MMA: The Frozen Hand
Feb 8, 2018
On January 8 the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s boat shop was the location for a light-hearted reception to honour the many volunteers who had helped in the restoration of the schooner Hebridee II. The museum’s boatbuilder EamonnDoorly (official title, Curatorial Assistant, Conservation) wanted to thank those who had turned out to help in the museum’s unheated boat shop. Hence the award of the “Frozen Hand”, also known as “The Handy”. There was a good crowd, plenty of good eats, punch and even some of Nova Scotia’s favorite adult beverage.
This year the “Handys” were presented, with due ceremony, to Ray Whitley and Thomas Doucette. The boat shop was an appropriate sub-zero temperature, so the awards were in no danger of melting.
The schooner Hebridee II is a “Bluenose Junior” designed by Bill Roue and built in Dartmouth in 1952. She was donated to the museum by the Murphy family in 2009 after the passing of her long-time owner Edward Murphy. Realising Hebridee II represented an important part of Nova Scotia’s yachting history, EamonnDoorly undertook a comprehensive re-build, always keeping in mind preserving the original purpose and character of the boat.
