After a successful first season on the Grand Banks Bluenose, under Angus Walters, was ready for the 1921 Nova Scotia Elimination Trials, held off Halifax in October. It competed against the schooners Independence, J. Duffy, Canadia, Alcala, Ada R. Corkum, Donald J. Cook and Delawana, all from Lunenburg, LaHave or Shelburne — and won both Elimination Races easily, thereby becoming the challenger against the American entry in the International Trophy Race.
The initial American winner that year had been the Mayflower, a Boston-based vessel — but it was disqualified when the race committee decided, after some argument, that Mayflower was technically a schooner-yacht rather than a dedicated Grand Banks fishing schooner. The Americans quickly held another elimination contest, from which the Gloucester schooner Elsie emerged the winner.
The first race between Bluenose and Elsie was held on 22 October 1921, with Bluenose winning easily. The second race was held two days later, and once again Bluenose reached the finish line first, more than three miles ahead of Elsie. No question about it — under Captain Angus Walters and in one brief season, Bluenose was established as the frisky new championship schooner. The salt-banker was 'different' indeed, and the legend had begun.
Bluenose docked before race, 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: Photo Collection Nova Scotia Archives Transportation & Communication: Ships: Bluenose 1921
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Alcala (Schooner racing 1921) Elimination races
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040014
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Alcala Bucking to Windward
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040015
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Alcala at sea
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040016
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Elimination Races (Canadia) 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040017
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Delawana (Schooner Racing 1921) Elimination Races
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040018
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Donald J. Cook, Elimination Races, 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040019
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Independence 1921 Elimination Races
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040020
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
J. Duffy, 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 1987-453 no. 6030
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 1987-453 no. 3919
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Schooner Mayflower, Hfx. Harbour 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 1987-453 no. 225
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Bluenose
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040024
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Bluenose, 1921
Date: 25 October 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: W.R. MacAskill Nova Scotia Archives 20040026
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Bluenose
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: Photo Collection Nova Scotia Archives Ships: Bluenose I
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Schooner racing off Georges Island, Halifax Harbour, 1921
Date: 1921
Photographer: W.R. MacAskill
Reference: Photo Collection Nova Scotia Archives Sports: Schooner Racing
Theme: Bluenose’s First Race (1921)
Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/bluenose/results/
Crown copyright © 2024, Province of Nova Scotia.