Mystery (log canoe)

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MYSTERY (log canoe)
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LocationRound Top Rd., Kingstown, Maryland
Coordinates 39°12′29″N76°2′16″W / 39.20806°N 76.03778°W / 39.20806; -76.03778 Coordinates: 39°12′29″N76°2′16″W / 39.20806°N 76.03778°W / 39.20806; -76.03778
Arealess than one acre
Built1932 (1932)
Built bySinclair, Harry
Architectural styleTilghman
MPS Chesapeake Bay Sailing Log Canoe Fleet TR
NRHP reference No. 85002250 [1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 18, 1985

The Mystery is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1932, by Harry Sinclair in Oxford, Maryland. She measures 34'-7" long, has a beam of 8'-812" and has a centerboard. She is noted for her very tall masts, is privately owned, and races under No. 8. She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at Kingstown, Queen Anne's County, Maryland. [2] [3]

Contents

She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. [1]

History

Mystery was built in a barn in Oxford, MD, as a secret weapon to defeat the Flying Cloud in the Governor's Cup, hence the name, Mystery. Results were mixed and she was eventually re-rigged as a sloop in the late-40s and was used as a cruising boat.

In 1955, she was purchased by John Whittum who sailed her all around the Chesapeake with her sloop rig until he re-rigged her for racing once again and began to compete in the log canoe regattas. He eventually won the Governor's Cup in 1962.

In the mid-70s, John moved to Colorado, leaving the Mystery with Francis Schauber who had been racing with him since the early 60's. Francis raced her for several years, before purchasing it outright in 1975. He then began a full overhaul on her, which by then, had been in serious disrepair. He stripped down the hull to the bare logs, cut out all the rotten spots and replaced the waterlogged plywood decks. He also increased her sail area substantially. The foremast height was increased to 60 feet, making it the tallest mast ever for a log canoe under 35 feet long. [2] Mystery would hold this record until Jay Dee unveiled her 63-foot foremast in 2012.

Recent history

Mystery has refurbished many times over the years. Besides the overhaul from 1976, the most substantial occurred in 2001 when 'cheeks' were added to her hull, with the desired effect to make her more stable.

In 2008, Mystery lost her foremast in the CRYCC regatta in a heavy air race. The mast, which was over 30 years old at the time, was deemed unfixable and a new one was built in time for the last two regattas of the 2008 season.

2013 racing season

In 2013, after only participating in two regattas during the 2012 season, Mystery made it out for the RHYC log canoe regatta, with the intent to compete in the rest of the season. However, the following week, once again in the CRYCC regatta, she lost her foremast when the shroud snapped. The mast was repaired, however she was unable to complete the season.

2014 racing season

Mystery did not participate in the 2014 Racing Season.

Trivia

In 1946, the owner at the time wanted to immortalize his son, who had been killed in World War II. For the racing season of that year, Mystery was temporarily renamed Memory.

Related Research Articles

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Scow

A scow is a type of flat-bottomed barge. Some scows are rigged as sailing scows. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, scows carried cargo in coastal waters and inland waterways, having an advantage for navigating shallow water or small harbours. Scows were in common use in the American Great Lakes and other parts of the U.S., in southern England, and in New Zealand. In Canada, scows have traditionally been used to transport cattle to the islands of New Brunswick's Saint John River. In modern times their main purpose is for recreation and racing.

Skipjack (boat)

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Log canoe

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<i>Edna E. Lockwood</i> United States historic place

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<i>Rebecca T. Ruark</i> United States historic place

The Rebecca T. Ruark is a Chesapeake Bay skipjack built at Taylor's Island, Maryland. She is homeported at Tilghman Island, Maryland. Built in 1896, she is the oldest surviving skipjack in the Chesapeake Bay fleet. She was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

<i>William B. Tennison</i> (bugeye) United States historic place

The William B. Tennison is a Chesapeake Bay bugeye built in 1899 and converted to an oyster buy-boat in 1906–07. With the conversion her sail rig was removed and an engine inserted, and is the only surviving example of this conversion. Her construction marks a transition between log construction and plank construction. She is homeported at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland. The Tennison is reputed to be the second oldest licensed passenger vessel in the United States.

Edmee S. United States historic place

The Edmee S. is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe. She was built in the Tilghman Island style from hewn logs by Oliver Duke in the 1930s. She is one of the last 22 Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes, and is actively raced with a crew of nine to eleven people. Her original name was Cecilia Mae, but was renamed for Edmee S. Combs, whose husband funded the restoration. The hull was covered with fiberglass during the restoration. She is owned by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, Maryland.

