It's hard to imagine that on December 6, 2014, St Nicholas Day – the patron Saint of seafarers and on a full moon and high tide those several hundred well wishers present on the shore of Browne’s Beach knew what would come of the day's festivities. They were there to launch the Schooner RUTH. What they set in motion is a legacy that continues to this day.
Who could have predicted that Schooner RUTH would become the pride of Barbados — a traditional Grand Banks fishing interisland cargo schooner built entirely on the beach by skilled Barbadian and Caribbean craftsmen. Perhaps those who built the unmatched vessel had an inkling. In time, all would come to revere the legendary schooner. Today, the spirit and history live on as Barbados’ sailing ambassador and flagship of the Schooner RUTH Youth Sailing Trust . Schooner RUTH is a proud representative of Barbados and our maritime heritage. The story continues.
Schooner Ruth was designed by naval architect Thomas E. Colvin, with her lines & rigging based off of the knockabout fishing schooners of the Canadian Maritimes and New England such as the famous grand Banks fishing schooner Bluenose of 1921. She is a cargo schooner who has the ability to deliver a wide range of cargoes around the world. Indeed, her steel hull was created with ice-bound voyages in mind.
Nearly all of the rig hardware & fittings, such as the Ships Helm & bronze deck pumps, come from traditional schooner patents which have been around for over a century. Her full complement of sails and all of her wooden blocks have been specially hand crafted by generations-old Canadian companies from Nova Scotia, just as they would have been in the early 1900’s. The smell of New England Pine Tar on every served stay & pure Barbados beeswax on every hatch convinces all who has stepped onboard of the authenticity and detail surrounding them.
It is intended that this quick schooner will make way primarily by sail power, having an auxiliary engine to fulfil international standards and for extreme situations. With hope of being able to push upwards of 12kts under sail, there should be little reason to regularly require the engine!
Schooner Ruth will provide seamanship and traditional sail training to educate the young adults ( 18-25) of Barbados , OECS, Canada and elsewhere about historic trade connections between their countries. Though seamanship and sail training, movement of local manufactured goods and fresh produce , Schooner Ruth intends to strengthen bonds between Barbados & the Windward Islands.
Schooner Ruth intends to promote Barbadian and Canadian goodwill on behalf of the past, present & future with all she visits.
For a decade RUTH was incrementally built on the beach on Bay Street, many lapses between work to resuscitate finance and funding but with the love and affection and good will of her neighbors the project was bound for completion. Conceived by Barbadian Canadian Ian Dash as a youth tall ship training platform and rejuvenated historic Speightstown cargo schooner the Government of Barbados gave its blessing to proceed.
Undaunted by scarcity of funds and shear magnitude of the undertaking Mr Dash and his team clawed ahead until launch in 2014 and has acted as Barbados sailing ambassador and youth sail training vessel ever since. Competing successfully showing the Barbados flag at Antigua Classic Sailing week, St Barts and St Kitts and Barbados Sailing week and regattas and historic Barbados maritime anniversary and sail parade RUTH has visited ports throughout the Eastern Caribbean, welcoming visitors and serving as a constant link to the glorious age of sail.
Schooners played a pivotal role in maritime transport and trade. These sailing vessels with their distinctive two masts and fire and aft rig proved to be highly efficient versatile fast and manouevetanlr making them a popular choice for sailors and merchants alike.
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