Tall Ships 2007 Pass Canso By?

Posted on Jul 11 2007 in Feature Articles

by Elizabeth Measures

Two surveyors from Halifax Dept of Public Works were taking measurements early on Tuesday morning, June 26th, on Whitman’s Wharf, recently condemned after DFO declared it unsafe. The wharf has been closed during the lobster season leaving the local fishermen without an accessible off loading area for their lobster traps. The survey was at the request of DFO.

The signs posted by The Canso Harbour Authority are clear: for now the wharf is closed. This means of course that the wharf is unavailable to Tall Ships that might be passing from Halifax following the Parade of Sail on Monday July 16th on their way to the ports of Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg and Sydney in Cape Breton. Mayor White, when asked about whether the wharf closure meant that Canso would not be able to host any Tall Ships said that he was, “not aware of any Tall Ships regarding port visitation.” The Seafreez wharf however “may allow docking at their wharfs,” and is a possible berthage for visiting Tall Ships, said the mayor. For now though there is no word that any tall Ships will be visiting Canso this year.

Visiting Tall Ships to Cape Breton, to Port Hawkesbury and Louisbourg on July 18-19th and to Sydney on July 21-22nd include Bluenose II, the Appledore, Papa, Play-fair, Pride of Baltimore II, Tioga and the Picton Castle, the latter made more famous by its recent use in the filming of Mark Burnett’s “Pirate Master” series.

The only remaining question now is whether Whitman’s Wharf can be used for any of the Canso regatta festivities in August.