Written by Ally Gibson
Whilst our Bosun School is primarily a land-based seamanship program intended to help
advance the skills of the talented young mariners enrolled, an important aspect of our current session
has involved getting our students onto a variety of small boats and vessels. Our students have sailed
with Eastern Star and Eastern Points, our young female students have participated in Women at the
Helm and all of them were involved in Lunenburg’s September Classics. Most recently our Bosun
School was invited to sail on the Bluenose II, which was an experience that was thoroughly enjoyed
and appreciated by all.
Our Bosun School is run in Lunenburg, the heart of Nova Scotia, and home to the Bluenose
II, a classic symbol of Canadian and Nova Scotian pride. Built in Lunenburg in 1921, the original
Bluenose, a gaff rigged fishing and racing schooner captained by Angus Walters, rose to fame by
becoming the undefeated champion of the International Fisherman’s Trophy. The Bluenose was
tragically lost in 1946 after she struck a reef off of Haiti. The Bluenose II, an expertly crafted and
beautifully maintained replica of the original Bluenose, was built and launched in Lunenburg in 1963.
The Bluenose is immortalised on the Canadian dime, and the pride felt for her in Lunenburg remains
unwavering.
Our Bosun School students were honoured to be welcomed aboard by the friendly crew of the
Bluenose II as they joined them for a sail on Wednesday morning. After watching her sail by every
day during domestics, our students were thrilled to spend the morning sailing aboard her.
They were able to observe the Bluenose II crew carry out various tasks, utilising many of the skills
they have been learning in Bosun School. They watched the crew perform their duties
seamlessly, communicating with each other silently as they worked to hoist, tend, and furl the sails.
Our students have been practising throwing heaving lines, coiling ropes, tending to mooring lines, and
more, all of which they were able to witness the crew perform in a working setting. Observing the
skills they have learned being applied in this setting has added a depth to our students’ education as
they were able to witness and thus better understand the practical uses of what they have been
learning. It was an incredible opportunity for our students to witness a crew in action and to see how
things are done on a working vessel. Our students enjoyed interacting with the Bluenose II crew who
showed them true Nova Scotian hospitality, chatting with our Bosun School students and patiently
answering all of their many questions. Our students are so grateful to have had this tremendous
learning opportunity that will help them further their seamanship skills and they were thrilled to have
had the privilege of sailing on Nova Scotia’s pride. It was an experience that has continued to foster
the wonderful relationship between the Bluenose II and the Barque Picton Castle
