THE CHEBEC (1 750 -1 786) This 24-gun vessel was one of the finest sailing ships of the XVIIIth Century. In 1750, Majorcan shipbuilders, reputed for their skill in this field, were engaged by Antoine Louis de ROUILLE, Comte of JOUY, for the building of four vessels of this type. Two of them, the REQUIN and the INDISCRET, were of 260 tons burden and carried 24 six-inch guns, compared to the 150 tons burden and 18 six-inch guns of the RUSE and the SERPENT. The lower stern of one of these ships bears the coat of arms of the said Comte de JOUY. In itself, the CHEBEC conjures up vivid images of quick forays on the coast of Provence or of peaceful trading vessels taken by boarding, after the fashion of famous French corsairs of that time. It must, however, be added that at least one vessel of this type - the INTREPID, commanded by Captain Bavastro de Nice - illustrated itself at the beginning of the XIXth Century in a memorable fight against two English men-o'war. The CHEBEC's slim prow and the shape of its poop recall to mind respectively the ram and castle of the galley. As for the sails, they seem to have been disigned primarily for speed, as compared to the square sails of the galley, used essentially to relieve the rowers when sailing before the wind. The rowing ability common to both types of vessel was, however, of paramount importance during engagements with heavier opponents. In short, the CHEBEC can be said to have been one of the finest sailing ships in all Europe.