Bonjour, I'm Frederique Lesne Chesher (Freddy), Captain of the Research Vessel Moira.
Born in French Morocco, I carry a mix of French, Mongolian, and Italian heritage, with a lineage steeped in adventure—my ancestors were corsairs, privateers who shared their spoils with the King of France before settling in North Africa to escape the turmoil of the French Revolution. My grandfather, a master of dowsing and other ancient perceptions, held a deep understanding of our living planet. When I fell gravely ill as a baby, he injected me with seawater—a remedy that miraculously cured me and forever tied me to the ocean.
In 1976, I joined Richard Chesher, Ph.D., on an expedition to the South Pacific aboard the Research Vessel Moira. Richard, a renowned marine biologist, had already gained fame through his research on Crown-of-Thorns starfish, his participation in the Tektite II underwater habitat, and his record-setting deep-sea saturation dives. At the time, he was Vice President of the Marine Research Foundation, operating a 60' catamaran for coral reef expeditions in Florida and the Bahamas. He sold that vessel to purchase a Kelly-Peterson 44’ cutter being built in Taiwan. He named it the Moira after the Moirae, the Three Sisters of Fate from Greek mythology. Together, we set sail to investigate evolution and the invisible forces shaping life and destiny.
Moira's Pacific Expedition cruised the South Pacific islands doing research into the interaction of humans with their marine and island ecosystems. Our research uncovered fascinating insights into the forces of evolution and destiny and we conducted experiments on ways to change the behavior of the people to improve the fauna, flora and resources of their islands.
After the turn of the century, we channeled our extensive cruising and scientific experience into creating the Rocket Cruising and Travel Guides to Vanuatu and New Caledonia. These guides, hailed as some of the best in the world, provide unparalleled detail to help cruising sailors plan and enjoy their adventures in these magical islands. Packed with precise GPS coordinates, thousands of high-resolution images, and insider tips, the guides have become essential companions for those exploring these enchanting waters.
