Le Gros Ventre (1766-1779)

   A transport vessel used by the Navy to supply the dockyards, squadrons at sea and the colonies. The first gabares appeared around 1715. They were used for the transport of masting and framing timbers. Originally small vessels of 40 to 130 tons, their size will increase; up to 480 tons by the beginning of the 19th century and these vessels were fitted and laid out according to their use as they had diverse functions.
   Fortuitously a gabare will participate in the Kerguelen expedition in 1772. She was adequately named Le Gros Ventre. She will eventually be abandoned by Kerguelen and sailing alone under the command of M. de St Allouarn, she will discover the west coast of Australia in March of 1772. The ownership of this land was written in the name of the King, placed in glass bottles and buried at the location of this landing. In 1998, the bottles were unearthed, which provoked great interest for Le Gros Ventre and her commander M. de St Allouarn. This would be a determining factor in the choice of this gabare as a subject since her draughts are preserved in Vincennes at the Service Historique de la Marine.