Bluenose regatta schooner kit from manufacturer Amati
History of the original:
The Bluenose was a Canadian fishing and regatta schooner built in 1921 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. It is considered one of North America's most famous sailing ships and a symbol of Canada's maritime heritage. Originally designed as a working ocean-going fishing schooner, she was used for both hard fishing on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland and competitive sailing in the legendary International Fishermen's Trophy regattas.
The Bluenose was designed by renowned designer William J. Roué, built by the Smith & Rhuland shipyard and captained by experienced skipper Angus Walters. The ship type followed the tradition of fast, seaworthy North Atlantic fishing schooners: sleek lines, a powerful clipper bow, a long waterline, strong deck beams and a generous sail area. The aim was to achieve maximum speed in rough Atlantic weather while providing sufficient cargo capacity and stability for fishing with dories and trawl nets.
The Bluenose had a total length of around 43 metres, a width of about 8 metres and a sail area of over 930 square metres. Its hull was made of selected hardwood, carefully planked and designed with high torsional rigidity to withstand the stresses of the North Atlantic.
The rigging as a two-masted gaff schooner allowed for effective sailing both downwind and upwind, fast manoeuvrability and high average speed over long distances. Shortly after entering service, the Bluenose took part in the prestigious regattas between Canadian and American fishing schooners and dominated them for over a decade.
It won the International Fishermen's Trophy for the first time in 1921 and defended the title several times in the following years. Its speed, stability and the sailing skills of its crew made it virtually unbeatable; no American challenger could beat it. This earned it the nickname Queen of the North Atlantic.
In addition to its racing victories, the Bluenose remained a fully-fledged working vessel. During the fishing season, it operated on the Grand Banks, setting out dories and bringing in large catches. Its successful use as a working and racing vessel shaped its legendary image and impressively demonstrated the capabilities of traditional Canadian shipbuilding. The Bluenose combined performance under sail with practical nautical functionality at the highest level.
In the 1930s, economic conditions changed its use. The Bluenose was temporarily assigned additional tasks, including transport voyages and representative assignments. In 1946, it was finally sold to Caribbean owners and in 1946/47 it was run aground on a reef off Haiti and lost. Its demise marked the end of an era of traditional fishing regatta schooners.
However, its legacy remained alive. In 1963, the Bluenose II was built as a detailed replica, again in Lunenburg. Today, the Bluenose II serves as an ambassador for Canada's maritime traditions, as a training and representative ship, and as the official symbol of the province of Nova Scotia. The original has adorned the Canadian 10-cent coin since 1937, ensuring that it remains known throughout the world to this day.
The Bluenose stands for seamanship, craftsmanship in shipbuilding and the combination of everyday work and sporting excellence under sail. Its type of ship represents the pinnacle of the development of large North Atlantic fishing schooners: robust, fast, elegant and technically precise, tailored to the demands of harsh coastal and deep-sea fishing.
Description of the kit:
The kit contains a keel and frames made of 4 mm plywood, laser-cut. Beech and walnut strips for planking the frame construction. The fittings are complete and made of high-quality materials. Rigging material is included, and fabric for the sails is included in the kit. Flags are included.
Who is the kit suitable for?
The model is well suited for model builders with some experience in ship model building.
What else is needed?
Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our product range.
What do the building instructions look like?
The printed instructions consist of large plans with drawings and supplementary text instructions. The German translation of the individual construction stages is provided on a separate sheet.
Languages: German, English, Italian
The assembly instructions are not available for download.
Technical data:
Scale: 1:100
Length: 540 mm
Width: 90 mm
Height: 450 mm
Planking: double
