Nova Scotia Schooner Association Runs First Female Skippers Race
Join the Nova Scotia Schooner Association in Mahone Bay Nova Scotia, August 3 – 8, 2015 in celebration of a rich maritime heritage.
The Nova Scotia Schooner Association has commissioned a new trophy race for this year’s
annual schooner races to be held August 3 – 8 in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. In honour of life
time member Willa Creighton, who passed away earlier this year, the NSSA has created an all
female skippers race. Six to eight women will take to the helm of schooners to compete for the
First Annual Willa Creighton Memorial Trophy.
Willa, while at the helm of the schooner Airlie sailed the Tancook Island schooner to a first place
finish during the inaugural Nova Scotia Schooner race in 1961. As the NSSA endeavours to
focus some attention on female sailors it seemed fitting to honour a great female skipper, Willa
Creighton, who not only won the first annual schooner race, but also raced equally among male
skippers. She won the race, fair and square. She won because she had the skill to sail the best
race.
The Willa Creighton Memorial Trophy will take place on Thursday, August 6 in the waters of
Mahone Bay. The new trophy was commissioned by Rochelle Whynott of Riverport Nova
Scotia. Rochelle ,recently been bitten by the schooner bug after the NSSA visited the tiny Nova
Scotia community of Riverport in 2013/14 for the schooner races. Rochelle’s enthusiasm
experiencing first hand the thrill of sailing the impressive schooner rig inspired her to encourage
the NSSA race committee to create the all female skippers race. As a result, the Willa Memorial
Trophy was commissioned and endorsed. The trophy will be on display in Mahone Bay at the
Bank of Montreal throughout the entire week of races. Designed and made by artist Jeff
Morrison of Fall River the trophy took many months to create.
The NSSA will also hold daily races in Mahone Bay. Spectators will have good views of the start and finish lines at many locations along the town of the Mahone Bay waterfront. Races start each day at 12:30. A dozen boats will be seen cuing up to
the start line beginning around 11:45 Am each day and will offer the public a good chance to
view a spectacular glimpse into the days of sail and the schooners that are the proud heritage of
Nova Scotians. As well each day the public is invited to talk to the boat’s owners and view the
beauty and craftsmanship of the vessels as they are tied to the docks along the waterfront.
