Nova Scotia's Original Bluenose - fishing on the Grand Banks
Bluenose History
courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
Bluenose first left her home port of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, on April 15, 1921, for fishing on the Grand Banks.
She put in a full fishing season - first, the frozen baiting trip, then separate trips in the spring and summer. A ship with good speed went a long way at ensuring a timely landing of fish, thereby delivering the vessel, officers and crew top dollar for their precious catch.
Bluenose was home by September. By fishing a complete season, she fulfilled the main requirement as a prospective competitor in the International Fishermen's Series. To qualify, the racing schooners had to be actual fishing vessels - and had to have fished a full season. Organizers of the Series were determined it would not be taken over by "yachting-types."
Captain Angus Walters was pleased with the way the recently launched vessel handled - Bluenose's future as Nova Scotia's contender in the International Series looked promising.
Not only would she earn fame as the undefeated "Queen of the North Atlantic," she was also named "high liner of the fleet" several times in her fishing career - so granted to the vessel with the season's top catch.
