The IOD Restless : Restless - A family tradition

I had no idea that when I met Ted that his family was so large or that 98% of them also sail. All I knew when I met him was that he could sail, drink rum, and that his name was Ted. I was soon to find out that there was a little more to that profile.

The year before he met me - now he owns two boats!

Ted is named after his grandfather, Edward Joseph Murphy II. Edward was a character! The stories that the Murphys have told me about this man make for a story good enough for a film. When it came to naming our IOD, Ted and I spent a whole day coming up with possible names, I am sure we still have the list somewhere. However, I think Ted always knew that we were going to name the boat after his grandfather's Chester C, Restless. I really pushed for the boat to be called the Dayna, but he said I wouldn't like competing for the attention from something with the same name. I say he is waiting for a bigger boat.

We put the name on Restless last year after spending a week deciding on font. Thanks to my sister for her patience!

Chester C's, as their name suggests were designed and built in Chester, Nova Scotia by Benjamin Heisler. I am not sure if she was built first, but she did and does still carry the C 1 sail. She was built in 1937, a year after the first IOD, Aileen, who now sails on the same body of water that the original Restless was built! The Chester C is 37' and carries massive sails; these boat were designed to be fast and race.

This photo was taken during an epic trip from Halifax to Bridgewater during World War II

This photo was taken during the same trip near a 'timber boom' - in the background are logs that would be floated to and from different ports. A method for transporting logs.

Edward bought her from the original owner in 1940, in Back Harbour, Chester, around the corner from where she was built. He picked up her sails from Jon Diamond's house in Chester - if you are familiar with the area, it is the Green House that has tree trunks as porch posts- The sails were made by Ratsey's with narrow sail panels - a beautiful shape.

C 1 - Ratsey Sails

Of course in that year World War II was happening and most young men had gone to join the army. Edward could not join the military effort over seas because as a child he had scarlet fever, leaving him with a pierced ear drum and he could not be around noise. He tried for the Navy and was rejected, then tried for the army, but because of his issue with noise he was deemed 'bad for war duty'. Eventually, he was able to join the Airforce in the marine division driving a crash boat for downed flyers in Halifax Harbour.

Edward would report for duty with his Chester C, Restless. He had tiresome weeks of 3 days on and 4 days off, leaving him plenty of time to sail Restless. He certainly was never lonely during the war even though most of the young men were away he seemed over come with an abundance of women to keep him company!

Not Ted's Grandmother!

In the background is Don Haliburton

A selection of scallywags

After the war, he continued to sail Restless, as she survived her crash boat work. The yacht club that he became a life time member at, the Royal Nova Scotian Yacht Squadron, reopened, as it had been closed during the war effort, and many of the young men returned to their boats. Racing started up again in 1945, boats from yacht clubs around Halifax and from Chester sailed in the R.N.S.Y.S Opening Regatta. To show their appreciation towards the Chester Fleet, most boats from Halifax accompanied them back to Chester and competed in their Regatta. Restless and Edward won the Visitors Cup in Chester and a tradition was born. The Murphy's have been competing at Chester Race week ever since, and now Ted is continuing in his Grandfather's reputation with Restless, however I am normally on board so I don't think he is entertaining as many young ladies!

In the late 1940's Edward sold Restless and bought a Roue 20, designed by William Roue; the same designer as the Bluenose. The Roue continued Edwards need for speed and he passed that along to his children. Ted's father owns a Roue 20, he might actually own two...

The Roue 20 with the canoe used as a tender!

We do not know where this is... Any guesses?

The Roue in front of the Murphy summer houses in Jollimore, near the Dingle. Before you could put the cotton sails away you had to dry them.

Eventually she was sold as well and Edward went on to sail the schooner the Hebridee, designed by William Roue, for the rest of his life. The Hebridee was later donated to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic where she underwent a major refit.

The Hebridee - Ted still wears that hat!

Restless is now in the good hands of the people of Lunenburg Boat Works, where they are under going a labour of love to get her sailing again! She is no longer called Restless anymore, once sold she was renamed the Gannet, and they plan on keeping the name. We wish them all the luck, we know the trials of working on an old stubborn wooden boat, and we will check on her again after the busy boat season has ended!