Two cousins from Nova Scotia have docked their hand-built, multi-generational dream schooner in Charleston, S.C., and are now ready to return home.
“Everyone is excited to be back in our own water,” said shipbuilder Evan Densmore. “We’ve met some pretty great people down here, but there’s nothing like being in the dock in Nova Scotia.”
Nick and Evan Densmore set off on their journey in the ‘Katie Belle’ from their hometown of Stewiacke, N.S., in November.
The 80-foot schooner, which took five years to build, was launched into the Stewiacke River in front of hundreds of people on Oct. 27, 2015. They made it in memory of their late grandfather.
“He was a pretty quiet guy, have a couple laughs, it would be a pretty good time,” said Evan Densmore.
The cousins battled rough waters along the Bay Fundy en route to Saint John, fighting three-metre seas with a brand new, four-person crew.
Evan Densmore says they have been lucky enough to not run into any major issues since then.
“We expected anything and everything,” he said. “We had a bit of issues with the autopilot, and had to have someone at the helm all the time.”
Evan Densmore says the crew ran into bad weather while in New York City.
“Strong headwinds, strong seas. It took two days to get into the New Jersey coast,” he said. “Other than that, it’s been a pretty good cruise.”
Densmore says the crew motor-sailed along the Eastern Seaboard.
“It’s much different than sailing with all the engines, so that was nice,” he said.
Densmore says they have been in Charleston for the month, enjoying the 30-degree weather. He says some family members and friends made the trip south for a visit, and to bring materials to maintain the schooner.
“It’s been a family project the whole way along,” he said. “We’re treating it like a vacation, of sorts.”
The cousins say they plan to remain in Charleston until May 10, and hope to be back on home soil by early June.