Larinda
Encyclopedia
The Larinda is a recreational schooner
inspired by the 1767 Boston schooner HMS Sultana
. It was built over a period of twenty-six years in the backyard of its owner and launched in 1996. It sank during Hurricane Juan
on September 29, 2003, was raised a month later and eventually returned to service.
. In 1970 at his new house in Marstons Mills
, he began construction. Over the next 26 years, the ship was built by over 1,000 volunteers. The ship is 86 feet (26.2 m) long with a specialized reinforced concrete
hull. 2800 square feet (260.1 m²) of red sail are also utilized. The figurehead is carved from a 100 year old cypress tree. While the hull was inspired by the lines of the 1767 schooner Sultana, Larinda has a Chinese junk rig, a different deck layout and whimsical ornamental carvings not found on the 1767 schooner, notably a figurehead of a frog holding a telescope.
The schooner was launched in 1996. It was moved from its home to the launching point in Falmouth, Massachusetts
. Prior to its sinking, Larinda visited 19 states, seven foreign countries, served as a goodwill ambassador to Cuba
, sailed alongside the USS Constitution
, and was part of Boston's Tall Ships 2000. In 1999, the Mahans sold their house to be with the ship permanently.
On September 28, 2003, the schooner was at Halifax Harbour
at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
preparing to sail to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
and then home to Cape Cod
. when Hurricane Juan
struck. Larinda was moored north of the corvette HMCS Sackville
when the corvette broke loose and rammed the schooner. According to the Canadian Coast Guard, winds reached up to 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph). The schooner took on large amounts of water and sank just after the hurricane ended early on September 29. The sinking took place so quickly that only a few documents were saved, although all of the crew escaped unharmed. The schooner was raised by a crane and barge on October 17, 2003. However the schooner was badly contaminated by harbour sewage. Mahan was unable to afford repairs and decontamination and was forced to sell Larinda. Larinda was purchased by Arthur Scott and Charlene Corkum of St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia who completed repairs and now use the schooner to promote a cottage and restaurant complex. The Mahan family sued Sackville's owners, the Naval Memorial Trust in 2009 for $815,000 but the Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the case on August 4, 2011, concluding that the Trust had taken all necessary and appropriate precautions to secure Sackville.
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
inspired by the 1767 Boston schooner HMS Sultana
HMS Sultana
HMS Sultana was a small Royal Navy schooner that patrolled the American coast from 1768 through 1772, preventing smuggling and collecting duties. She was retired when unrest in Britain's American colonies required larger, better armed patrol craft....
. It was built over a period of twenty-six years in the backyard of its owner and launched in 1996. It sank during Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan was a significant hurricane that struck the southern part of Atlantic Canada in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Juan formed southeast of Bermuda on September 24, 2003 out of a tropical wave that tracked...
on September 29, 2003, was raised a month later and eventually returned to service.
History
The idea for a ship originated when owner and creator Larry Mahan was in the fourth grade. His dream was to build the biggest ship on Cape CodCape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. In 1970 at his new house in Marstons Mills
Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
Marstons Mills is a village in the City of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It was founded by the Marston Family in 1648. They built grist mills along the Marstons Mills River, hence the name of the village. It is primarily residential, located on Route 28, and rural in nature...
, he began construction. Over the next 26 years, the ship was built by over 1,000 volunteers. The ship is 86 feet (26.2 m) long with a specialized reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
hull. 2800 square feet (260.1 m²) of red sail are also utilized. The figurehead is carved from a 100 year old cypress tree. While the hull was inspired by the lines of the 1767 schooner Sultana, Larinda has a Chinese junk rig, a different deck layout and whimsical ornamental carvings not found on the 1767 schooner, notably a figurehead of a frog holding a telescope.
The schooner was launched in 1996. It was moved from its home to the launching point in Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 31,531 at the 2010 census....
. Prior to its sinking, Larinda visited 19 states, seven foreign countries, served as a goodwill ambassador to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, sailed alongside the USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
, and was part of Boston's Tall Ships 2000. In 1999, the Mahans sold their house to be with the ship permanently.
On September 28, 2003, the schooner was at Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a Canadian maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection of over 30,000 artifacts...
preparing to sail to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
and then home to Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. when Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan was a significant hurricane that struck the southern part of Atlantic Canada in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Juan formed southeast of Bermuda on September 24, 2003 out of a tropical wave that tracked...
struck. Larinda was moored north of the corvette HMCS Sackville
HMCS Sackville (K181)
HMCS Sackville was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later served as a civilian research vessel. She is now a museum ship located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the last surviving Flower-class corvette.-Wartime service:...
when the corvette broke loose and rammed the schooner. According to the Canadian Coast Guard, winds reached up to 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph). The schooner took on large amounts of water and sank just after the hurricane ended early on September 29. The sinking took place so quickly that only a few documents were saved, although all of the crew escaped unharmed. The schooner was raised by a crane and barge on October 17, 2003. However the schooner was badly contaminated by harbour sewage. Mahan was unable to afford repairs and decontamination and was forced to sell Larinda. Larinda was purchased by Arthur Scott and Charlene Corkum of St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia who completed repairs and now use the schooner to promote a cottage and restaurant complex. The Mahan family sued Sackville's owners, the Naval Memorial Trust in 2009 for $815,000 but the Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the case on August 4, 2011, concluding that the Trust had taken all necessary and appropriate precautions to secure Sackville.