Lunenburg--Back in the Fog!
10 July 2013
Monday morning, July 8, we dropped the mooring lines and headed down Shelburne Harbour with sights set on Lunenburg. However, with a lovely sunny day and potential for a beautiful anchorage instead of a town, Ingo diverted to Port Mouton to spend the night before pushing on to Lunenburg.
After an uneventful light-air motor-sail to Lunenburg, we decided to tie up at a dock instead of anchoring. A mooring was not available, with all apparently reserved weeks in advance. Who knew?! The dock proved to be a good decision, since rain & fog set in and eliminated the wet dinghy rides to shore.
Lunenburg is as lovely and quaint as we remembered. Great restaurants, interesting art galleries and shops, and just a great place to stroll...even in the fog! On one walk, we came across the Ironworks Distillery, a boutique distillery right in town that makes their own signature rums (Bluenose Rum, of course!), vodkas and fruit liqueurs. We couldn't resist buying a bottle of Saskatoon Berry Liqueur. How's that for something unique to Canada!?!
Just across from the Boat Locker where we're docked is the Bluenose II, the sailing ambassador of Nova Scotia and the tall ship on the Canadian dime. She's currently undergoing a major rebuild and reconstruction ($16 million) to restore her to previous usable and pristine condition. The original Bluenose was built in 1921 primarily as a fishing schooner. For two decades, Bluenose reigned over the North Atlantic and brought fame to Captain Angus Walters and his crew. However, with the decline of the age of sail, the boat was no longer commercially viable in the fishing industry, so she was sold and subsequently lost at sea during a storm near Haiti. Who could have predicted that Bluenose would become the revered legendary Grand Banks fishing schooner and pride of Nova Scotia -- an undefeated racing champion and Canadian icon? (By the way, the Pride of Baltimore II has been to Lunenburg many times, as witnessed by several locals.)
Today, the spirit and history live on in Bluenose II. As Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, Bluenose II is a proud representative of the Nova Scotia province and her maritime heritage. Bluenose II was launched in 1963 and has acted as Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador ever since, visiting ports around the world. We saw here in the 2000 Parade of Tall Ships in New York harbor for the millennium celebration.
However, time and weather had taken their toll on the wooden vessel, leading to the complete rebuild of the ship from the decks down. The reconstruction process used tools, materials and techniques from the 1920s when the original Bluenose was built. The wood is Angelique from Suriname, Guyana, one of the hardest woods in existence. Much of the original vessel has been reused including: rigging, masts, sails, ironwork, deck structures, safety equipment and electronics. However, the overall configuration of the deck more closely resembles the original Bluenose.
We've heard that she's almost ready to be re-launched and may be back in the water for our return trip. What a wonderful sight that would be!
Next stop--maybe the Lunenburg Yacht Club, or maybe on to Chester and Halifax. We have a reservation at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron for Saturday and we're really looking forward to the return visit. We have very fond memories of the RNSYS!