Bluenose ii pictured in June undergoing continued work after the official launch. It was to be ready for public tours this summer, and total costs for the refit may exceed the $16 million budget
Photo Credit: CBC

Further delays for Bluenose II

The newly rebuilt Bluenose II, is still not quite ready for public tours.

One of the world’s, and certainly Canada’s, best known sailing ships is the graceful schooner Bluenose. The original dates back to 1921, but in her old age, the ship was sold as a freighter and was wrecked on Haitian reef with a load of bananas in 1946

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The original Bluenose was launched in 1921 as a working fishing boat, but became famous for winning every race in 18 years of competition against its specially built American competitors. It was built in Lunenburg in the same shipyard as the current renovation © Publie Archives Canada

Because of the renewed love for this former champion, a replica was built in 1963 to the original plan for the wealthy Oland family as a luxury yacht and to promote their brewery and “Schooner Beer”.

This was later donated to the province of Nova Scotia to become a provincial “ambassador” and attraction, but after several refits, by 2010 it was in need of major repairs.

A refit was begun, but is in essence, a completely new ship, which was built to comply with current standards and rules.

The rebuild was to cost $16 million, and the ship ready for the tourist season this summer.

However, in spite of being launched early this year, there have been delays, and Nova Scotia’s Heritage Minister says the schooner will be undergoing its sea trials sometime within the next few weeks to determine if it is seaworthy.

Tony Ince says the tests will determine when the iconic vessel, which is based in Lunenburg, will be ready for public tours.

Ince says dock trials, which began earlier this fall on the wooden vessel, have been completed and were successful.

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© There have been at least three Canadian stamps showing the Bluenose, including this first one showing the schooner in two “poses”

 The restoration project has been ongoing for more than three years and is being carried out by the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance.

This was the same yard where the both the original and the 1963 copy were built.

There have been stamps commemorating the Bluenose, and several songs, and the ship is featured in full sail on the Canadian 10-cent piece.

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