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Once the fishery ended, the
Saint-André, made its way back to France. As
it approached the edge of the Bank, Le Roy sounded several
times to determine at what point the ship left the marine
plateau. He plotted his point of departure and determined the
route to be followed to reach the entrance of the English
Channel.
On September 30, we set off for Honfleur, Le Havre or
Dieppe. 100
As we left the Bank, we furled the sails and sounded 3 times,
between September 30 and October 1. On the 1st, around 1 p.m.,
the lead no longer touched the bottom. We were at 44°35´
north latitude and 335°22´ longitude, where I plotted my
point of departure.
Wedensday, October 2, 1754
From noon yesterday to noon today, the winds varied from calm
to very rough seas SW1/4S. We sailed ENE, 5°20´ towards
the north, an estimated 24 leagues 35´.
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North difference: 11 leagues 29´
Current north latitude: 45°9´
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East difference: 21 leagues 51´
Current longitude: 336°54´
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Thursday, October 3, 1754
The winds varied from calm to SSW, a moderate breeze. We trimmed
the sails different ways and followed various courses. We
maintained a NE1/4E course, 2°20´ towards the NE. According
to my estimate, I covered about 13 1/2 leagues.
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North difference: 8 leagues
Estimated north latitude: 45°33´
Observed latitude: 45°35´
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West difference: 11 leagues
Current longitude: 337°41´
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Friday, October 4, 1754
The winds varied from SSW to north, a gentle breeze and
good weather. We trimmed the sails different ways and
followed an easterly course. According to my estimate, I
covered about 27 1/2 leagues.
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Current observed latitude: 45°35´
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Current longitude: 339°39´
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Saturday, October 5, 1754
The winds varied from north to SSE, a moderate breeze. We
changed direction at 8 a.m., trimmed the sails different
ways and followed various courses. After making a reduction,
I maintained an ESE course, 2°15´ towards the south.
According to my estimate, I covered about 8 leagues 50´.
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South difference: 3 leagues 40´
Estimated latitude: 45°24´
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East difference: 8 leagues 3´
Current longitude: 340°13´
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Sunday, October 6, 1754
The winds varied from SSE to WSW, a strong wind and rain, smooth
waters. We trimmed the sails different ways and followed various
courses. After making a reduction, I maintained an ENE course,
2°40´ towards the north. According to my estimate, I covered
about 30 leagues.
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North difference: 12 leagues 41´
Estimated latitude: 46°2´
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East difference: 27 leagues 11´
Current longitude: 342°09´
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Monday, October 7, 1754
The winds were always WSW, a strong wind and rain, rough
seas. We set the foresail, the mainsail and two topsails,
sailing E1/4NE. According to my estimate, I covered 43
leagues.
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North difference: 8 leagues 15´
Current latitude: 46°27´
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East difference: 42 leagues 15´
Current longitude: 345°12´
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Tuesday, October 8, 1754
The winds varied from WSW to WNW, a strong wind, very rough seas.
We set the foresail and the fore topsail, took in two reefs and
lowered towards the tenon. After making a reduction, I maintained
an E1/4NE course, 2°15 towards the east. I covered 40
leagues 40´.
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North difference: 6 leagues 20´
Current latitude: 46°46´
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East difference: 40 leagues 10´
Current longitude: 348°08´
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Wednesday, October 9, 1754
The winds varied from WNW to NW, a moderate gale, very rough
seas. We trimmed the sails different ways, travelling E1/4NE.
According to my estimate, I covered about 40 leagues.
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North difference: 7 leagues 45´
Estimated latitude: 47°09´
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East difference: 39 leagues 15´
Current longitude: 351°
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Thursday, October 10, 1754
The winds varied from NW to west, a moderate breeze. We
trimmed the sails different ways and followed various
courses. After making a reduction, I maintained an E1/4NE
course, 2° towards the east. According to my estimate,
I covered about 34 leagues 50´.
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North difference: 5 leagues 40´
Estimated latitude: 47°26´
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East difference: 34 leagues 40´
Current longitude: 353°32´
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Friday, October 11, 1754
The winds varied from west to NE and from NE to NW, a
moderate gale, very rough seas. We trimmed the sails
different ways and followed various courses. After making
a reduction between two points, I have covered a total of
258 leagues.
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Current observed latitude: 46°15´
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Current longitude: 356°15´
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My rhumb is east, 3° towards the north. After adjusting
my course between two cardinal points using the adjustment
formula, my difference is:
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North difference: 13 1/3 leagues
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East difference: 259 leagues 40´
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Saturday, October 12, 1754
The winds varied from NW to NNE, a moderate gale, squally
weather, wind, rain and hail. We trimmed the sails different
ways and followed an E1/4NE course. According to my
estimate, I covered 40 leagues.
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North difference: 7 leagues 48´
Estimated latitude: 46°38´
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East difference: 39 leagues 20´
Current longitude: 359°6´
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Sunday, October 13, 1754
The winds varied from NE to SW, weather becoming calm.
We followed a NE1/4E course and an ENE course under full
sail. According to my estimate, I covered about 15 leagues.
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North difference: 7 leagues
Estimated latitude: 46°59´
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East difference: 13 1/2 leagues
Current longitude: 000°04´
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Monday, October 14, 1754
The winds varied from SW to SSW, a strong wind. We trimmed
the sails different ways, following an ENE course,
5°30´ towards the east, and covered 35 leagues 30´.
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North difference: 10 1/4 leagues
Current latitude: 47°30´
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East difference: 34 leagues 4´
Current longitude: 002°34´
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Tuesday, October 15, 1754
The winds varied from SSW to WSW, a strong wind. We hove to
from 6 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday. We trimmed the sails
different ways, drifting and sailing along various courses.
After making a reduction, I maintained an E1/4NE course,
2°30´ towards the north. According to my estimate, I
covered about 25 1/4 leagues.
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North difference: 5 leagues 57´
Estimated latitude: 47°48´
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East difference: 24 leagues 33´
Current longitude: 004°23´
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Wednesday, October 16, 1754
The winds varied from WSW to west and from west to SW, a
strong wind. We set the foresail and the main topsail,
and followed an ENE course, 3 1/4° towards the east.
I covered about 35 1/4 leagues.
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North difference: 11 leagues 30´
Estimated latitude: 48°23´
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East difference: 33 leagues 20´
Current longitude: 6°52´
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Latitude observed at noon on October 16, 1754: 48°35´
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Thursday, October 17, 1754
The winds varied from SW to WNW and from WNW to WSW, a
moderate breeze, squally weather. We followed an E1/4NE
course under full sail, 4° towards the north, covering
about 26 leagues 40´.
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North difference: 7 leagues
Estimated latitude: 48°56´
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East difference: 25 leagues
Current longitude: 8°24´
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Latitude observed at noon on October 17: 48°55´
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Friday, October 18, 1754
The winds varied from WSW to south, a moderate breeze,
smooth waters. We sounded this morning at 8 o'clock.
We did not reach the bottom. We followed various courses
under full sail. After making a reduction, I found that
I had maintained an E1/4SE route, 3°30´ towards the
east. According to my estimate, I covered 23 1/3
leagues.
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South difference: 2 leagues 56´
Estimated latitude: 48°46´
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East difference: 23 leagues 11´
Current longitude: 10°8´
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Saturday, October 19, 1754
From noon yesterday to noon today, the winds varied from
south to SSW, a moderate breeze, smooth waters, foggy
weather. This morning at 8 o'clock, we sounded, a second
time, 25 or 30 leagues west of Ouessant. We found the bottom
at 90 fathoms, composed of small worn reddish-grey stones
with wide pieces of decomposed shell and a few slivers of
stone. We steered E1/4SE, which equals a course of E1/4NE,
given 17° of variation and 5° extra. We followed
an E1/4NE course under full sail. According to my estimate,
I covered about 27 1/2 leagues.
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North difference: 5 leagues 20´
Estimated latitude: 49°2´
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East difference: 27 leagues
Current longitude: 12°10´
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Sunday, October 20, 1754
We sounded yesterday at 6 p.m. We found 88 fathoms of water
and a bottom composed of grey sand with black spots, very
thin pieces of shell and a few slivers of stone. We are in
the middle of the Channel, 30 or 35 leagues from Lizard
Point 101
and the island of Ouessant. From noon yesterday to noon
today, the winds varied from SSW to SSE, a gentle breeze,
good weather. At noon, we observed the north latitude of
49°30´, 24 to 25 leagues from the Scilly
Isles. 102
When we sounded at 8 o'clock this morning, we found 88
fathoms of water and a clear vermilion bottom with black
and gold (the colour of barley straw) spots, and white
and reddish-brown sand.
