La Fortune (sail warship)

[john sefton]

A 1988 issue of French South. Ant. Terr. value 5.0f. shows LA FORTUNE, a Flute-type vessel of the French Navy looking somewhat like a Frigate.
She was laid down in 1755 at the Rochfort Navy Yard and completed in 1757, being decommissioned in 1774.
Deadweight 550 tons. Approximate dimensions Length 41m.Beam 8m. Draught 5m.
Armament 24 guns. Crew of 200.
On 20 August 1771 Lt. Yves Joseph de Kerguelen de Tremerec, 38 years of age, arrived at Fort Louis, Isle de France and took command of the vessel which had recently arrived from Brest. He was preparing a southward expedition, fully expecting to discover an Antarctic continent. He sailed on 16 January 1772 in spite of the ships masting being in poor condition and the crew who were badly clothed for cold weather. He was accompanied by the smaller vessel LE
GROS VENTRE as supply ship.
Late in the afternoon of 12 February land was sighted (La Fortune Isles) and later a big cape. The next day LE GROS VENTRE ws ordered to lower her longboat in a very rough sea, go ashore, and take possession.
These desolate islands were named Iles des Kerguelen.
Because of the bad weather the two ships became separated and Kerguelen decided to head north, reaching Port Louis on 16 March 1772. After some repairs he saied on 27 March without waiting for news of LE GROS VENTRE and after a good crossing arrived at Brest on 16 July 1772 where LA FORTUNE was laid up.
This information is taken from Watercraft Philately May-June 1988.

French Southern and Antarctic Terr. SG79 239