Lunenburg's Original Bluenose - racing to victory
Undefeated in 18 year career
Bluenose History
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
In October, 1921 Bluenose sailed to Halifax to take part in the elimination races for the International Fishermen's Series.
Her Nova Scotian counterparts were: Canadia, Delawana, Alcala, Uda R. Corkum, Donald J. Cook, J. Duffy and Independence. Bluenose out-sailed them all winning the eliminations. She was on her way.
The following week, she raced against the American schooner Elsie. On October 24, 1921, Bluenose defeated Elsie in the final race of the Series, winning the International Cup. Bluenose was to remain undefeated in future Series.
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
No sooner had she won her first International Fishermen's Race than local and international newspapers seized upon the excitement of victory. They immediately understood this was no ordinary fishing vessel, and that the potential for marketing and exploiting the schooner was limitless.
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
1922
In 1922, Bluenose went to Gloucester and raced against the Henry Ford to win the Series. The following year, in Halifax, she faced the Columbia who Captain Angus Walters credited as her greatest rival.
1923
The 1923 Series did not reach a satisfactory conclusion. There were disagreements between the Captains of both vessels and the Race Committee. Bluenose went home to Lunenburg and Columbia to Gloucester.
1930
1930: Bluenose accepts a race challenge in Gloucester, USA, to compete against a new American schooner, Gertrude L. Thebaud, captained by Walters' old rival, master sailor Ben Pine. This time, Bluenose lost two out of three races, resulting in absolute jubilation amongst the New Englanders, who called for a resumption of the International Fishermen's Race series.
1938
Courtesy of Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
Finally when fishing under sail had all but ended, the International Fishermen's Series was revived in 1931. Bluenose raced against the new Gertrude L. Thebaud winning the series to the delight of Nova Scotians. The final Series took place in October, 1938. The 17-year-old Bluenose raced against the 8-year-old Gertrude L. Thebaud, near Gloucester and Boston.
At the start of the fifth and deciding race, both schooners were tied two wins each. Captain Angus Walters and his crew sailed the Bluenose to one final victory (see History by the Minute video) - and the Age of Sail was brought to a glorious conclusion.
In an 18-year racing career, Bluenose did not once give up the trophy. The American schooners Henry Ford, Columbia, Gertrude L. Thebaud, as well as a number of Canadian vessels built in an effort to surpass Bluenose's remarkable sailing abilities, could not claim the trophy from her grasp.
