Captain Watson

Mahone Bay Harbour

Good evening,

It was a busy day ashore in Mahone Bay today. The fast and furious boat building challenge continued as did the music, guided tours and the marine related workshops. The workshops included knot tying, navigation, rigging and splicing and kids crafts as well. Yesterday, Canada's Vendee Globe entry Derek Hatfield had a meet and greet on the wharf.

This afternoon they launched a boat with oxen, and had a classic boat race. It was fantastic to see the schooner Atlantica, built in 1967 at the World Expo in Montreal, tacking with a westwind 32 built at Heisler's, a local yard, in the same year! There were lots of other vessels in the race but these two caught my imagination. They are both owned by people who put lots of time and effort into keeping up their classic yachts. THey should both be commended as should all the others who take the time to bring their pride and joy to the festival to share with us all!

I went ashore briefly this afternoon and as we passed the old site of Atlantic Shipbuilding I pointed out to the crew that the land there had been reclaimed using old steel scallop rakes. They are easily identified from the water side. Atlantic ship was a subsidiary of ABCO and used to build 100 foot scallop draggers and longliners as well as some of the first fiberglass boats in the area! Mahone Bay has a rich tradition of shipbuilding that at one time included seven shipyards. THere is a wonderful story of a schooner being built in the small community of Clearland and then using 30 oxen to drag it to the shore in Mahone Bay to be launched!
That's all for tonight, the mosquitoes have found the chart room and I've got to leave!

Best,

Phil Watson
Bluenose II