Bluenose: A Canadian Icon

The Bluenose is Born (1920-1921)

Experts on the sea and ships believed that New England-built working schooners were lighter and narrower than those from Nova Scotia, and that they consequently sailed better in the wind. Nova Scotian vessels traditionally remained on the Grand Banks for longer periods of time; needing more space to store fish, they were consequently heavier and more awkward to handle.

Nova Scotia obviously needed a vessel which would remain competitive and successful in the Banks fishery, but which would also be fast into and against the wind. Out of the committee which had sponsored the International Fishermen's Race, four Halifax businessmen teamed up with Angus Walters and invited William J. Roué, a local marine architect, to submit a proposal for such a vessel. Throughout the late autumn of 1920, Roué worked to perfect his design, which was submitted to the committee three weeks before the deadline. Roué was self-taught in marine architecture, and had never designed a fishing schooner; his proposal would be his masterpiece—the Bluenose.

Bluenose was built in the Smith & Rhuland Shipyard, Lunenburg, for a total cost of $35,000; the money was raised by the five sponsors, who formally incorporated themselves as the Bluenose Schooner Company, Limited. The keel was laid in a formal ceremony in December 1920. So significant was the occasion that the Governor-General of Canada, the Duke of Devonshire, who happened to be touring Nova Scotia at the time, was invited to drive the golden spike to mark the event. The Duke had just attended another function, however, and it is said that he arrived at the keel-laying ceremony 'inebriated'—too much Lunenburg rum perhaps—and unable to hit the spike with the big iron hammer. After several failed attempts, someone else did the honours for him.

Bluenose was built entirely of Nova Scotia oak, pine, birch and spruce, with the exception of the masts, which were tall Oregon pine. With hundreds of onlookers watching, it was launched on 26 March 1921. Someone asked one of the shipwrights, "What's this one going to be like?" The prophetic reply came back, "She'll be alright, but she's a bit different to most vessels."

Bluenose was formally registered at the Port of Lunenburg in March 1921; officially it was vessel number 150,404, and already the eighth that year to be entered in the Lunenburg books. Its dimensions were recorded as: length - 143'; beam - 27'; waterline - 112'; draught - 15' 10"; mainmast and topmast, above deck - 125' 10"; foremast and topmast, above deck - 102' 6"; sail area - 10,000 square feet; mainboom - 81'; foreboom - 32' 6"; and displacement - 285 tons. The riggers at Smith & Rhuland quickly completed their work, and by 15 April Bluenose was ready to sail for the Grand Banks.

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