Astrolabe in French Pass, 26th January 1827
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Attempting to find a quicker route around what would be named D'Urville Island after Astrolabe's captain, D'Urville attempted to travel through the pass of Te Aumiti. Famous for its whirlpools and violent 8 knots current, and having a navigable passage barely 80m wide, this was no small feat.
With a favourable wind and a highly experienced commander, Astrolabe made a good passage until the wind suddenly dropped in the narrowest part of the channel. Caught in the currents, the ship hit the bottom twice - on the second occasion very hard and the ship leaned over alarmingly.
This moment was captured by the Astrolabe's artist, Louis August de Sainson, and my picture draws influence from that painting. Fortunately, the ship just manages to escape, leaving behind some scraps of their keel, and a European name for Te Aumiti: Pass de Francais.
This painting is signed in the lower right corner and dated in the lower left.
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