La Capricieuse, from graveyard to dismantling

In Saint-Barthélemy, it's not unusual to pass a photograph of the Capricieuse. A French Navy vessel that often called at the port of Gustavia when it was in operation, between 1987 and 2017. But since 2018, the ship has been anchored in a far less pleasant location. In this case, a site dubbed the "boat graveyard", in Landévennec, Brittany (Finistère).
In an article published on October 9, the daily newspaper Ouest-France recounts the latest adventure of three ships that made their last sail from Landévennec to Le Havre (Normandy), where they will be deconstructed. The three vessels are the tripartite minehunter Verseau (51 meters, in service between 1984 and 2018), the patrol vessel L'Audacieuse and... the patrol vessel La Capricieuse. "After a "war toilet" and a number of routine checks, carried out by the port of Brest's boatmen, three tugs from Brest, Caen and Concarneau took charge of their protégés at around 4pm, writes Ouest-France. A few well-practised manoeuvres and the convoys were on their way to Le Havre, non-stop. A matter of around fifty hours' sailing. "
For the sailors who have sailed on the ships, seeing their former vessel being dismantled is an emotional experience. This is particularly true of Jean Nihouarn, a former major who discovered Saint-Barthélemy during a stopover on La Capricieuse in 2014. Saint Barthélemy was the godmother of the Capricieuse," recalls the man who was chief warrant officer at the time. To my fond memory, I've kept some wonderful moments from my time on the island. "
Before the end of the year, another ship that was assigned to the armed forces in the West Indies, the light transport vessel Dumont D'Urville, will also head for Le Havre to be dismantled.