May 8, 2008 – La Fougueuse, a French Navy ship based in Fort-de-France, Martinique, sailed into Crown Bay at 9 a.m. Thursday, and its captain and crew haven't had time to catch their breath since.
Capt. Nicolas Rossignol was clearly delighted with the reception he and the crew received on St. Thomas. "I had not known the close relation St. Thomas has with France," he said. This is a first visit for the 34-year old captain.
Honorary French Consul Odile de Lyrot took Rossignol and other officers and crew members for a look at the island with an emphasis on Frenchtown. "It was a big surprise to see how much interest there is in France," he said. "With the small size of your island, I was very impressed with how big the French community is here," Rossignol said.
Frenchtown emissary Henry Richardson gave the group a tour of the community's piéce de résistance, the Frenchtown Heritage Museum. "They looked at all the old photographs, the artifacts," Richardson said, "and they loved the little house." The tiny two-room house where seven children were raised was donated to the museum last year by the family of the late Louis Phillipe Greaux.
Operations officer Francois Garreau is on his first tour of duty. He and security officer Erwam Bougouin, a 10-year veteran, mingled with the crowd assembled Thursday evening for a shipboard reception for the St. Thomas-St. John Council of the Navy League of the United States.
They, too, expressed pleasure at the French presence on St. Thomas. "I had no idea what to expect," said Garrreau. "Magnifique," agreed Bougouin.
La Fougueuse is Rossignol's first command. He has been aboard for 10 months, and has eight more to serve. He said it's not unusual for officers his age to command the smaller ships. The 180-foot long La Fougueuse is one of 10 patrol ships which are aimed at protecting exclusive economic zones or missions of public service.
"Most important, what we do," Rossignol said. "is drug trafficking. We work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard. And we work to improve relations with the different islands." Rossignol has a crew of 30, two of whom are women. "We have four officers, 18 petty officers and chiefs and eight crew," the captain said. "The two women are midshipwomen," he said.
As we talk, a whistle interrupts from time to time. Rossignol explains the whistle announces the importance of who is coming aboard. A young sailor, trim in whites, a middy top and the classic French sailor cap with the red pompom on top, stands erect at the gangplank, eyes straight forward like the guards at Buckingham Palace, intent on announcing who is who.
Friday the group will meet with Gov. John deJongh Jr. at 8 a.m, after which deLyrot has another busy day planned. "They were so eager to see everything today," she said. Shopping? "No," she said. "They are young. I'll take them to the Greenhouse and the Shipwreck Bar."
Rossignol said he would love to come back to St. Thomas. Asked if that's in the cards, he offered a big grin. "That's a secret," he said.
Tours of the ship are open to the public between 2 and 4 p.m. Friday. Visitors are asked to bring identification. It is at the Home Port dock in Crown Bay.
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