Trophies and Awards
The Nova Scotia Schooner Association trophies, cups, plates and awards
Trophies, Cups, Plates
Haliburton Trophy
For tune-up race, All Rigs, Performance
This trophy was presented to the association with the intent that it is to be raced for as a tune-up race early in the season.
Deed or Note: Often raced for the Canada Day Race.
Cunard Fuel Trophy
Marconi Main, performance
This trophy was presented to the association by Bruce MacFarlene of the schooner Slow Poke
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned. Traditionally raced by Marconi Main Schooners
Willa Creighton Memorial Trophy
All Rigs Performance
Conceived and proposed by Rochelle Whynot …. This race is held on the former lay-day and singlehanded race day—nominally a Thursday.
Deed or Note: The skipper must be female. Typically the race is less than12nm.
Oland Tray
Gaff Main
This trophy was presented to the association by Brigadier (Ret’d) Victor de B. Oland of Oland and Sons who owned and sailed the schooner Adare at the time.
Deed or Note: Gaff Rigg
Bluenose II Cup
All Rigs Measured Rating
A piece of the Bluenose II was donated to the Association when it was rebuilt in 2010. This Cup was crafted by Mike Kippers.
Morse Tea Tray
All rigs, corrected handicap
This trophy was presented to the association by the Morse Tea Company President Donald Smith.
Deed or Note: It is to be raced for by the entire fleet, however it has been lately raced by Marconi Main Schooners
David Stevens Memorial Trophy
All rigs, corrected time, measured rating, no handicap
This trophy was presented to the association in August 1989 by the Stevens family in memory of David. David was famous for his boat building skills and sailing.
Deed or Note: This trophy must be raced for on measurement only.
Premiers Cup
All Rigs, any sails, performance
This trophy was presented to the association by Premier Ike Smith (with a little encouragement from Mort Pellam). It is to be raced on a course that is to be a minimum of 25 nautical miles. There are no restrictions as to the sails that can be used during the race.
Deed or Note: Traditionally there has been no time limit and the race can easily continue overnight
Brantford Coach Trophy
Gaff Main
This trophy was originally presented to the Armdale Yacht Club (AYC) for having the schooner Wawaloon go outside the North West Arm and retrieve a keg of salt water. The keg was then loaded on to the Brantford Coach Trucking Company first trailer truck and taken across Canada. Commodore Bill Martin of AYC presented the trophy to the Schooner Association in 1961.
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned
Herald and Mail Trophy
Winner overall of Race Week
This trophy was presented to the association by Graham Dennis in 1961. It was first raced for near Blandford, Lunenburg County in 1962. During Race Week points are accumulated for each performance race and the overall points winner is awarded this trophy. The Nova Scotia Schooner Association is now the permanent custodian of the trophy. Previously the custodian was the Halifax Herald.
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned
MacAskill Trophy
All rigs, corrected handicap
This trophy is a framed MacAskill picture which was John Pauley originally arranged and is currently being purchased and donated by Ed Murphy from funds out of the Print and Poster account. The fund ran out several years ago and this Trophy has not been awarded since. It may still be revived when funds become available.
Woman Skipper Race
All Rigs Performance
Colonial Fisherman’s Trophy
All Rigs, first across the line, uncorrected
This trophy was presented to the association by Captain Angus Walters, skipper of Bluenose. It was first raced for in 1961. Angus stipulated in the deed of gift that it was to be won by the schooner that was first to cross the finish line. This trophy had originally been presented to Captain Angus Walters himself, as skipper of the Bluenose, and not the Bluenose.
Deed or Note: All Rigs , first across the line, uncorrected
Murphy Cup
All Rigs Performance
Donated by Tye Burt in memory of Ed Murphy, long time care taker of Schooner Hebridee II.
Old Gaffers Trophy
Gaff Main, performance
Art French of Curlew and Mort Pellam of Wawaloon donated this trophy to the association. It was to be raced for by Gaff rig Schooners only and was meant to be a fun alternative to more serious schooner racing.
Deed or Note: This trophy must be raced for by Gaff rig Schooners
Tom Mason Trophy
Single-Handed, Performance
This trophy was presented to the association by Past commodore Les Caslake in the memory of the boat builder Thomas Mason. It is a single-handed race.
Deed or Note: It is a single-handed race. This race has been displaced by the Woman Skipper Race
Founder’s Cup
All Rigs
This trophy is in memory of the founders of the Nova Scotia Schooner Association, Brigadier (Ret’d) Victor de B Oland and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) H.F. David Pullen. These men were the two people most responsible for the founding of the association. The suggestion for this trophy and its selection was due to the efforts of past commodore Mort Pellam.
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned
Pullen Trophy
Marconi Main
Originally named the Construction Equipment Trophy and first raced for in 1961, Gerry Peters, a cruising member of the Armdale Yacht Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia persuaded his firm to give the trophy to the association. The Venture, Skippered by Admiral Pullen won the trophy for three consecutive times and was allowed to keep it. He presented the trophy back to the association for annual competition.
Deed or Note: For annual competition. Historically raced for for Marconi Rigged Mainsail Schooners
Awards
John Pauley Memorial Award
Grit Award
This trophy was presented to the association by Geraldine Pauley in memory of one of the N.S.S.A.’s most dedicated members on Thursday, July 25, 1997 at the association’s annual picnic. This award will be earned by the crew who:
1. Enters every race of Race Week;
2. Preserves interminably if necessary to finish every race;
3. Transcends all catastrophes while maintaining a handsome level of seamanship;
4. And, bloody hell finishes.
Cooley Mug
Non-Racing
Don Cooley used to do all the association engraving
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned. Lack of information both recent and historical
Don Stephenson Memorial Award
Crew Award
This trophy was presented to the association in July 1994 in Don’s memory, Don had a great respect for the people who helped to sail schooners and this trophy is to be given annually to a very deserving member of a schooner’s crew in recognition of their efforts.
