Bluenose 100

10/26/2022

100 years ago today, Bluenose defeated the 1922 American challenger Henry Ford, winning the International Fisherman's Cup for the second year in a row.

This race series was highly contested, and the dramatic third race saw Henry Ford's topsail snapped.

"At this point in the race, the crew of the Ford noticed a small split in the staysail and had to cast off the halyard to bring it in. They had barely smothered the billowing sail on the deck when, with a blistering crack, away went the top ten feet of the fore topmast. The rigging held, but the broken mast carried off the fore gaff topsail and the ballooner.

The crew worked like demons to clear away the mess and haul in the loosened sail. She seemed to sail better with her top-hamper gone, but was still well behind her opponent. Seeing the problems on board the Ford, Angus, in a show of sportsmanship, quickly hauled in matching sails, so both were now smoking along under the same set of canvas." - Excerpt from A Race for Real Sailors, by Keith McLaren

Read more about the 1922 races: https://bluenose100.ca/charting-a-course-for-greatness/

03/26/2022

101 years ago, Bluenose was launched in Lunenburg. Good luck was to come if the bow swung eastward after the launch, and it is said that Bluenose’s did.

Experience the Bluenose story: https://bluenose100.ca/voyage-into-history-1921-2021/

📷: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives

11/24/2021

Starting this weekend — The South Shore Theatrical Players present Canada's Ocean Playground! 🌊
Get your tickets here: https://www.southshoreplayers.ca/tickets/

11/23/2021

Join us this weekend for Light Up Lunenburg!

11/10/2021

Bluenose 100 is pleased to support the South Shore Theatrical Players' performance of Canada's Ocean Playground. Get your tickets online or at the locations listed below!

Ticket sales for South Shore Players' production of "Canada's Ocean Playground" are ramping up and, now with the Bluenose 100 team on board as our patron, this show promises to be a great one. You won't want to miss it! Tickets available online at:
https://www.southshoreplayers.ca/tickets/

10/24/2021

In this Centennial year celebrating the incredible legacy of schooner BLUENOSE, the Bluenose 100 Committee was able to share this incredible story with you, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our committee members, our sponsors, our partners and our viewers, like you!

Thank you from the bottom of our fish hold for helping to make these Bluenose 100 celebrations possible.

Fair winds!
Bluenose 100 💙⚓️

📷: Bluenose wing-on-wing, heading for the open sea: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives

10/24/2021

On this day, one hundred years ago — the second race of the 1921 International Fishermen’s Race series took place.

BLUENOSE had won the first race in a best of three two days prior, and this time met ELSIE in much lighter winds — with ELSIE first over the start line. Angus was criticized for his slow start, and was quoted saying “It ain’t who crosses the starting line first that counts, if we can cross the finish line first that’s the main thing!” And that’s exactly what they did!

The Canadian schooner BLUENOSE was declared the winner of the 1921 International Fishermen’s Race 🇨🇦

Remaining the undefeated champion in this series, The Cup has remained in Lunenburg since the series ended in 1938 🏆

📷: Captain Angus Walters with the International Fishermen’s Cup on the deck of Bluenose, 1921 | Bluenose: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives

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Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Town of Lunenburg

10/23/2021

In this Centennial year celebrating the incredible legacy of schooner BLUENOSE, the Bluenose 100 Committee was able to share this story with you, thanks to the numerous researchers and institutions who put in countless hours documenting and compiling the famed schooner's story. We would like to take this moment to recognize them.

For further appreciation of the schooner BLUENOSE and her story - from inception to present day - we recommend the following:

- The Nova Scotia Archives: https://archives.novascotia.ca

and their virtual exhibitions:

Bluenose: A Canadian Icon: https://archives.novascotia.ca/bluenose/

& the Wallace Robinson MacAskill Collection: https://archives.novascotia.ca/macaskill/

- The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic: home of the Bluenose Collection of artifacts and information: https://fisheriesmuseum.novascotia.ca

- The Canadian Geographic Education Bluenose 100 Guides: https://cangeoeducation.ca/en/resources/bluenose-100/

- The Bluenose 100 website: https://bluenose100.ca/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jg2BMhybJfonMzOyFgn3DeUKDEk019oKFAXnEVhzfnWECbTHDIulsRhoCiK0QAvD_BwE

& the Bluenose 100 YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCliaNQJ0gm9jmg6Zdut9y6w

- Bluenose author & Bluenose II Alumni Captain Keith McLaren’s book: A Race for Real Sailors: The Bluenose and The International Fishermen’s Cup, 1920-1938: https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771622677

- Bluenose author & Bluenose II Alumni Devyn Kaizer’s book: Bluenose: On Board a Legend: http://www.formac.ca/Book/3043/Bluenose.html

- Historian Heather Getson’s book: Bluenose: The Ocean Knows her Name: https://nimbus.ca/store/bluenose-the-ocean-knows-her-name.html

- Author Marq de Villiers’ book: Witch in the Wind: The True Story of the Legendary Bluenose: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/witch-in-the-wind-the/9780887622243-item.html

- Schooner Bluenose II: https://bluenose.novascotia.ca

- Our friends and shared keepers of the schooner legacy, Maritime Gloucester: https://www.maritimegloucester.org

- The Boston Public Library: Leslie Jones Collection: https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:2j62s484w

📷: Bluenose: W.R. MacAskill

10/23/2021

— The Last International Fishermen’s Race, 1938 —

When the previous International Fishermen’s Race series took place in 1931, times were already changing — fishing techniques and technology on board fishing vessels was changing rapidly, as was the state of the fishing grounds. The world had also fallen on difficult times due to the Great Depression. All of these factors left the fate of the International Fishermen’s Race series uncertain.

