Laid up in 1970, launched in 2005, two brothers working at the Nanoose Shipyards in Nanaimo (Vancouver Island) built Blue Starr with Bill Garden’s blessing. Garden, who lived on Toad’s Landing – his personal island not far away from Nanaimo, may have even asked the brothers personally to finish out their Alaskan Yellow Cedar on Oak “Walloon” hull as a Schooner, as he had decided the lines would be better suited as a Schooner rather than the 89 Walloon Ketches that had been built around the world. Either way, his signature rests on the modified draft designs onboard, where the cabin and rigging were modified before construction. Unfortunately, shortly after launch in Port Alberni (yes, a conundrum as to why she was launched on the other side of the island), one of the brother’s passed away and the boat was donated to SALTS in Victoria BC, where it was eventually bought by Rayford Chew, who now owns Schooner Tyrone in Maine. Captain Alex bought her in early 2022, and has been living aboard and refitting her while charting future courses beyond Cape Flattery.
