Original Bluenose Nova Scotia - building and launching a lovely legend
Bluenose History
Generations of Atlantic Canadians have grown up with stories of Captain Angus Walters and Bluenose.
Captain Walters (1881 - 1968) was born in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Like many of his time, he went to sea at an early age. With hard work and skill, he became a "highliner" captain - his schooners bringing in the season's largest catches of fish. His name spread far-and-wide as Master of Bluenose.
courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
The vessel became the world's most famous Nova Scotian fishing schooner. Forever undefeated in the International Fishermen's Series, she won a place in the hearts of thousands.
Two factors contributed to the creation of the rugged series of races: years of friendly rivalry between Canadian and American fishing schooners, and the dim view schoonermen had of the America's Cup. "Yachts" sailed by "yachtsmen," all too often getting towed in from races for repairs or adjustments. And when New York Yacht Club cancelled a race because of 25 knot winds being too high, schoonermen could take no more.
In 1920, The Halifax Herald newspaper established a formal racing series between real sail carriers that were bona-fide working ships.
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
That year, elimination races in both countries selected contenders. The schooner Esperanto out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, defeated the Delewana of Lunenburg and took the trophy to New England.
Dismayed Nova Scotians hired young Halifax architect William J. Roué to design a ship to challenge for the trophy. Bluenose was financed by Captain Angus Walters and four Halifax businessmen at a cost of $35,000. The schooner was built by Smith and Rhuland and launched in Lunenburg on March 26, 1921. As the vessel went down the ways the crowd cheered and the hills echoed with jubilant good wishes for the new schooner.
The Grand Banks fishing schooner has always been larger-than-life, her sails cut and sewn with the fabric of legend, her crew a breed of rugged, hardy, seafaring men led by Captain Angus Walters. Much was expected from vessel and crew - and much has been delivered and continues to be delivered to this day.
