Museum Restores, Re-launches Traditional Racing Yacht WHIM

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is giving new life to one of the most sought after racing yachts and reviving a piece of Canada's sailing history.

The museum will hold a public re-launch of WHIM, a 1937 C-Class sloop, that was designed and built in Chester by the late Joseph Reuben Heisler, and represents a unique part of the community's heritage.

WHIM, originally owned by the Pew family, is one of five C-Class sloops launched in 1937 at the Heisler boat yard. The re-launch will be at the same location, on Sunday, Aug. 15 at 12:30 p.m. The boatyard, at 130 Tremont St., Chester, is now owned by Joseph Reuben's grandson, Wayne "Butch" Heisler. Parking is very limited at the boat yard, so only drop-off access will be permitted.

The yacht was donated to the museum by Alberta Baker in 2006, and restoration began in 2007. Ms. Baker and her daughter, Deborah, are thrilled that they will see WHIM in its original sailing condition.

"My mum was an avid sailor in her youth and when we children came along, the races turned into wonderful family daytime excursions to islands and picnics," Deborah Baker said. "We're enormously grateful to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, who have which has meticulously restored the WHIM back to her glory days when she raced and challenged the best in Chester."

The restored WHIM has 40 per cent original material, with restoration and replacement of structural areas of the hull, including the keel, frames and half of the planking.

"The WHIM represents a time of beautiful racing vessels," said Eamonn Doorly, boat builder at the museum. "Restoring her for the last few years has been a committed and detailed process so we can preserve her through active use in sailing and in historical representation in the years to come."

WHIM was the only C-Class sloop to have remained in the ownership of the commissioning family, before it was donated to the museum.

For more information, contact the Maritime Museum of The Atlantic at 424-7490 or visit http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma .