«Bluenose II»: Saga of the Great Fishing Schooners

Richard Wilbur is supervisor of the Legislative Research Service at the
New Brunswick Legislature, and the author of The Rise of French New
Brunswick.

To examine this book, reach for a magnifying glass. The print, mostly in
script, is so small as to almost intimidate. But oh the information that
is here—especially for yacht enthusiasts and devotees and admirers of
wooden boat construction.

In his foreword, Don J. Oland, of the brewing family that built,
sponsored, and operated Bluenose II, explains how the many requests for
information about this famous vessel led to his commissioning the noted
marine artist and historic illustrator Commander L.B. Jenson to produce
the working drawings for Bluenose II, “the last of the great tall
schooners.” In completing the task Jenson compiled so much material on
schooners in general that the project was expanded, resulting in this
expert’s record of the evolution of the schooner under sail.

The finished product includes 60 pages on how Bluenose II was built, 40
pages illustrating “Schooners of the Past,” information on the
historical importance of the Atlantic cod and the Beaufort Scale
(devised in 1805 and still in use), a series of historic drawings
showing fishermen at work, and much more. The concluding 25 pages
contain large-scale drawings of the hull, masts, and sails of Bluenose
II, plus sketches of the Lunenburg yard where the vessel was
constructed.

Perusing this marvelously executed study makes me aware, however dimly,
of the awesome skills embodied in the creation and sailing of this thing
of beauty, the bank schooner. A great read for all armchair sailors, as
well as for real ones awaiting the summer sailing season.