ended their days in the breakers yards for 30 years. Surely the constuctors of this Norman replica would want to keep with contemporary tradition? 

[Erpingham]

I suspect that the coffin ship tradition is a consequence of maritime insurance.  Prior to that, the loss of a ship would be a disasterous loss of a capital asset.  Ship owners also often sailed in their own ships back in the Middle Ages, which might serve as an incentive to keep them at least watertight.