Iconic Bluenose II Embarks on Sail Past Summer
Nova Scotia's iconic Bluenose II will sail into ports and harbours around the province this summer, excluding Cumberland County.
The province calls it a unique tour fit for the times, dubbed Sail Past Summer.
Due to COVID-19, the 20-person crew has created a Bluenose bubble for training, maintenance, and sailing. There will be no harbour cruises with passengers and visitors will not be permitted onboard.
Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador is scheduled to depart Lunenburg in late July and visit 26 communities in Nova Scotia, and sail along parts of the coast of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It will not dock in any port other than its home port of Lunenburg. The closest sail past to any Cumberland port will be Pictou.
Quick Facts:
- the original Bluenose, designed by William Roué and built by the Smith and Rhuland Shipyard, was launched as a Grand Banks fishing and racing schooner on March 26, 1921 in Lunenburg
- starting in 1921, Bluenose won the International Fishermen's Trophy and brought it home to Nova Scotia for the next 17 years
- celebrations are planned to recognize the Bluenose's centenary next year
- built in 1963, Bluenose II is a replica of the famed schooner
- on April 6, Transport Canada issued an interim order prohibiting the operation of commercial vessels carrying more than 12 passengers for non-essential purposes, including tourism, until June 30, and Bluenose II cancelled scheduled passenger cruises and issued refunds to those who had purchased tickets
For more about the history of the Bluenose and Bluenose II, visit the Nova Scotia Archives at https://archives.novascotia.ca/.
Find Bluenose II's full 2020 schedule at https://bluenose.novascotia.ca/schedule.
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