Katie Belle Makes Port for HarbourFest
The Katie Belle is tied up at the Windsor Salt Wharf in Pugwash, her home port for HarbourFest 2016.
The wooden schooner spent the night at anchor just outside Pugwash Harbour. The skipper, Evan Densmore, said last night, "We're out of the shipping lane, with lots of water at low tide, and we're hunkered down for the night."
The plan was to sail up the harbour for a grand entry this morning. The sails were unfurled, but the wind was blowing out of the harbour, making it difficult to sail as planned. Instead, they lowered the sails and motored in, just a little behind schedule.
A good crowd was on hand at Eaton Park to welcome the Stewiacke built vessel to Six Rivers. It will be available for boarding throughout HarbourFest.
Built by two young cousins, both in their twenties, the Katie Belle is a story unto itself, a story that will be told again and again this weekend as the schooner takes its place as the headline attraction of this year's waterfront festival.