Raising the Bluenose II topmasts

The upcoming sailing season rushes to us with no hope of refuge or respite like an oncoming squall; we must stand against it and move ahead.

Today, we are considering a length of 125 feet. At a glance, it's not a particularly big number — it's shorter than the length-on-deck of Bluenose II. It somehow changes when you pick it up and stand it vertically. That's what the crew did on the Lunenburg waterfront yesterday with the topmasts. We lifted our 54-foot, 1,200-pound Douglas fir topmast off the wharf and sent it up to its full height. From the top of the mast to the water is 125 feet. Looking up from the deck is impressive – looking down from aloft is often life-changing.

I should note that at times throughout this process, the team aloft was all women. That is largely a shore side way of looking at life— at sea we are all crew, and we are measured by our work ethic, our willingness to work for the ship and our ability to work as a team. It hasn't always been this way of course – times change and we get better.

This week's Bluenose 100 video was an interview with Elder Todd Labrador. I will admit when the filming was scheduled in February, I made sure I was in the office so that I could meet him. Todd has made it his life's work to carry and teach the traditional ways of the Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia, in particular by building canoes. Carrying this knowledge cannot be easy. I'm sure there are fine details that have been lost over time and have to be relearned or discovered. Each strip of birch bark harvested and canoe built will add to his knowledge.

To put this in perspective — do you have your grandfather's skills? Could you run a horse team in the woods, or convince Bright and Lyon the oxen to plow a field? It's the same for us on the ship – the fine details of how Captain Angus used

Bluenose have to be relearned and the history shared. Todd Labrador pushes ahead and shares his knowledge with all who are interested. I would encourage you to watch the video and learn about how he is connected to Bluenose, and beyond that, search out the Lunenburg School of the Arts. Todd Labrador is going to build a 16' birch bark canoe there in the fall.

Have a good week!

Capt. Phil Watson has been onboard Bluenose II for 35 years and this is his 20th year as captain. Follow along as he chronicles the Bluenose II Sail Past tour this year, celebrating 100 years since the launch of the original Bluenose. Visit bluenose.novascotia.ca for more information on Bluenose II and bluenose100.ca for more on centennial celebrations.