Deed or Note: Crew Award
Spirit of Lou Kenedy Award
Non-Racing
Deed or Note: Lou Kennedy was born in Stamford, Connecticut and died in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He and his wife are buried in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Captain Lou was a Merchand Mariner and operated sailing cargo vessels into the 1980’s. This award has not been given in several years. Lou’s daughter, Patsy, had provided the mug.
Oxner Award (Thunder Mug)
Now Oxner Pot Happiest Crew
This trophy was presented to the association by Doug Oxner of Herman’s Island with great fanfare at Armdale Yacht Club in 1962. It was brought over from Germany in the 1700’s and is awarded annually to the happiest schooner and crew. The original mug has been replaced with a pot.
Deed or Note: Happiest Crew
Mort and Gerry Pelham Award
Preservation and Support of the Schooner Rig
Mort Pelham and his wife Gerry were dedicated to the Nova Scotia Schooner Association and what it stands for. They never stopped promoting schooners. This trophy was donated in their memory by the Pelham family and is to be awarded annually to a person for their efforts in the preservation of schooners and schoonering on the Atlantic seaboard.
Deed or Note: To a person for their efforts in the preservation of schooners and schoonering on the Atlantic seaboard.
Other trophies , cups, and plates
City of Halifax Trophy
This trophy was presented to the association by Mayor Walter Fitzgerald, on behalf of the City of Halifax on the occasion of the national centennial in 1967.
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned. Has been raced in Halifax waters.
Privateers Trophy
All Rigs First across the line–Ocean Race
This trophy is won by the first schooner across the finish in the annual Ocean Race. The Historian is the present custodian of the trophy.
Deed or Note: First across the line – Ocean Race. The present custodian of the trophy needs to be verified.
Loyalist Challenge Trophy
All Rigs
This trophy was donated to the association by the Herald and Mail. The Halifax Herald is the custodian of the trophy.
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned. This has not been raced for in a long time. Assumed to be a performance race in Halifax waters.
The Nova Scotia Schooner Association has also participated in the Mahone bay Wooden Boat Festival’s Classic Boat Race. The race has a trophy for first across the line as well as corrected time. Perhaps this festival will one day be revived
Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission Trophy
This trophy was presented to the association by the Bridge Commission
Deed or Note: No deed mentioned. Has been raced in Halifax waters.
Dover Days Trophy
All Rigs
This trophy was presented to the association by Joe Graves and his family in memory of Kingdom S. Burke 1901–1966, the skipper of the schooner Drama, It is for competition on the Labour Day weekend in Dover.
Deed or Note: Assume Performance Handicap. Dover Days are no longer held but could have a gathering on that weekend.
Classic Trophy
All types of wooden boats and rigs
This trophy has been raced for yearly from 1995 to mid 2000’s in conjunction with the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival. It was donated by the Bluenose Pride Cooperative and is for competition for all classic wooden boats. The off-sounding rule is used to rate each vessel.
Deed or Note: Donated by the Bluenose Pride Cooperative, The off-sounding rule for handicap
The Nova Scotia Schooner Association races at the Fisheries Exhibition in Lunenburg or its equivalent
Halifax Herald Limited Trophy—International Schooner Race Trophy
Gaff Rig
This trophy was presented to the Nova Scotia Fisheries Exhibition and Fisherman’s Reunion by Graham Dennis of the Halifax Herald Limited on November 20, 1970. The race or series of races are for gaff rigged schooners with a waterline length of less than 35’. It is for annual competition at the Nova Scotia Fisheries Exhibition and Fisherman’s Reunion in the Lunenburg area, or an area that is deemed to be appropriate by officials from the Nova Scotia Fisheries Exhibition and Fisherman’s Reunion executive. This trophy is on Permanent public display on board the Theresa E. Connor, at the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg.
Deed or Note: Gaff rigged under 35’ waterline. Handicap not mentioned. Display to be verified.
Joseph Howe Trophy
All Rigs
This trophy was presented to the association by Olands Limited for annual competition. Currently the trophy is in the care of the association’s Historian.
Deed or Note: Assume Performance Handicap. Could be raced for again. The present custodian of the trophy needs to be verified.
Fisheries Exhibition Trophy
This trophy was donated to the Nova Scotia Fisheries Exhibition and Fisherman’s Reunion. It is raced for annually commencing in Lunenburg Harbour during the Nova Scotia Scotia Fisheries Exhibition and Fisherman’s Reunion when it is held.
Lieutenant Governor’s Ocean Race Trophy
All Rigs
This trophy was presented to the association by Brigadier (Ret’d) Victor de B. Oland during the period in which he was the Lieutenant Governor for the province of Nova Scotia. It is to be presented to the winner of the annual Ocean Race
Deed or Note: Presented to the winner of the annual Ocean Race. No handicap mentioned but since we have the privateer Trophy for first across the line, it can be assumed that performance is used. The distance raced is nominally 100nm minimum.
Cornwallis Coach Trophy
All Rigs
This trophy was presented to the association by Captain Claude ball on behalf of the Halifax Port Corporation on November 5, 1994 in memory of Edward Corwallis and the founding of Halifax in 1749.
Deed or Note: Raced for by schooners at Tall Ships. Cornwallis was a controversial personage vis-à-vis native and Acadien populations. Cornwallis's so-called scalping proclamation that offered a cash bounty to anyone who killed a Mi'kmaw person.
United Way Trophy
This trophy was donated to the United Way in 1993 by Peter Oland for annual competition by schooners during the United Way regatta. The Regatta is used to raise money for the United Way.