I am writing this from the chartroom of Bluenose II in the middle of the Gulf of Maine. Under the guidance of the second mate, the 12-4 watch has the deck and is guiding the ship towards the seagoing port, Lunenburg.
The ship and crew are returning from Sail Boston 250, a gathering of ships from around the world intended to celebrate friendship and a better future for our young crews. It has been a long time since Bluenose II made a passage down the east coast. Boston in 2017 and Gloucester in 2018 were our last forays into foreign waters.
Our time in Boston was very successful with over 15,000 visitors walking across our decks. We hosted receptions for local and international companies and provided a venue for business and social gatherings. We were also pleased to host the Consul General on several occasions as she continued on with her work of representing Canada. Our work as ambassador for Canadians in general and specifically Nova Scotia was well-received.
One of my great joys from these events is seeing our young crew meet similarly minded and employed young people and compare ships with their new friends. I consistently heard the term “show stopper” from the public, and sailors who had not yet walked our decks were amazed by our ship’s size. With 53% of the fleet being schooners, Bluenose II was well appreciated by all.
As we venture home, several large tall ships, including Eagle, Esmeralda, Mircea, and BAP Union, can be seen 30 miles or so to leeward, reminding us of the missed opportunity to have the entire fleet visit Nova Scotia.
I am looking forward to our schedule for the next several months, consisting of at least 110 scheduled harbour tours, taking an anticipated 7500 people sailing, free deck tours for over 60,000 guests, and Nova Scotia port visits, from Halifax to the smallest fishing port.
Keep an eye out for Bluenose II as she sails along the coast and come meet this year’s crew.