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In French
The
historical part of this monograph is devoted to a
study of the lugsail in the 17th and 18th centuries
as well as to ships, coasting ships and luggers
which adopted the same rigging.
These luggers which were part of the French Royal
Navy were built between 1773 and 1782 by the
engineer and builder Denys, a native of
Dunkerque.
From among these ships, we have chosen the COUREUR
which, together with the BELLE-POULE ( a 12-pdr
frigate) was engaged in the first naval combat of
the American Revolutionary War on 17 June 1778.
Numerous archival documents were at our disposal,
including original plans of Le Coureur and drawings
of the ship done after its capture. All these
elements allowed us to produce a monograph that
meets the strictest standards.
Like the preceding volumes, this study offers :
- the historical development of the lugsail.
- a study of the coasting ships and luggers in the
Ancien Régime and at the beginning of the
19th century.
- the detailed account of the combat between the
COUREUR and the cutter the ALERT, based on original
period documents, extensively reproduced for the
enjoyment of history lovers.
The second part of the monograph includes a
technical commentary on each of the seven plates,
and a complete note explaining the rigging and its vocabulary.
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