'Prettiest schooner that ever floated': Restored old lady of the sea lures past sailors

She's in her eighth decade and isdescribed as "gorgeous" by three men who adore her.

Wawaloonis a gaff schooner built on TancookIsland in 1946. She's been lovingly restored by Harley Schofield,who bought the former herring fishing boatin 2013 for $5,000.

"It's a gorgeous boat, the prettiest schooner that ever floated," Schofield said Wednesday.

This week,heand two other men fromWawaloon'spast were aboard the restored vessel in waters off Chester.There have only been six owners inWawaloon's71-year history.

FrancisForbrigger,80, recalls buying Wawaloon from his Uncle Bill in PortHawkesbury. Hesailed it from 1979 to 1985.

Wednesday was an emotional day for him.

"It's the silence of the sailing and the wind," he saidwhile tending to the main sail and looking half his age. "It's just the mostexhilaratingfeeling."

The third sailor was ChrisPelham, whose father, Morten, bought the boat in 1953 and converted it from a fishing schooner to a pleasure schooner.

The triobelieve each owner played a part in making sure the old schooner endures,likelybecause of great family memories.

"It went through various owners, but it was always a family boat," Pelham said.

Wawaloon wasin rough shape when Schofieldfirst took possession.

"It looked like a picket fence," he recalled.

He couldn't even estimate howmany hours it took to restore the boat.

"A lot, I don't know," he said with his hand on the tiller.

Piece of history

Schofieldcalls himself the boat's guardian and saidhis job is to protect this piece of Nova Scotia history.

He also credits theNova Scotia Schooner Association for its work in preserving the vessels that are so closely associated with the province's identity.

"They've done so much and they are committed to keeping them alive. I'm responsible to make sure this boat is as good as I can keep it and that it sails continuously," Schofieldsaid.

"Then someone else will acquire it and they'll love it as much as all of us."