Scrape, Sand, Paint, and Repeat
We are about to start our third week here on the ship and there is blessedly little to write about. I can remember as a deckhand trying to keep a journal and after weeks of writing, “today I sanded and painted and varnished,” I gave up! I’m sure the deckhands of today feel the same as I did thirty odd years ago. Anyway, the gang has been hard at it servicing the blocks, varnishing the smaller spars, and preparing the deck boxes. All this work carries on in the rigging shed next to the museum. Every once in a while they do get a break and a few are chosen to scrape and sand the white bulwarks. Ahhh the glory of being a deckhand on a big schooner! My son reminded me of a joke the other day which bears repeating:
“Why do they call it painting?”
“Because if they called it sanding and scraping nobody would do it!”
We have been up to some other work as well. The life rafts have been sent for servicing, all the fire fighting equipment and climbing harnesses have been sent for inspection and the rescue boat motor is being serviced. Meeting the regulatory requirements of a passenger vessel is a busy undertaking!
The crew have also been busy in evening workshops. The mates have been busy teaching knots 1 and 2, Bluenose history, and shipboard terminology. These are the beginnings of the basics necessary for our young crew to succeed both as sailors and as interpreters of the Bluenose story. When you look at it, the crew really do have to learn a great deal to be successful here. There is the technical aspect of painting and varnishing the bright work. They have to learn how to manage water consumption and living with a group of people in a small place. Keeping the ship clean. Then we start working at heights and rigging the ship. Of course learning about the emergency and safety aspect of our being at sea hasn’t started just yet. We will get there!
I see Picton Castle, our Lunenburg harbour mate, is visiting St Helena this week. This tiny mid Atlantic island has a tremendous history and to visit aboard a square rigged vessel must bring it all home. The chief and 2nd mate here on Bluenose II have both circumnavigated with Capt. Moreland and his ship. They share stories of times in these fantastic and remote ports. We are lucky to have a glimpse into the deep sea tall ship world.
We are expecting the vessel St. Lawrence II to sail into port this week. They have wintered in Bridgewater and are coming to Lunenburg for their final preparations for their summer trip to Newfoundland and Labrador. How many schooners used to complete that same work here prior to heading to Labrador for their summer fishery. There is a specific type of small boat known as the Labrador Whaler that used to be built in Lunenburg and carried north. A much more complicated boat to build than a dory. They are a lovely design and worthy of study today. Unfortunately they are largely lost to history.
Here are a couple of links to some more information well worth the time to have a pop in and look. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic does have a Labrador Whaler for display.