The work continues...

The interior begins to take shape with work continuing in the main cabin and the galley. That's an endgrain cherry countertop people! But will she float? A bee is happening this weekend ( on St. Jean Baptiste) and if I remember rightly he had something to do with water... We plan to stabalize the spars, prime and seal the hull above the waterline, and bung below. By the end of all this redesign she should sleep eight in excellent comfort, with any number of other louts on deck. A post-bee post will follow.

Schoonerus interruptus

It is clear who is in charge. The changing of the seasons has brought with it a sweet imperative. It's maple syrup time in Québec and boatbuilding must stop. The snow is fast melting away, but the night-time frosts and the day-time sun is bringing the sap out of the roots and into our buckets. Capt. Fairhead, a master for all seasons, is thus distracted. Instead of hammering planks into place we are staggering, sap laden, to gathering tanks and basking in the sweet steam of the sugar shack. There will be pancakes aplenty in good time, and many to eat them I'll warrant.

All's fair...

May her sailings be as smooth as her new planks... The new bow planks have been faired and we are moving on to other projects. There is a certain satisfaction from standing in the fo'c'sle and not seeing daylight! Each day it becomes easier to imagine her underway, but the launch date remains to be determined.

This will be the last bleat in this blog (sic) about the weather, but it would certainly help if IT WOULD WARM UP A BIT!!!

Revenante now has an officially constituted "Society" to support it. The Schooner "la Revenante" Society came into existance on Sunday, February 19, 2006. It will support not only the activities of the schooner, but also her fitting out and maintenance. The event was concluded with the official Royal Navy toast for the day: " To absent friends and those at sea".

Brute force!

The %&@## plank is in! This beautiful image provided by master photographer Harry Foster captures it all. In the end it took a forklift to do the deed. It's a tight fit, and this is good... In the process we learned alot about cold weather steaming, and the stubborness of oak. We also thought about how ships were built before the days of forklifts, and were humbled.

Much remains to be done. A head is being rebuilt, and the main cabin reconfigured. Actually we are putting it back as close as we can tell to what it was originally. This will allow for a quarterberth aft across from the navstation, two berths in the main cabin as well as room for three forward. If we add one or two pipe berths, the accomodations should be adequate.

The sails are being inspected professionally, and are in poorer condition than we had hoped, although as it turns out a storm trisail is part of the inventory.

Well, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter, and that means that our epoxy days are still a way away. Until then it's wood and galvanized, and dreamin'

Winter planking blues...

We are learning about the vagaries of southern woods in Canadian climes. The plank was scribed and cut. The come-along was braced, the wood was bending... "crack"... it snapped off clean. In retrospect we were perhaps expecting too much from our imported longleaf pine, or perhaps it was the bend AND the twist that did it. So back to the drawing board, or, more specifically, back to the steambox! This however is the worst plank we have to replace.

The cabin is now closed in and work can begin on constructing a head amidships, a quarter berth at the foot of the aft companionway, and a proper galley.

Behind the scenes the re-enactors are busy plotting a voyage...

25 below zero...

It feels more like a Frobisher re-enactment than anything else, but if we can work at these temperatures we can do anything! Progress is happening, but slowly. We are almost able to close in the cabin, and the heater will then come into its own. Acquired from Alaska it has a good pedigree.

Bought a fir plank locally at a scandalous price - our own wood is still in Florida but a brave crew is on its way to collect it as I write. Imagine the sacrifice of a week in Panama City and Daytona Beach!!! Covering board removal has revealed some deteriorated upper frames, but nothing too unexpected. It will simply be a question of tackling one job at a time. Volunteers, your time will come...

New wood...

Revenante is snug as a bug (hopefully all the bugs are deceased) in its winter quarters. Cabin top repairs proceed apace with the first new wood being laid this weekend. Truly comfortable under the tarp, even if one end is still open. Strange coincidences abound. Seems that in the 1930's a crew of my family members sailed from Montreal to Bic in the Lower St. Lawrence. Perhaps not overly remarkable in itself, but they did it in a 40 ft Pinky Schooner! (See the third photo) I look forward to closing that historical circle in the next few years. Talk about "Une Revenante..."!

Our goal is to get a start on the planking before the New Year, get the cabin top closed in, and install a heater so that all the internal cabinetry can begin.

It begins...

V O L U N T E E R S,
Who have a desire to return to Sea and put themselves hull-down for Adventure, are invited to make their Marks on the Volunteer Crew Roster of
La Revenante,
Or, the Spectre (ex-BUCCANEER)
Dr. John Wootton and Captain Vernon Fairhead, Owners.

A Down-East built replica 30-ton 18th Century Pinky Schooner now rebuilding at its Yard in Quebec for Launching in the Spring of 2006.
In the Summer of 2006, La Revenante will be voyaging in the Great Lakes and the Upper Saint Lawrence River, possibly in conjunction with portions of the American Sailing Training Association tour.

In the Summer of 2007, La Revenante will carry out an historically-based voyage to the Maritime Provinces, and attend the International Tall Ships gathering in Halifax harbour.

La Revenante will offer berths for paying Volunteer Hands willing to operate the ship in period dress for various legs of these and other voyages, ranging from a few days to a few weeks in length. To have your name entered as possible Volunteer Crew and receive a Crew Registration Form, apply by e-mail or regular mail to:

Captain Vernon Fairhead, Master
Schooner La Revenante
RR No 1
Shawville, Quebec, Canada JOX 2YO
fairhead@sprint.ca

VIVE LE ROI . GOD SAVE THE KING .

Under cover...

One last weekend of indian summer has allowed us to beat the snow, and get the cover up over Revenante. And "aye!" for hydraulics... There is even headroom for the work that will be done on deck. Some head scratching and muttering about the fastenings. Some are old iron, and are certainly sick. Other are much newer. Was she re-fastened? When? Be nice to know some of this previous history - perhaps old information will surface as we go along. I believe that below decks will be a cozy place this winter, even when the temperature dips. We will close in the ends and attach a clear plastic skirt tomorrow.

The story to date...

This is the continuing story of a pinky schooner, purchased in Florida as "Buccaneer" and brought north to Shawville, Quebec, to begin a new life in Canada as "La Revenante". Those interested can follow here the phases of her restoration, and even provide input and advice. You can even come and help if you're in the neighbourhood! The realities of the Canadian winter being what they are, the pace of the work will be determined by the weather, which for a boat, seems appropriate.

In the not so distant past Buccaneer was as she is pictured above. Since being hauled she has had some planking replaced ( and needs more) and her paint stripped below the waterline. The trip from Florida on a flatbed is a story in itself, notable for the fact that NOTHING WENT WRONG! Getting her 24 tons off the float at my partner's farm was another matter.

Here she sits still in Florida but out of the water in April 2005. Six months later we are hurrying to build a structure to keep the snow out! She is beautiful sight, built to be sailed by " a man and a boy", but destined ( we hope) to be sailed by convivial groups of 19th century wannabes.