A 44-foot long, wooden schooner, built by Henry Vokey of Trinity, was launched from its cradle into the waters of Trinity Bay on Saturday.
The two-masted schooner has been named the Leah Caroline, after Vokey’s great-great-granddaughter, Leah and late wife, Caroline.
Vokey, 82, has been building wooden boats for over 50 years — from small row boats to large draggers.
He received the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007, for his commitment to the traditional craft of wooden boat building.
The weekend launch of his latest creation was promoted by the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Trinity Historical Society. It drew in a crowd, including a large gathering of Vokey family and friends.
Celebrations followed the launch at the water’s edge, with a garden party planned in Trinity to continue them into the evening.
The Leah Caroline is Vokey’s third schooner.
Read more about the builder in “A master of his craft,” an article first run in The Packet in September 2011.
Also look to Monday’s edition of The Telegram for more relating to this story.
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