8 CLASSIC BOAT MAY 2015PAPA 1
lasting three years, was followed by a sharing of the
boat, one year sailing with partner Michael ‘Scrim’
Strzalkowski, the next with Steele.
Marguerite T, said to be one of the seven best sailing
vessels in the world, stole the show under the helm of
Steele at Antigua’s Classic Regatta, sweeping up prizes in- Steele sailed her on, to Bermuda, the Azores,
Ireland and finally to England where, for the first time in
85 years, she joined her fleet, taking part in the annual
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters Association Regatta with
her original builder on board. And, of course, she won
that, too. Steele continued the voyage, sailing on to
Cowes where Marguerite T met her new family.
Having all that sea time with Marguerite T convinced
Steele of her perfection; fast, comfortable, steady and she
can easily be sailed with few hands. And so, he
announced, “Let’s build another one.”
He took the lines to designer Nigel Irens, requesting
modifications that would bring together the elements of
two distinct styles. In short, he asked, “Massage the hull
to go with a schooner rig.” Steele wanted to design all
V
essels clustered by design and rig filled
the docks for Antigua’s 2014 Classic
Regatta. Colourful sloops took their
place at Carriacou Corner, nine Spirit
boats neighboured out with the big
girls and in between moored an
eclectic, impressive collection of schooners. Among them
was one Alden, two Herreshoffs, a couple of beauties
from the yard of Gannon & Benjamin and numerous
custom designs displaying high-spirited personality both
on and off the water.
One eye-pleasing schooner, presenting her tranquil
green, gold-leafed stern to spectators was Papa 1,
flaunting Nova Scotian heritage and tradition. The boat’s
elaborate back story began years ago, when the Bristol
Channel Pilot Cutter, Marguerite T, sailed into
Lunenburg and the life of boat builder, John Steele.
Steele, founder of Covey Island Boatworks, was
convinced by a cast of characters to take on the rebuild
of the centenarian boat, and in the process became a
partner in her restoration and ownership. The project,Clockwise from
top: Papa 1 detail
including down
below; the
‘tomato-drying
windows; stern;
dolphin handrailCB323 Papa1.indd 8 24/03/2015 13: