Picton Castle played the role of L’Esperance last summer as the French-language documentary La Grand Traversée was filmed on board while crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
We will get to see the first episode when it airs tomorrow night, Tuesday April 11, 2017 on Radio-Canada.
La Grand Traversée tells the story of ten “colonists” who made the voyage from France to New France much as their ancestors would have done in the 18th century. They wore clothing, lived in accommodations, cooked and ate food appropriate to the period.
Colonists sailing from Europe to the Americas at that time would not have participated in sailing the ship, but on this recreated voyage they certainly did. The colonists stood watches alongside Picton Castle crew and contributed to sailing the ship.
The passage from La Rochelle, France to Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada, which was the ship’s first port of call in the Americas, took 39 days. From there, Picton Castle sailed on to Quebec City, where the colonists signed off.
We’re eager to see how this exciting voyage is portrayed on film. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night to watch!
