Original Bluenose - Queen of the North Atlantic
Bluenose History
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
Fishermen's scorn for the fragility of racing schooners and their crews led to the building of Lunenburg's Original Bluenose. Her launching in 1921 would be the birth of her glorious reign as Queen of the North Atlantic.
In the early part of the 20th century, the fishing fleets in the Maritime provinces and the New England states operated under sail.
The Banks were the favored fishing grounds of both Canadian and American fishermen. Their vessels were strongly constructed to weather the rigorous challenges of the North Atlantic fishing grounds. Speed and holding capacity were also key to their success.
A popular topic of discussion was the America's Cup races. Begun in 1851, they were a test of seamanship between the best British and United States racing schooners.
In 1919, after years of domination by the Americans, a race was cancelled because of 25 knot winds. This created much disdain among the rugged Banks fishermen. They suggested racing schooners had become too fragile and a better test of seamanship would be a challenge for the sailing ships and men who fished the Grand Banks.
Bluenose's glorious reign as Queen of the North Atlantic began soon after her launch from Lunenburg's Smith and Rhuland Shipyard on March 26, 1921.
Bluenose represented Nova Scotia's prominence in the fishing industry and international trade. Her unmistakable grace, elegance of design and efficiency under sail were glowing endorsements for the architect, William J. Roué, and the superb workmanship of Nova Scotia shipwrights.
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
Captain Angus Walters and his crew were world-famous, admired for their spirit of adventure, their courage and resourcefulness in the face of unrelenting danger at sea.
In the hard times of the 1930s, Bluenose reinvented herself. With all the dazzle of a carnival queen, the schooner became a showboat. Trading on her fame and visibility, she welcomed the eager public aboard for cruises. In 1933, she represented Canada at the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago, and in 1935 she sailed to England's Silver Jubilee of King George V.
Everywhere Bluenose went the press followed, culminating in the final Fishermen's International Races, revived in 1938 off Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she was once again victorious.
