Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Sailmaker to Bluenose II

Transcription

1 Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Sailmaker to Bluenose II Mackerel sky and mare s tails make all ships carry little sails. Bud Holdridge in David Sails the Viking Trail by David Binney Putnam. Newsletter Volume N W Hooray! Hooray! It s the first of May! The covers are coming off, the gear is going on and the sails are going up. If you are not quite sure your sails, dodger or sail covers are up to snuff for the season, you still have time to bring them down to the Loft. We can give them a check over, and then do repairs or custom build a new one for you! The Halifax Boat Show in February was a great success. Our thanks for taking the time to drop by our Booth. For those of you who filled out a ballot and did not receive a call saying you won the Practical Sailor Guide to Sailing Gear all is not lost! If you wish to order the Guide from any bookstore, the ISBN # is This book is designed to take the guess work out of buying gear and will be invaluable to anyone considering purchasing new equipment for their boat. By the way, anyone who caught Michele Cooking on Board with Andy Adams of Canadian Yachting and Derek Hatfield, and would like to have copies of her recipes, they are available on our website Michele Cooking on Board with Around Alone Sailor, Derek Hatfield. Lemon Chicken anyone?

2 Any suggestions for seminar ideas or any ideas for the 2008 Halifax Boat Show? Contact us and we will be happy to present them to AMTA for consideration. Friendship Sloop Schoodic flying custom made Oceanus sails, constructed to last, at Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Doing business with the Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. has been a pleasant experience. We are completely satisfied with the sails, their appearance and the workmanship evident in their construction. D. Schandall We were pleased to have our Sales Representative and the Regional Director for J.Ennis Fabrics drop by our Loft recently. Shelly and Michel brought a wonderful variety of fresh new fabric samples ranging from high end ultra suede to luxurious faux leather and upholstery patterns. If you are planning a new dodger or sail cover for 2007, there are also two brand new shades of Sunbrella available. Schoodic sailing home to Martin Cove. SUN SCREEN FOR YOUR SAIL! A small sail arrived at the Loft a few weeks ago for a check over. We were somewhat shocked by the amount of sun damage along the leech considering the body of the sail was in such good condition. We were further shocked to hear that this damage occurred over a fairly short amount of time when the sail cover was inadvertently left off. This just proves how much damage the sun can do. Having UV protection put on your sail and maintaining it, or using sail covers, will save you time and money in the long run.

3 The Galley.. During the course of most days here at Sailloft, food is discussed often and in great detail. Although conversations revolve mostly around chocolate, we were delighted to receive the following recipe to share with you, compliments of Susan Wilson. Enjoy! Cabbage Salad with a twist! Shred as much cabbage as you want salad. Add pineapple tidbits (lunch size cans work great-mandarin oranges also work well) Add the juice from the pineapple to Miracle Whip until the desired consistency is achieved and mix well. Add peanuts (or any kind of nuts) dried cranberries or raisins. This is a very easy and versatile recipe, if you are preparing it for a cruise; it keeps well, refrigerated, for the next day. If you are planning a longer cruise or just spending the weekend on the water, and wish to save time by preparing delicious meals in advance, check out What s for Supper?. Located in Bayer s Lake Industrial Park, the Crew at What s For Supper? does the planning and prep work for you! Once you finish assembling your meals, take them home and pop them in the freezer. When you are on board the meals can thaw out in your ice box and be ready to cook at your convenience. For further details visit A moment in time.. Second Peninsula has had its share of enchanting visitors over the years. The Stevens Sailloft and Boatyard, and later the A.Dauphinee Blockshop, have attracted seafarers from all over the world. Many people have left a lasting impression, perhaps from a word exchanged or a memory shared. One visitor, however, stands out from all the rest Randolph Stevens and his sons were well known for their skills as sailors and fisherman but were also excellent boat builders and sail makers. They were often called upon to refit vessels bound for adventures north to Newfoundland, Labrador and beyond. In the spring of 1930, David Binney Putnam, a student and writer from New York, signed on with well known explorer, Desmond Holdridge. Their voyage was to begin in Nova Scotia, on to Labrador and Greenland and then follow the original Viking trail from South Greenland to

