Bluenose II leaves Lunenburg dock for training exercise
Bluenose II's manoeuvring 'perfect, it's just what I want,' says captain
The Bluenose II left the Lunenburg dock on Friday morning.
The surprise sail comes just one day after Geoff MacLellan, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said he would be visiting the schooner next Tuesday.
While speaking to reporters, MacLellan said there is still about dozen items left on the project's to-do list before regular sailing can begin.
However, Phil Watson, the Bluenose II's captain, said the vessel did well in Friday's brief training exercise.
" We have to take these things in sort of small steps and train the crew to use the vessel. ... We went out today partially for them, so they could see what the boat was doing and partially for me so I could gather some manoeuvring data. "
Watson calls the manoeuvring data, "Perfect, it's just what I want. It slid back in the wharf. The final test is the last 10 seconds when you're coming along side the wharf here, and we didn't scratch the paint and it manoeuvres as we expect."
Watson said the ship handles well.
"It performs as it should. It's perfect. I'm really, really pleased with it."