The Zodiac is a 127-foot, two masted schooner originally launched in 1924.  She had a brief racing career, but mainly plied her trade hauling goods up and down the West Coast. She retired from hard duty in 1972, and now is primarily is a teaching vessel based out of Bellingham Bay; her home port is now right across the street from us.

Last September, under full sail in moderate winds the mast snapped about 15 feet from the deck- sending the sails and rigging over the port side of the boat and into the water.  There were no serious injuries to passengers or crew,  but all of a sudden the boat needed a new 117-foot wooden mast…as if that stuff grows on trees!

The story of the replacement touched on at least two legends of Northwest woodworking lore, harking back to a time when men were men and trees were trees.   Following a lengthy search, trees  suitable for the new masts were sent to Hull-Oaks Lumber in Southern Oregon, the last steam-powered commercial saw mill in the country, and one of the few mills capable of cutting sticks of sufficient length. Then in December, the cants were sent to The Spar Shop in Aberdeen, Washington to be turned to the final round, tapered shape.

Last Thursday, word on the street was that the new mast would be pulling into town around 1:00, and sure enough the truck was more or less right on time.  Here’s what we saw outside our windows:

It has to be said that the day was not entirely without incident, however.  Driving a rig of that length through Fairhaven, is not for the faint of heart, and the only thing I have to say is that I’m glad I wasn’t behind the wheel. The intersection of Tenth Street and Harris Avenue proved to be just too narrow for the turn, and you can see that the owner of the Ford pickup had a story to tell at dinner that night!

We assume all’s well that ends well, and that the truck will be repaired and the Zodiac will be back under sail very soon.