Although largely unsung, the French pinasse, or pinnace, as the Dutch and English called it, occupied an important place in the history of sailing. Swifter and more versatile than the apple-bellied giants of her age, the pinasse was employed in a variety of roles. Her maneuverability and shallow draft made her a perfect choice for scouting and exploration expeditions. The French square rigged their pinasses, and, with only twenty men for crew, successfully plied the trade routes to the American colonies. The Dutch version of the seventeenth-century pinnace became the prototype for the sloop of war.
Because the Scots often associated themselves with the French, I styled the Valiant Lily after the pinasse.