Captain’s log
Waterfront news, world travellers and schooner races
August 12
I’m sitting in a quiet place reflecting on the past two weeks, all the waterfront news, and all the crew have accomplished. Along the waterfront, a small voyaging schooner has returned to her home waters. Under the command of Tom Gallant and chief mate “Jimmy the Cat,” schooner Avenger has returned from an extended stay in the Caribbean. Held up while looking for crew in Bermuda, the captain found a willing soul to make the deep-water passage. Avenger has made the passage 34 times by all accounts and is possibly like the old milk horse plodding along the familiar route.
The rise and fall of life
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
Jacques Cousteau
Sambro, Terence Bay and Peggy’s Cove
Since my last writing, Bluenose II has been away from Lunenburg visiting some small ports along the coast. These trips are important for the life of the ship for several reasons. Firstly, it allows us to train the crew in longer voyages at sea. We complete emergency drills, including rescuing a person in the water and firefighting. These drills take time to complete properly and are difficult to complete during our public open decks and harbour tour schedule.
Our first experience at sea
Happy Canada Day from the deck of a Canadian icon! I hope that you have a great day and are surrounded by friends and family and are truly grateful for the Canada that gives us all a home. We often remind ourselves that we are only caretakers of Bluenose II and give thanks to those who came before us and take care of the ship for those who will come after us. I like to think of Canada in much the same way.
The start of harbour cruises
It’s been two weeks of victories and losses onboard the schooner. When we last met, we had just passed our annual inspection and we were ready to begin our annual harbour cruise season. We have managed to find enough tourists to make the trips worthwhile in the mornings and have been sold out in the afternoons. As always, we are meeting people from all over the world who come to Nova Scotia for the adventure.