L’Hermione, a full sized replica of the French navy frigate made famous for carrying General Lafayette to Boston to help fight in the American War of Independence, anchored in the entrance to the Helford River to avoid gale force winds from the aftermath of hurricane Gonzalo that swept across the UK.

The three-masted, newly-built L’Hermione,  which cost £20 million is on a series of shakedown trials to enable Commandant Yann Cariou and his 69 crew members to familiarise themselves with this unique sailing ship.

The 65-metre replica, which took 17 years to build, is due to set sail to America in April 2015, following the route from Rochefort, France,  to Boston made by French General Lafayette in 1780.

The original Hermione fought in several battles against the Royal Navy in the Americas before returning home.

Her service came to an end in 1793 when she ran aground off the French coast and was subsequently wrecked by heavy seas.