Flying Cloud (log canoe) United States historic place

The Flying Cloud is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1932, by John B. Harrison in Tilghman, Maryland. She is built with carvel-fitted rising planks, a clipper bow, and a sharp stern. She is unusual for having been originally built with a square stern, but it was modified later in order to compete in the Govoner's Cup race. She measures 34'-11" long with a beam of 8'-8½". Flying Cloud was built in 1932 by John B. Harrison for marine engineer and businessman A. Johnson Grymes, Sr., who had a summer home in Talbot County. Grymes lured Buck Richardson away from another canoe to skipper Flying Cloud, and Richardson sailed her successfully to win the Governor's Cup. His crew was uniformed in yachting whites, and the presence of the Flying Cloud and other big, new canoes aroused acrimony among the sailors of the day. The boat was later acquired by Fred Kaiser of Virginia, who sailed the boat for pleasure but did not race her, and then, in 1952, by marine artist John Noble, Sr., of Staten Island. In July 2014, the boat was donated to Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum by brothers Allan Noble and John Noble of Oxford, MD. She Currently races under the No. 22. She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. Talbot County, Maryland.

Island Bird United States historic place

The Island Bird is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1882, by William Sidney Covington in Tilghman, Maryland. She is a 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) sailing log canoe with a racing rig, a sharp stem with a longhead bow, and a sharp, raking stern. She is one of the smallest boats in the active racing fleet, with a beam of only 5 ft 6.5 in (1.689 m). The boat is privately owned by the descendants of Mr. Covington and has been racing every season since 1949. She one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Island Blossom United States historic place

The Island Blossom is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1892, by William Sidney Covington in Tilghman, Maryland. She is a 32 ft 7.5 in (9.944 m) sailing log canoe with a beam of 6 feet 7.5 inches (2.019 m). Double-ended, her bow is sharp with a straight, slightly raking stem and a longhead, and she has a sharp stern. The canoe is privately owned by the family John C. North II, descendants of Mr. Covington, and races under No. 9. She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay log canoes, carrying on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. Skippered since 1999 by Corbin Penwell of St. Michaels, Maryland, Island Blossom has won a record 10 consecutive High Point trophies for the fleet's overall season winner, finishing first overall from 2009-2018 to top the previous mark of six in a row originally set by Doug Hanks Sr., also aboard Blossom, between 1981-1986 and matched by Tyler Johnson on Persistence from 1998–2003. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Island Lark United States historic place

The Island Lark is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1901 and restored by John Chamberlin in 1971. She is a 34'-11" sailing log canoe with a racing rig. She has a beam of 6'-9 1/8". She is double-ended with a sharp, raking stem, longhead bow, and sharp stern. Privately owned the canoe is raced on the Eastern Shore under No. 16. She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Magic (log canoe) United States historic place

The Magic is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1894, by Charles Tarr in St. Michaels, Maryland, She measures 34'-3 5/8" long with a beam of 6'-11". She served as a commercial oystering vessel until 1924 when she was returned to her sailing rig. After her conversion Magic proved to be one of the fastest canoes on the Bay, winning the first Governor's Cup race in 1927. She one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Noddy (log canoe) United States historic place

The Noddy is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1930, by Oliver Duke in Royal Oak, Maryland, She measures 27'-6" long, with a beam of 6'-412". Her log hull remains unglassed, is painted white, and she races under No. 1. She one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. In 1985 she was located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Persistence (log canoe) United States historic place

The Persistence is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in the 1890s, possibly by John B. Harrison in Tilghman, Maryland. She measures 32'-412" long, with a beam of 6'-1112" and is double-ended with no longhead on her bow. She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Rover (log canoe) United States historic place

Rover is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1886 by the Thompson brothers in Chester, Maryland. She measures 28'-134" with a 6'-414" beam. She has a longhead bow, braced back to the hull, and a sharp stern. She is privately owned and races under No. 11 in Eastern Shore competition. She one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland.

Sandy (log canoe) United States historic place

The Sandy is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe. She is a 28'-114" long sailing log canoe with two masts and a racing rig. Log-built, with carvel-fitted rising planks, the boat has a beam of 6'-814". She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes, carrying on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at Sherwood, Talbot County, Maryland.

Olivers Gift (log canoe) United States historic place

The Oliver's Gift is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built in 1947, by Oliver Duke. She measures 30'-7" long, has a beam of 7'-3". She is one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s. She is located at Davidsonville, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

S. C. Dobson (log canoe) United States historic place

The S. C. Dobson is a Chesapeake Bay log canoe, built about 1895, by James Lowery at Tilghman, Maryland. She measures 33'-134" and has a beam of 6'-612". She has a longhead bow, a sharp stern, and a narrow, straight-sided hull. With a Tilghman racing rig she races under No. 6. She one of the last 22 surviving traditional Chesapeake Bay racing log canoes that carry on a tradition of racing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that has existed since the 1840s.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Anne Witty and Mary Ellen Hayward (May 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Mystery (log canoe)" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  3. "Mystery #8 | CBLCSA". Mystery. Chesapeake Bay Log Sailing Canoe Association. 2010-07-24. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-07-29.