A Canadian Icon, The Bluenose

     As a Canadian, the Bluenose Schooner is well known. We see it each day on our 10 cent coin or dime. The name Bluenose originated as a nickname for Nova Scotians from as early as the 18th century. There are different theories about how the name "Bluenose" came about. Here are two: During the  18th century Nova Scotian fishermen who wore hand died sweaters and mitts to keep them warm when fishing had blue stains on their noses from wiping them with mitts or sweater sleeve. Another theory is that it refers to a variety of once popular potato which was blue on one end. These potatoes were exported from Nova Scotia to the New England state in the mid 1800s. The New Englanders referred to the seafarers who brought the potatoes as "Bluenoses".

     Bluenose was a fishing and racing gaff-rigged schooner built in 1921 in Nova Scotia. A celebrated racing ship and fishing vessel, Bluenose under the command of Angus Walters became a provincial icon for Nova Scotia and an important Canadian symbol in the 1930s, serving as a working vessel until she was wrecked in 1946. She was later commemorated by a replica, Bluenose II, built in 1963 using the original Bluenose plans. Bluenose II was owned by the Oland family (Oland Brewery) but was sold to the government of Nova Scotia in 1971 for the sum of $1 or 10 Canadian dimes. The replica schooner is used for tourism promotion as a "sailing ambassador". In honour of her predecessor's racing record, Bluenose II does not officially race. The replica has undergone several refits to extend her life. This vessel was decommissioned and dismantled in 2010, and an entirely new Bluenose II was built as similar as possible to the original schooner and launched in Lunenburg in 2013.

The Bluenose II

The Canadian dime with the image of the Bluenose Schooner on it.

     The home of the Bluenose II is Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, The schooner travels around the Maritimes and Newfoundland visiting different ports for visitors to board and see the ship. While we were visiting Lunenburg, we were able to board the schooner. Personally, I was very surprised at the size of it. I thought that it would have been much larger. I am not sure where I got that idea.

The bow of the schooner

Al and I on board

     Photos of various parts of our heritage on the Bluenose II.

                                   

     Click here to see more about the Bluenose. I was glad to see this replica of the Bluenose and understand the importance of the original schooner in Canadian history and what an exciting story it is.