E. P. Theriault

Named after her owner, the E.P. Theriault was the last of the large three-masted schooners launched at Belliveau Cove, Nova Scotia, in 1919. A sturdy and well built vessel, the Theriault was 140 feet in length, with a beam of 32.2 feet, and a draft of 13.3 feet. Intended mainly for off-shore work on the Gulf Stream route, she was designed to carry a good-sized cargo and to endure all weather conditions, especially the swollen seas of the Gulf Stream. Over the years, the Theriault was employed in cargo-carrying trades, making several voyages to the West Indies. She represented some of the best Nova Scotia craftsmanship of her time. During the Second World War, on a voyage from Florida to Jamaica, the Theriault was torpedoed by a German submarine near the Dry Tortugas. Although abandoned and water-soaked, she remained afloat and drifted into the Gulf Stream where she became stranded off the Cuban Coast. Her wreck and cargo were salvaged. After extensive repairs, she was renamed the Ofelia Gancedo and saw many more productive years of service. The painting portrays the three-masted schooner E.P. Theriault under tow in the Strait of Canso. Like many terns, the hull of this attractive vessel is painted white. With her lofty rig and white sails, she presents a striking contrast to the little tug, who is guiding her up the Strait to St. George’s Bay. She will soon pass the barely visible lighthouse at MacMillan’s Point.

Signature Edition.