The story of the Bluenose

The Bluenose was a 34 meter (112 ft) fishing and racing schooner built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia in 1921.  Bluenose was a common nickname for Nova Scotians whose nose was frequently discolored due to the harsh winter conditions.  Known as the “Queen of the North Atlantic” the Bluenose was primarily a working fishing vessel until her wreck in 1946.

Though she was intended primarily as a fishing vessel the design was significantly modified to meet racing requirements.  The wood for the vessel came primarily from Nova Scotia but the masts were from imported Oregon pine.  Bluenose had a waterline of 112 feet, a 126 foot foremast, 10,000 square foot of sail, and carried a crew of 20.

All of the Lunenburg fishing schooners were equipped with eight dories and used the dory trawl method to catch fish.  This method involved deploying a long line, as much as 1.5 miles in length, with hooks placed on three foot long dropper lines that were spaced every 10 feet along the main line.  Buoys were attached to support the long line and act as markers. 

The International Fisherman’s Trophy was awarded to the fastest fishing schooner working the North Atlantic deep sea fishing industry.  The race was held intermittently from 1920 until the last race in 1938.  Entrants must have worked at least one season fishing to qualify for the race.  Bluenose won the 1921 and 1922 races.  The 1923 race against the American challenger Henry S. Ford was ruled a tie.  The controversy over this ruling resulted in cancellation of the races for the next eight years.  Bluenose lost the 1930 Sir Thomas Lipton International Fishing Challenge Cup.  Bluenose won the next International Fisherman’s Trophy again.

In 1936 due to changes in the fishing industry Bluenose was refitted with diesel engines and had her sailing gear removed and stored.  She was refitted for racing in 1938 but lost the trophy when her topmast snapped.  This was the last race for North Atlantic fishing schooners.

After sitting out World War II at a Lunenburg dock Bluenose converted to a coastal freighter with diesel engines.  She sailed to the Caribbean carrying various cargo between the islands.  In January, 1946 she was wrecked beyond repair on a coral reef.

Canadians have celebrated the Bluenose with two commemorative stamps, a Nova Scotia license plate and her image on the Canadian dime.  She has been inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.  A Canadian National Railways vehicle and passenger ferry bears the name M/V Bluenose

The Bluenose II, a replica of the Bluenose, was built using the original plas in 1963 at Lunenburg.  Initially this replica was used as for pleasure and promotion of the Oland Brewery Schooner Lager beer brand.  The Oland family sold the Bluenose II to Nova Scotia for the price of ten Canadian dimes.  Today she lives at the Lunenburg Foundry wharf and tours Nova Scotia ports.

Ship Models Online offers three different Quality Schooner Models of the Bluenose II, One is 30" in length, the second is 39" in length and has a painted rather than naturally finished hull, and the third is 100" in length  also with a painted hull.