Train to join the crew

Men and women, students or workers, everybody who wants to take to the sea as boatswains (volunteer sailors) on board the Hermione must undertake rigorous training. This is provided in Rochefort (the frigate’s home port) by professional sailors and is supervised by the frigate’s commander.

The training includes a theory section with the principles of sailing on a square rig, safety rules for working at height, how life is structured on board, and a practical section with ascents and manoeuvres on our practice sail.

Adaptability to the environment, team spirit and a sense of community, ability to surpass oneself, courage and endurance, willpower and confidence, the ability to follow instructions and procedures, acceptance of and respect for others, selflessness and dedication are just some of the values that are passed down to boatswains on board a ship like this.

how to become a boatswain ?
Right from the beginning, the Hermione had to have a training scheme for seafarers. 550 boatswains have been trained since 2014. They have developed practical skills and have been confronted with an extensive range of concepts.

Emilie Beau

Executive director
Sailing on the Hermione is an intellectual, physical and cultural apprenticeship. The boatswains learn self-governance and how to work independently. On board, they show solidarity, they help each other, and learn to share and accept differences. On board, you have to show interest in and respect for each other.

Norbert Marsac

Master carpenter

3-part training process

Boatswain training is split into 3 parts, after which the boatswains receive a certificate that they have received boatswain training aboard the Hermione.

BOATSWAIN TRAINING COURSE

This 5-day training course is led by professional sailors and is supervised by the captain. It includes a theory section with the principles of sailing on a square rig, safety rules for working at height, how life is structured on board, and a practical section with ascents and manoeuvres on our practice sail.

Accommodation and catering are provided as much as possible on board the frigate, in conditions that are as close as possible to the conditions experienced while sailing.

HELPING WITH THE FRIGATE’S MAINTENANCE

Before or after the boatswain course, before embarking on a leg or after having sailed, it is essential for boatswains to update and expand their knowledge of the Hermione by helping with its maintenance.

EMBARKATION DURING SAILING

During one or more legs of sailing, embarkation is a good way to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training course and from maintaining the frigate in its dock.

Being a boatswain on the Hermione is a rewarding experience

Lots of boatswains have gone into a maritime profession after their experience on board and the “Hermione label” opens doors with recruiters, as much for the essential skills of knowing how to operate as a crew and work as a team as for the maritime expertise you pick up.

The Hermione was a real revelation. Since my training as a boatswain in 2013 and thanks to the experience I acquired on board this frigate, I was able to get out of my comfort zone and discover new skills that I never knew I had before.

Nicolas

Boatswain
At the start, I didn’t think I’d be able to do the work required at the professional level but I was able to do it in the end without any problems. I was able to discover and appreciate life as a crew, something that is far more intense than simply living communally, because it is continuous and goes on 24/7.

Amandine

Boatswain