La Diligente and her sistership, La Gaillarde were Royal Tartanes, ships built for the French Crown’s use in 1738. Both ships were designed as racing vessels, lightly armed and with excellent handling due to their lanteen rigs. They were employed as Royal Yachts, used for both private excursions by the French Royal family and for conveying diplomatic missions. La Gaillarde was sunk in San Salvador, Cuba in 1741, proving that lanteen rigged vessels did cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean. La Diligente was far luckier serving the crown until 1761 when she was finally condemned and broken up. This vessel was modelled by FLS Ship User Content Committee member Kriswood.