La Grande Traversée

- Season 1

(2017)

After a memorable departure from La Rochelle, L'Espérance sets sail. The Colonists get their first taste of reality as they check out the tiny, dark hold where they will be living on top of each other until their arrival in Quebec City.

Although a few of the colonists experience their first doubts about their decision to participate in the adventure, the group stands firmly together in the face of adversity.

A breakdown aboard requires a general mustering of forces and shows everyone the extent to which the ship must always be the priority.

Having fallen victim to food poisoning, it becomes obvious to everyone that reconciling the seafaring life and the colonists' duties is a major challenge that is starting to have worrisome consequences on the health of the group.

With the increasing fatigue and frustrations, each disappointment takes on a life of its own. Everyone is surreptitiously watching what the others are eating. For some, the fear of not getting their fair share becomes almost an obsession.

The colonists earn a stern reprimand from the captain, who reminds them of the consequences of abandoning their posts without notice. Anthony is mortified, and keenly aware of his fellow shipmates' disapproval.

Since Anthony was chastised for abandoning his night watch, he can feel his shipmates' disapproval and increasingly withdraws. While this affects the morale of the entire group, the announcement of a more serious and fast-approaching storm leads to a shift in priorities - Three storm systems batter L'Espérance, one after the other. The colonists are there to help whenever they are needed, even in the middle of the night. They respond to orders and carry out maneuvers in the torrential rain and driving spray, demonstrating great courage and real solidarity. When things...

On the morning of the 43rd day, when Charles-Édouard gets up early and heads to the bridge for his watch, he spies it on the horizon - land.

Back on board L'Espérance, we can feel the colonists' frustration following their short stay in Caraquet. The hunger and impatience return, the tension is palpable, and conflicts are simmering just below the surface.

It has been 8 months since the colonists sailed into Québec city. Their excitement of being reunited, is quickly tempered by the realization that life on land had not been the same for everyone.