Belem’s History
Ordered in 1895, the Belem was delivered to her shipowners on July 30th, 1896.
She was especially created to transport cocoa and sugar from Brazil and the West Indies to Nantes, France.
The boat was sold to the duke of Westminster, on February 11th, 1914. The Belem undergoes profound changes to be convenient for its new vocation : big luxury yacht.
In September, 1921, after less than four years of navigation in the colours of the duke of Westminster, the Belem is sold to the Irish brewer Ernest Guinness. The boat is renamed the Fantôme II. Following the death of Ernest Guinness (1939) and the Second World War, the vessel was laid up in the island of Wight.
The Fantôme II is bought in 1952 by the italian foundation Cini to serve as its training ship.
On 1979, thanks to a financial help from Les Caisses d'épargne, the Belem ownership became French once more.
- Introduction
- The shipowner Fernand Crouan
- 1896, birth
- 1896-1897, first voyage
- 1897, second voyage
- 1897-1899, third to fifth voyage
- 1899-1900, sixth to eighth voyage
- 1901-1902, the Chauvelon’s first three campaigns
- May 8th, 1902, the disaster of Mont Pelée
- 1907-1908, the Demange’s interlude
- 1909-1914, Fleuriot’s years
- 1913-1914, the thirty-second and last campaign
- 1914-1921, the yacht of the Duke of Westminster
- 1921-1939, the Fantôme II
- 1939-1951, years of expectation
- 1951-1979, the Giorgo Cini
- 1979, return to France
- 1980 to now, the French three masted training ship Belem