ATLANTICA
Flag: Canada
Home port: Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Rig: Marconi-rigged Schooner
LOA: 52 ft, 7"
LOD: 47 ft
LWL: 36 ft
Beam: 11 ft 4"
Draft: 6 ft 6"
Built: Expo '67 - Atlantic Provinces Pavilion
Designer / Builder: David M. Stevens
Major Refits: 2000-2003 (Restoration - 2000- 2007)
Atlantica is a 47-foot wooden schooner designed and built in 1967 by Mr. David Stevens. She is now based in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia and is owned and skippered by Mr. Tye Burt.
The construction of Atlantica was the showcase event for Canada's Atlantic Provinces Pavilion at "Expo '67", the World's Fair in Montréal, Québec. As wooden schooner- building is an art long associated with Atlantic Canada, it was decided that the construction of a typical fishing-style schooner would be a fitting contribution to the country's Centennial celebrations. Over one million visitors viewed the construction site, including Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Stevens later received the Order of Canada for his contribution to wooden boat building.
Atlantica is 47 feet long on deck (52 ft, 7") overall) and was constructed of mahogany on oak frames. Atlantica's interior was built with matched, varnished mahogany throughout. Her original rig was the traditional gaff main and foresail associated with Nova Scotia fishing schooners. In the 1970s, she was converted to a staysail schooner rig with a Marconi mainsail for ease of handling. Atlantica's gaff-rigged foresail was restored in 2005. Atlantica was one of three schooners of similar design and dimension constructed by Mr. Stevens and his team. Sister ships include the renowned Avenger, built in 1966, owned and skippered by Mr. Tom Gallant of Stonehurst, Nova Scotia and Skylark (now renamed Sarah Abbot) sailing in the U.S.
Following Expo '67, Atlantica was acquired by Mr. John Burns who immediately sailed her to the Caribbean. In 1969, Atlantica was sold to a doctor who chartered her out of Nassau in the Bahamas. The schooner changed hands several times in subsequent years and was owned by the Mather family as well as Mr. Blaine Bowen. Her next-to-last owner was Mr. Gordon Pellerin of Guysborough, Nova Scotia, who chartered
Atlantica every summer - she was a familiar sight up and down the East Coast.
Atlantica's current owner, Tye Burt, acquired her in 2000 and is in the process of completing a full refit and restoration. In 2001-2002, the mahogany hull was replanked below the waterline and broken frames were replaced. Atlantica's keel, deadwood, floors and mast steps were also replaced. Atlantica has a new power plant and a number of additional safety features. Her rig was changed in 2005 to add a new foremast and a gaff foresail. New "Oceanus" sails were made at Michele Stevens' Sail loft. The new hull is white above the waterline with dark navy trim. In 2003, Tye Burt was awarded the Mort and Gerry Pelham Trophy for Schooner Restoration. Key contributors to the rebuild of Atlantica include Dennis Greenwood, Bill Lutwick of Lutwick's Boat Building & Repair and Cecil Heisler of Clarence Heisler & Son both of Indian Point, Nova Scotia.
Atlantica and her crew enjoy on-going involvement with the Nova Scotia Schooner Association (NSSA) and she is a regular participant in the schooner races organized by the NSSA. She has won the Premier's Cup (2004, 2005) the Cunard Fuel Trophy (2004, 2006) and the Morse Tea Silver Tray (2005).
The Burt family moors Atlantica at their home in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.