News Release Archive
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/TOURISM--U.S. SAILOR TO JOIN MATTHEW CREW
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There's a big difference between racing in a 27-foot
Olympic-class sailboat and becoming crew for a 15th-century
vessel. Just ask American Doug McLean, who will soon find himself
climbing the rigging of the Matthew, a replica of John Cabot's
73-foot ship.
"I can't wait. I was surprised to get picked, because I just
moved here," said the San Francisco native who recently settled
in Bedford.
A member of the Bedford Basin Yacht Club, he's one of 40 Nova
Scotians chosen to become part of the Matthew crew. Mr. McLean,
34, boards the vessel in Halifax on Sunday, Aug. 24, and
disembarks in Yarmouth four days later.
Having literally grown up on the water --Mr. McLean's family
moved into a houseboat when he was 10 years old --sailing is part
of his life. "My backyard was the Pacific Ocean, and I can't
remember when I wasn't sailing," he said.
Competing in national and then international events was a natural
progression for Mr. McLean. Recruited by the University of Rhode
Island to become part of its sailing team, he graduated with a
political science degree in 1988. He trained for two Olympic
campaigns, but unfortunately his team didn't make the finals.
Armed with a $5,000 US grant, he plans to study education at
Halifax's Mount Saint Vincent University in the fall.
Mr. McLean is used to sailing a Soling, a three-person keel boat,
and views crewing for the Matthew a challenge. He hopes to make
himself useful to the captain with his extensive experience
working with sails, both on the water and in the manufacturing
plant. Mr. McLean currently designs sails for a friend at Victory
Sails in Bedford.
"This will just be like living at home for me, and if they happen
to rip a sail, I could fix it," said Mr. McLean.
-30-
Contact: Renee Field
Economic Development and Tourism
902-424-4998
E-mail: econ.fieldrd@gov.ns.ca
ngr August 22, 1997 - 11:25 am
