Updated 03/24/99
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Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The
Victoria 18 Forum(From Randi Ernst's and Jerry Wrenn's historical work on the Victoria and it's links to the Bluenose)
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Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The
Victoria 18 Forum02/18/99 Randi Ernst writes;
I ordered a book on the "Bluenose II" a replica of the 143 foot "Bluenose" fishing schooner originally built in 1921. Bluenose II was built in 1963. The similarity in hull lines to our Victoria's is remarkable, leaving no doubt in my mind that the true designer of our boats was William J. Roue.
From the book Bluenose II Saga of the Great Fishing Schooners, Measured Drawings by L.B. Jenson Nimbus Publishing, Halifax
The Schooner Bluenose was launched on 26th April, 1921 from the shipyard of R.W. Smith and G. A Rhuland in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She was designed by William J. Roue. of Halifax to be a worker, able to earn her keep on the gale-swept fishing grounds of the North West Atlantic. She also was designed to be a racer, to compete for the International Fisherman's Trophy. Bluenose was a fine fisherman, holding the record for the largest single catch ever landed in Lunenburg, but it was as a racer, under her skipper. Captain Angus J. Walters, that she won undying fame for Nova Scotia's fishermen and for Canada. In late January, 1946 her life ended when she broke her back on a coral reef off the island of Haiti.
The Designer of the original Bluenose was William J. Roue of Halifax. She was the most famous vessel ever built to his design, but Roue yachts and schooners are well known in all North American waters. He was born in 1879, the son of James Roue one of Canada's earliest makers of ginger ale. However from the age of four years young William had a passion for sailing craft. By the time he was sixteen he was a keen member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and studying naval architecture at every available opportunity. William Roue died in Halifax in 1970 his great talent will be remembered over the years to come by all those who come to know and respect the tall schooners.
Randi Ernst writes (Jan 1999);
I have a copy of a data sheet most likely out
of an old magazine. I will try and scan it but it is in pretty
rough shape. If I recall there is a boat shop here in town that
has old issues of the yearly guides the magazines put out. I will
see if he has one for the late 70's early 80's and if so maybe
there is a clean page for me to copy.
At any rate it shows two boats on the page, the Victoria and the
Minuet. Address are give as. Victoria Yachts, Inc. POBox 1084,
Sanford, Florida 32771 and for the Minute, McVay Yachts a Division
of E&R Enterprises Meadowcreek Lane, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
N3H4R8.
The designer of the Victoria is G. William McVay and for the Minute George McVay.
The guy I bought my 83 from said the story he heard was mine was one of the last ones made and was sent to an investor in Minnesota as the company was liquidating assets.
I ran across a guy at a boat show who said the basic Victoria design was the fathers and was sold by the son, both are dead now. That Victoria was the name of the son's girlfriend. I thought he said the sons name was Bill McVay. He said the original hull design was more of an open daysailer and the son added the little cuddy cabin. This would match up to the Minute.
Last spring at another broker I saw a 1982 26' Victoria while much larger the basic lines are similar to the Victoria. The data sheet says Victoria Yachts, Inc. 203 Benson Junction Road Debary, Florida 32713 How many other styles of boats did they make?