4 Labrador and back down to Nova Scotia. This trip would be well documented in David Sails the Viking Trail, one of four books in a series of adventure books written by Putnam. Holdridge chose Jahala a 47 Tancook built schooner for the expedition, which was reconditioned by the fine marine craftsman of Lunenburg. When the crew was assembled they sailed to Second Peninsula to have Randolph and his sons install a light sheeting to protect the hull from ice damage during the trip. The work was carried out at low tide on the beach just below the Sailloft and the boat was ready to float off at flood tide. It was mentioned that the last of the work was done while the crew stood waist high in the cold Atlantic water! In early June they were ready to begin their 5000 mile odyssey. They were provisioned, and the crew, including Michele s great uncle, Warren Stevens, were preparing to board. A number of people appeared on the shore at Second Peninsula, to wish the group fair winds and safe return, including David Binney Putnam s Stepmother, the world famous aviator, Amelia Earhart. The Jahala on the shore at low tide.

5 Michele on the move.. Michele traveled to Moncton at the end of March for the Boat Show. She enjoyed meeting many of our New Brunswick and PEI customers and provided a pick up and delivery service for sails and other items from the Loft. March also saw Michele and Al travel to Newfoundland for a speaking engagement as guests of the St.John s Cruising Club. While in the City. Michele, with the help of her trusty sail making apprentice Al Mosher, was delighted to complete a number of on site sail repairs for the members. The Royal Kennebecasis Yacht Club in Saint John, New Brunswick, hosted an evening with Michele in April. Members saw a slide presentation detailing her and Al s 10 month trip to the Caribbean on their CS 36, Easy Listening. If you would like Michele to visit your Club or Organization please get in touch with us at or us at Look for us at the Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival and the Nova Scotia Boat Builder s 1 st Nova Scotia In Water Boat Show being held in Mahone Bay August 2 nd to 5 th, For more information visit or And now, a final word if you are confused about the name Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd, this is how it happened. The original company and name, R.B. Stevens & Sons, was sold to North Sails in In 1994 Michele decided to carry on the tradition of sail making and reopened the old Loft at the end of Second Peninsula under the new name. Thanks for your support - and happy sailing!

6 May 2007 Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat You still have time to drop your sails off at the Loft for a checkover and repairs. 1 Dates may be subject to change without notice If your sail covers need repair drop them off at the Loft SAFE BOATING AWARENESS WEEK-for more Information call May US NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL-for more Information call May Second Peninsula Road

7 June 2007 Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Dates may be subject to change without notice It s not too late to order new sails. We construct them at our Loft here on Second Peninsula. 10 DISCOVER BOATING Demo Days Muskoka Wharf, Muskoka, On June BOAT FOR HOPE False Creek, Vancouver boatforhope.com DEALER DAY & FLEA MARKET Bay Port Marina, Midland, Ontario DISCOVER BOATING Port Credit June

8 July 2007 Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Dates may be subject to change without notice Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show Toronto July Tall Ships Halifax, NS July in Halifax Nova Scotia Schooner Association Race Week July Halifax, NS 17 Five Tallships to visit Lunenburg July Dates are subject to change. DISCOVER BOATING Sarnia, July Hubbards Yacht Club Annual Auction & Barbeque. All proceeds for Junior Sailing. Tickets $35.00 per person. Contact Bill Zimmerman: for info DISCOVER BOATING Kingston

9 August 2007Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat If a new dodger is in your future call us. Dates may be subject to change without notice. 1 Look for us in Mahone Bay! 2 MAHONE BAY CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL - NOVA SCOTIA IN WATER BOAT SHOW Aug Visit Mahone Bay and support our marine industry during the In Water Boat show. Aug For more information on the In Water Boat Show contact Chester Race Week 16 Chester Race Week 17 Chester Race Week 18 Chester Race Week Lunenburg Waterfront Seafood Festival lwsf@sealunenb urg.com 19 Lunenburg Waterfront Seafood Festival Need your sail repaired to finish out the season? Call us at Schooner Race from Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg