Florette

Florette is the last active, originally built brigantine in the Mediterranean and one of the last wooden windjammers that are is still actively sailing. After nearly 50 years operating as a cargo ship and a world war, she was discovered by the Haynes family at the end of the 70s, lovingly restored to a charter vessel and returned to her original condition. She still remains in the same family, sailing and exploring the Mediterranean to this day.

Over the past 45 years, Family Haynes has been faithfully restoring and maintaining her charm with her traditional rigging and still set all her sail by hand.  As she was built to carry over 200t of marble deep sea, her construction is twice as strong as compared to a normal ship of her size. She is constructed with double oaked frames and up to 13 meters long, 14 cm thick ironwood planks (azobe). Her topsides are built in the finest mahogany. She was originally launched in winter of 1921 in Italy as a pure wooden sailing ship with no engine to serve as a cargo ship. She still runs cargo trips across the Atlantic today.

She has been equipped with the latest safety standards in accordance with EU guidelines for historic charter and sailing school ships and approved for deep-sea navigation.

Florette maintains a full ocean classification for historical sail training and charter vessel. She actively sails 6-7 months in the Mediterranean and spent last winter crossing the Atlantic and sailing in the Caribbean.

Accommodation

• Number of guest berths : 28
• Number of bathrooms : 4 toilets with 3 showers & 1 deck shower
• Cabin configuration : 5x family cabins (double+single), 2x double cabins, 4x twin bunk cabins, 4x hammock bunks
• Smoking policy : In the Outside smoking area.

Particulars

• Port of Registration : Valletta, Malta
• Builder : Fratelli, Picchotti Shipyard
• Year built : 1921
• Length overall : 40m
• Draft : 2.8m
• Beam : 7m
• Number of Sails : 15
• Rig : Brigantine
• Sail Area : 600SQM
• Engine : Iveco Aifo 360hp
• Crew : 6
• Licensed for day sails? : Yes
• Waterproofs supplied? : No