LE
RENARD SURCOUF - FRENCH - 1813
After the capture of the English Indiaman vessel "Kent"
by Robert Surcouf in October 1800, England offered one million
for the French corsair's head. This amount will never be paid.
At his return in France, Surcouf settled in Saint-Malo, got
married and conducted his ship owner business. After the breaking
of the peace of Amiens, he went to sea again on the Revenant
and sailed towards Mauritius. He will capture many enemies’
ships in the Indian Ocean. Returned in Saint-Malo, he equips
a lot of ships between 1809 and 1814 and entrusts courageous
captains with them. The Renard is a cutter launched in 1812.
She is the latest ship equipped for commerce destroying by
Robert Surcouf. She has only one mast and a very long bowsprit,
which permits large sails compared with the height of the
ship. Of course these large sails allow a high speed, main
element for the capture of merchant vessels.
|