Captain Angus Walters and BLUENOSE still fished when they could — but the majority of the funds keeping the vessel afloat were those she made chartering passengers and touring as a sailing ambassador. In this new role, BLUENOSE represented Canada at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1933, and again at the Silver Jubilee of King George V in England in 1935. In 1937, BLUENOSE was immortalized on the Canadian 10 cent dime.

Also in 1937 came the release of the popular movie adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, Captains Courageous, filled with a glamorous Hollywood cast to tell the story of life at sea on a Grand Banker. It was a huge success — sparking nostalgia and a desire to hold another International Fishermen’s Race.

By 1938, GERTRUDE L. THEBAUD was still afloat, and it was decided that if another International series was to take place, it was now or never — and whichever vessel emerged victorious in a best three of five, would keep the The Cup forever.

The series was set to take place off Nahant Bay near Boston, and Gloucester, on a course which would allow the public to watch from the shore. BLUENOSE arrived an aging vessel, nearly twenty years old, and despite her new paint and sails, it showed.

The first race took place in light winds off Nahant Bay on October 9th — with Bluenose cracking her fore topmast, it was THEBAUD and Ben Pine first across the finish line.

The next official race took place in a decent sailing breeze on October 13th off Gloucester — in conditions which allow BLUENOSE to sail her best. Despite blowing out a sail, she came roaring over the finish line twelve minutes in the lead. One race each.

The third race began on October 19th, but was quickly recalled as the wheel of BLUENOSE fell off in Angus’ hand — with the official race taking place on October 23rd. After taking advice from her designer, William J. Roué, Angus and BLUENOSE made it first across the line by seven minutes.

The fourth race took place off Boston the very next day — after a hard fought battle for both vessels, it was a win for the THEBAUD. Two races each.

The final official race took place off Boston on October 26th. Both vessels had undergone necessary work the previous day, and the old rivals were ready to square off for one final time. Both crews worked carefully and each Skipper calculated every move. Angus was known for talking to BLUENOSE — and while we may never know what conversation they had in that final moment, whatever he said worked. BLUENOSE crossed the line two minutes and fifty seconds in the lead, remaining the undefeated champion in the International Fishermen’s Race series 🇨🇦

Known as the Queen of the North Atlantic, BLUENOSE is still immortalized on the Canadian dime — and her legacy lives on in the hearts of those touched by the sea.

📷: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives / Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

Race footage: https://youtu.be/s_F6zL3TUdA

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Town of Lunenburg Royal Canadian Mint / Monnaie royale canadienne Bluenose II

10/23/2021

BLUENOSE close hauled, 1921

Carrying sail no. 2 as she was the Canadian challenger for the 1921 International Fishermen’s Race series. As the winner of the 1921 series — and the undefeated champion — BLUENOSE carried sail no. 1 ever since 🇨🇦

📷: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives

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Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Town of Lunenburg Bluenose II

10/22/2021

On this day, one hundred years ago — a crisp Saturday in Halifax, schooner BLUENOSE met the Gloucester schooner ELSIE to challenge her for the 1921 International Fishermen’s Cup 🇨🇦🇺🇸

With a stiff breeze blowing, it was the perfect day for a race. The cannon fired and ELSIE was first over the start line. The first half of the race was a battle for the weather berth — but in the second half, BLUENOSE found herself ahead of the competition. Desperate to regain the lead, Marty Welch of ELSIE threw up every inch of canvas he had — but in doing so lost his fore topmast. Crew scrambled to clear the wreckage of rigging and the race went on — with BLUENOSE dousing the same amount of sail to ensure it was a fair match. In the end, BLUENOSE came flying over the finish line 12 minutes ahead of ELSIE — the first win in a best of three series.

📷: 1: Bluenose at racing angle | 2: Elsie (sail no. 5) and Bluenose (sail no. 2) during the 1921 International Fishermen’s Race, Halifax Harbour: W.R. MacAskill / Nova Scotia Archives

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Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Town of Lunenburg Bluenose II Nova Scotia Museum

10/22/2021

Check your change!

Beginning today, six million new coloured dimes, and nine million uncoloured dimes will be in circulation from the Royal Canadian Mint / Monnaie royale canadienne in celebration of Bluenose 100 🎉💯

Check it out!