Another Bluenose? A news item from the Chronicle Herald in Halifax reveals a very confused situation regarding any plans for Bluenose III.
Future foggy for third Bluenose
Original designer’s relative disturbed by tourism minister’s comments
By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau
LUNENBURG — The great-granddaughter of the man who designed the Bluenose is "disturbed and disappointed" by comments made by the province’s tourism minister concerning plans for Bluenose III.
Len Goucher said Bluenose II is in fine shape and does not need replacing for some time. "There’s no urgency to build a new boat when the Bluenose II is being maintained and performing her duties well," Mr. Goucher said in a release. He went on to say that "when the time comes to build a Bluenose III, the province will be doing so in partnership with the Town of Lunenburg, home port of the Bluenose, and others who have an interest."
That’s news to Joan Roue, who said her family owns the intellectual property rights to the famous racing schooner. Ms. Roue announced plans this summer to build a Bluenose III and she said the province declined to respond to a number of overtures to collaborate on the project. Mr. Goucher’s comments, she said, are "curious, considering they have not ever approached us regarding the availability of construction rights for the plans drawn by my great-grandfather W.J. Roue, which remain within the Roue family as well as the intellectual property rights associated therein."
Ms. Roue has formed a company called Queen of the North Atlantic Enterprise Inc. and is raising money to build Bluenose III. The company plans to lay the keel of the replica on July 1, 2008, and launch it on July 24, 2010.
The province sent out a news release Friday to tout the sailing ambassador’s summer successes of travelling 4,000 miles, carrying 7,000 passengers and welcoming 30,000 visitors during 12 ports of call.
Capt. Wayne Walters, director of operations for Bluenose II, said in an interview the schooner is in good shape and can sail for years to come. "She’s in great condition for her age," he said. "For a 43-year-old wooden vessel, she’s in great shape." Capt. Walters stressed the ship has been well maintained over the years and can sail for a long time yet.
The hull is being caulked at Lunenburg Foundry. Peter Kinley, the company’s president and chief executive officer, spent two summers as a deckhand on the Bluenose II beginning in 1975. "She’s in great shape," he said as he stood on scaffolding leading up to the ship’s deck. "She could go indefinitely because she has been kept up."
But Joan Roue said she fast-tracked her decision to build a second replica of the original Bluenose based, in part, on letters she received from Capt. Walters. She quotes him as writing that the Bluenose II is getting more expensive to maintain every year.
The original Bluenose was an unbeaten schooner racing champion in the ’20s and ’30s. Bluenose II was built by the Oland family in 1963 to promote Schooner beer, but was acquired by the province in the ’70s as a sailing ambassador for Nova Scotia. Bluenose II underwent a major refit in 1994 that was expected to be good for 10 years.
The ChronicleHerald.ca
KW Kerr for Heidi Sawyer
Another Bluenose? A news item from the Chronicle Herald in Halifax reveals a very confused situation regarding any plans for Bluenose III.
