March 10th, 2021 Newsletter

Watch Me Paint

THE BLUENOSE (pt. 4)

Queen of the North Atlantic

100th Anniversary Painting

a brief history.

The immortality of the BLUENOSE legend was achieved when it was engraved on the tail of the Canadian dime for the first time in 1937; however, the Nova Scotian schooner represents more than just 10￠ Canadian coin.

Designed and engineered by a Nova Scotian fisherman, William J. Roue was determined to create a vessel that was as fast as it was functional. He knew that if he could return cod back to the Lunenburg port faster than other schooners, he would be able to get the best price for his catch. In its prime, BLUENOSE held the record for bringing back the largest catch to Port Lunenburg in all of history.

Roue simultaneously designed BLUENOSE to be a competitive racing vessel that would take part in a multitude of regattas (boat races). In 1921, BLUENOSE set sail to compete in the International Fisherman’s Race, where it was pinned against a fleet of ‘unbeatable’ American challengers. The Canadian BLUENOSE outraced its competitors by 2.61 knots, and achieved the winning cup not once, not twice but three years in a row.

Unfortunately, while making a shipment delivery of rum, sugar and bananas during an overpowering storm, the BLUENOSE hit a reef near the port of Haiti and sank down to the bottom of the sea to meet its material end. Nonetheless, the legacy we as Canadians own of its unconquerable speed lives on to this day.

Now, every time a Canadian holds a dime, they are subtly reminded of the great heights we’ve achieved with our North Atlantic Queen.

Because of the BLUENOSE, I am #PROUD to be a Canadian.