Nice Canadian Visitor in the Harbor

[BrianW]

Don't know a thing about her, but thought she looked cool enough for a picture...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/IMG_3723small.jpg

[Paul Pless]

Yeah! That's very cool...

Pretty snug looking boat there.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Pretty boat!

[ChrisBen]

Schooner "Maple Leaf"
Maple Leaf Adventures (http://www.mapleleafadventures.com/)

[Kasey]

Thank you, BrianW - that's a beautiful photo!

[StevenBauer]

Sweet. From the web site:

A Brief History of Maple Leaf
http://www.mapleleafadventures.com/images/ship/maple-leaf-smallshipcruise1.jpg The Coast's Most Expensive Yacht
Maple Leaf (BC's oldest tall ship) was built in 1904 in Vancouver Shipyard at Coal Harbour. She was designed and built by William Watts, a well-known Canadian shipbuilder and designer. Billed as the most expensive pleasure craft on the Pacific Coast, she was a private yacht for prominent businessman Alexander Maclaren and wore sail # 1 for the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. She was the first ship north of San Francisco to have electric lights and carried her crew and society guests into the Gulf Islands and the fjords of the B.C. coast.

The War Changes Maple Leaf's Fate
During the First World War, her lead keel and brass were stripped for the war effort. She was then converted to a halibut fishing vessel. Re-named Constance B and later Parma, she fished for the next two decades for some of the province's famous early fishing companies including Gosse and Millerd and Canadian Fishing Company.

http://www.mapleleafadventures.com/images/ship/wheelhouse-detail-2.jpg Maple Leaf and Harold Helland: Hearts Like Lions
She was purchased by Harold Helland in 1938, and in 1943, when building new ships was prohibited due to the Second World War, Harold completely rebuilt Maple Leaf (at CN Dry-dock in Prince Rupert). Harold, Maple Leaf and a loyal crew fished halibut in the dangerous Bering Sea until the mid-1970s. They repeatedly outfished other, newer vessels in the fleet. Harold maintained his ship in bristol condition, washing the decks with salt water each day and caring for her as if she were still a private luxury yacht. He reportedly threw off the ship all people who were not sufficiently respectful of her - including a mechanic flown in from Vancouver, B.C. In 1978, after Harold's retirement, the Canadian Government purchased Maple Leaf as part of the halibut license buy-back program.

http://www.mapleleafadventures.com/images/ship/bunk-detail.jpg Rediscovery: Maple Leaf Sails Again
In 1980, Brian Falconer and Susan Tweedie discovered the ship's original hull lines. They spent 6-½ years restoring and converting Maple Leaf back to a sailing ship. From 1986 to August 2001, Brian and partner Erin Nyhan operated Maple Leaf Adventures, a company that offers Natural History and First Nations cultural trips in the remotest areas of the BC and Alaska coasts. They also operated the Tall Ship Program for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets on the west coast, training over 3000 cadets from across Canada, teaching seamanship and life-skills.

In 2001, Brian and Erin transitioned the vessel and company ownership to Capt. Kevin Smith, a former marine park ranger, teacher and coast guard auxilliary trainer. Kevin continues to operate these programs with the same love for all life on the coast and respect for all peoples. In 2002, Maple Leaf was chosen as the lead ship in the Parade of Sail at the Tall Ships Festival in Richmond, B.C.

[SchoonerRat]

OMG!!!!!!!

More schooner stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nanoose]

Gorgeous. I feel a hearty rendition of O Canada rising from deep within...

[JimD]

I've seen her many times in Victoria Harbour. The newstands and tourist shops all sell post cards of her, too.