Monday, October 21, 1754
The winds varied from SSE to S1/4SW, a light wind and very
thick fog. We followed an E1/4NE course under full sail.
According to my estimate, I covered 19 leagues. Based on
the last two soundings, I must be about 8 leagues SSW of
the Scilly Isles.
Tuesday, October 22, 1754
The winds varied from S1/4SW to SW, a light wind. We
followed an E1/4SE course under full sail. According to
my estimate, I covered about 13 leagues. I plotted my
position using the charts of the Breton
Channel 103
at an observed latitude of 48°55´. We sounded at
noon and found 56 fathoms of water, and a bottom composed
of large pebbles, and shells that are broken and decomposed,
so I am 15 or 16 leagues NNW of Ouessant.
From Tuesday, October 22, to Wednesday, October 23, 1754
From noon to 4 p.m., sailed east: |
2 leagues |
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., sailed in the same direction: |
2 leagues |
From 8 p.m. to midnight, sailed E1/4SE: |
1 league |
From midnight to 4 a.m., sailed in the same direction: |
2 leagues |
From 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., sailed in the same direction: |
3 leagues |
From 8 a.m. to noon, sailed in the same direction: |
2 leagues 40´ |
Latitude observed at noon on October 23, 1754: |
48°46´
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From Wednesday, October 23, to Thursday, October 24, 1754
From noon to 4 p.m., the winds are N1/4NE, a moderate breeze,
sailed ENE a distance of 2 2/3 leagues. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
winds NN1/4NW, a moderate breeze, sailed ENE, 2 2/3 leagues.
From 8 to midnight, NW winds, a moderate gale, sailed NE1/4N,
4 1/2 leagues. From midnight to 4 a.m., WNW winds, a moderate
gale, sailed NNE, 10 leagues. On Thursday at 3 a.m., we saw
England. We hove to, pivoting from side to side, waiting for
dawn. At 9:30 a.m., we cast off and headed ESE on the compass,
which equals east and E1/4SE on the globe, given 17° of
variation NW. The cape east of
Gaudétang, 104
N1/4W on the globe, was about 4 leagues away. From 9:30 a.m.
to noon, sailed E and E1/4SE: 3 1/2 leagues.
From Thursday, October 24, to Friday, October 25, 1754
Winds WNW, a moderate gale. From noon to 4 p.m., sailed E and
E1/4SE about 6 leagues. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., sailed E1/4SE
and ESE about 6 leagues. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., sailed E 1/4
about 3 leagues.
At 10 p.m., we hove to with the foresail set, pivoting from
side to side, until 5 a.m. Then we cast off and headed south.
At 7 a.m., the wind was ESE. We saw La Hougue, in Cherbourg.
We approached it and followed the coast until noon, at which
time Pointe de Barfleur was behind us, SSW on the globe at a
distance of about 1 1/3 league.
From Friday, October 25, to Saturday, October 26, 1754
From noon to 5 p.m., we followed the coast from Barfleur to
Port-en-Bessin. At 5 p.m., I observed Pointe de la
Percée, 105
W1/4SW on the globe, about 4 leagues away. From 5 p.m. to
midnight, wind SW, a moderate breeze, we sailed E1/4SE 5
leagues.
From midnight until dawn, the wind always SW, now a gentle
breeze, we hove to with the foresail set SSE. I sounded.
Everything was between 16, 18 and 20 fathoms, a bottom
composed of small pebbles and bean-shaped stones.
At dawn, we cast off and headed ESE. Just about across from
Dives, we were approached by a pilot from Honfleur. We hove
to all day, waiting for high tide, which was at 5:48 p.m.
Around 4:30 p.m., we cast off. We arrived at the port of
Honfleur at 6:15 p.m.
Thanks be to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Made by me, Jean Marin Le Roy
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