in southern coastal Athens on Saturday and was christened on Sunday, May 1 -- an event aimed to promote the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovakia and to showcase the maritime tradition of central Europe.
The vessel, which will offer cruises in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, is an authentic replica of a brig from the second half of the 18th century. Her construction is based on the plans published in Architectura navalis mercatoria from 1768 by a Swedish admiral Fredrik Henrik af Chapman.
The name "La Grace" was also used a century earlier for the corsair vessel commanded by noted Czech emigrant, entrepreneur and politician Augustin Heřn during the latter's raids in the Caribbean and Central America. The replica was built in Suez, Egypt throughout 2010 by Czech and Slovak volunteers using traditional techniques.
(ANA-MPA)
