A gallery of photos of the Magnificent CALANOVA at sail in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

"The day had come. The amazing schooner CALANOVA had been laying at the dock. She was all ready for sea, or sea trials anyway. Sea trials are where you take a vessel out for the first time and sea how she does and to see if everything works right. Slaunwhite and gang had done a fantastic job on this schooner. Let her magic loose! Beware the seas! There she was. All beautifully built, painted, launched, all swelled up and did not leak a thimbleful. Masts stepped, bowsprit fitted, rigging set up, running rigging rove off, sails bent, steering tested (you know, move the tiller back and forth and look over the side to see if the rudder moves at the same time in the same direction – it did, YAY!). Wood stove had a crate of dried split birch to keep the coffee and chowder hot. A couple anchors on the buffalo rails as a proper vessel should have, ready to let go as needed. The auxiliary engine was not quite sorted out yet – but who needs a cranky engine when ya gots a fine sailin’ schoonah under your boots?" (Click READ MORE for the rest of the story)

"When last we met, we had shared accounts of how the Amazing schooner CALANOVA had been designed, built, launched, rigged, sail bent on, mostly fitted out and made ready to sail for the first time. Provisioning and more kitting up for a voyage will come later. We needs to sail she. Its about time. Keen to sail she we are. Anxious to sail this snappy schooner, flash packet, rocket sled…WE WANTS TO FIND OUT IF SHE IS FAST AND ABLE. Is she? Should be. All figure CALANOVA should be pretty slippery. But time will tell. And a breeze of wind laying her down. Get some sea foam over the rail..." (Click READ MORE for the rest of the story)

At the old stone crib wharf, the freshly painted CALANOVA is swarming with riggers. These venerable deep-water seafarers, veteran shellbacks of the Horn and hauling trawl on the banks off Newfoundland in burning summers or many a winter blow, these riggers look like nautical cowboys, and swagger with the same confident grace. What appear to be oiled leather scabbards on their hips that might secure a “pyrat’s” cutlass instead hold a select few rigging tools, knives, spikes, grease packed cow horns clacking and dangling. Under ragged sleaved, faded halibut shirts, tanned fore-arms of corded muscle power thick calloused hands brandish long steel marlinspikes, so well worn they flash like silver in the morning sunlight... (Click READ MORE to read the rest of the story)

Launching the Amazing Schooner CALANOVA It’s launching day for our beautiful new-built wooden schooner at the Slauenwhite Yard on the shores of Mader’s Cove, Lunenburg County, in fair Nova Scotia. When did this auspicious event take place? We are still trying to pin that down. The Halifax Herald says 1987. But let’s not worry about this small point for now... (click READ MORE for the rest of the story)

Here’s the deal. You gotta caulk wooden boats. Most of them anyway. Think about it. You take all these pieces of wood, tie them together somehow and you got a boat? Almost. Looks like a boat, but it ain’t no boat until ya caulk ‘em. That’s the deal - If you don’t caulk wooden boats they fill up with water. And ya don’t want that. Makes your sandwiches soggy. And other stuff too, not good. So you caulk ‘em up. Well, not all wooden boats... (click READ MORE for the rest of the story)

So, the builders went the through the forest, axe in hand, searching for the finest timbers possible to build this amazing schooner. Only the best woods would do for the construction of this epic craft. Trekking in the shade under the canopy of ancient trees, mature timbers for excellent wooden shipbuilding is part of the magic and majesty of bringing a wooden ship to life... (click READ MORE for the rest of the story).

Click "read more" for a sneak peek at the cabin on this beautiful Seine Dory!

Now, it stands to reason that before a schooner, or any legendary sailing ship, like CALANOVA, or even a cathedral for that matter, can burst forth into the universe and set out on her legendary exploits or even simple existence, that make her legendary, it must be noted that first said vessel must be built. And further, by extension of that very logic, before a vessel is to get on with construction, starting with the selecting and felling of mighty oaks for keel and frames, or slender pines for plank and masts, to be worshipfully harvested to fashion this noble affirmation of the shipwright’s art, whether this vessel be the Swedish VASA, or HMS VICTORY, schooner-yacht AMERICA or the X-15, or Notre Dame on the Isle de Paris, or anything else beautiful, that either abides as we move about she, as in the form of a cathedral, or moves with grace through the ether, damp or dry, some designing needs to take place... (click on "read more" to read the full story).

The first story in a series about the famous Schooner CALANOVA sailing from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia! "Due to the beneficence of a private research grant tasked in researching the little known but important history significant to our Maritime world. Dedicated researchists have been combing the archives, digging deep, interviewing veterans and have been uncovering little known stories in the life of this legendary Nova Scotian schooner. In the coming weeks and months, we will be releasing some of this rarified history for all to enjoy and marvel at. Watch this space."…Daniel D. Moreland Captain of Schooner Calanova.