Lou Kenedy

Lou Kenedy (Louis Kenedy, Jr.) (1910–1991) born July 16, 1910 in Stamford, CT son of affluent parents, redefined independence and toughness to make his life aboard sailing vessels out of Nova Scotia and the Caribbean. He continued this legacy of cargo trading under sail from the 1930s through the 1980s, five decades after sailing cargo had seemed obsolete. He had from an early age embarked on a lifestyle choice of living almost permanently on the high seas. All the ships he owned, in turn, had to work hard to maintain this lifestyle while raising a family aboard with his wife Pat.

Capt. Lou aboard the schooner VEMA with his dog Gotlik

Kenedy was featured in the Saturday Evening Post in an article entitled "The Incredible Captain Kenedy" in the winter of 1953-1954 written by Richard Thruelsen. These articles appear in the Dec 19, 1953; Dec 26, 1953; Jan 2, 1954; and Jan 9, 1954 issues. Lou Kenedy and Winston Churchill were the two people to have four consecutive issues of the Post.

Kenedy is the inspiration for “Captain Kennedy”, a song recorded in 1980 on the Hawks and Doves album by Neil Young. Neil and Lou encountered one another in South Florida and the Bahamas while Lou was cruising in his later years.

Ships owned and operated
  • ABUNDANCE

Built 1919; Rig: Tern Schooner; Matierial: Wood; Registered length: 138'; Beam: 27'8"; Draft: 15'; Builder: John McLean & Sons, Ltd., Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia; Wrecked on Jamaica November 5, 1932

  • ADAMS

Launched: 1929; Rig: Tern Schooner; Material: Wood; Registered Length: 164'; Beam: 32'; Draft: 16'; Builder: Arthur D. Storey, Essex, Massachusetts; Sank at sea, crew abandoned ship to BLAIRESK January 1934

  • SEA FOX

Launched 1888; Rig: Gaff topsail schooner; Material: iron plate; Registered length: 115’; Beam: 23’ 11”; Draft: 12’; Builder: Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Delaware; Designer: A. Cass Canfield; Lou won the first famous Round Barbados race in 1936; Sold and delivered to Baltimore, MD

  • WAWALOAM

Launched 1919; Rig: Tern Schooner; Material: Steel; Registered length: 135’; Beam: 25’4”; Draft: 12’; Builder: Gear. Van Diesen, Waterhuizen, Holland; Sunk by U-86 August 6, 1942. Crew and dog escaping in dories and after days, everyone picked up safely by tramp steamer IRISH ROSE.

Launched 1885; Rig: Barque, converted to tern schooner; Material: Wood; Registered Length: 170’; Beam: 31’; Draft: 14’ light/20’ loaded; Builder: K. Larsen, Arendal, Norway; In 1944 Kenedy purchased the City of New York (1885 ship), the old ship was laid up as a hulk in Quebec. He converted the ship to a three masted schooner. Kenedy operated her hauling cargo under sail until 1952.

  • VEMA (ex-HUSSAR)

Launched 1923; Rig: 3 masted gaff schooner; Material: riveted nickel steel; Registered length: 202’6”; Beam: 33’2”; Draft: 15’1”; Builder: Burmeister Wain Shipyard, Copenhagen; Chartered and eventually sold to Lamont Geological Observatory in 1953.

  • ALPHA

Launched 1919; Rig: Ketch; Material: Iron; Registered length: 80’; Beam: 18’; Draft: 6’6”; Builder: unknown, Waterhuizen, Holland; Chartered for many years throughout the Bahamas.

  • AQUANAUT

Launched 1941; Rig: motor vessel; Material: wood; Registered length: 83’; Beam: 18’; Draft: 6’6”; Builder: Wheeler Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York; Used mainly for rescue, movie and Decca Navigator System research.

  • PIKE'S ARM

Launched 1962; Rig: motor vessel; Material: steel; Registered length: 80’8”; Beam: 22’6”; Draft: 6’; Builder: E.F. Barnes, St. John's, Newfoundland; Regularly carrying freight from Miami to Eleuthera.

  • SEA FOX (ex-PHYSALIA, ex-HAL-WAN II)

Launched 1940; Rig: Ketch motorsailer; Material: wood; Registered length: 62’9” (lengthened in 1961 to 67’9”); Beam: 16’; Draft: 6’2”; Builder: Casey Boat Building, Fairhaven, Massachusetts; Kenedy's retirement home for 15 years of cruising with friends, family, but mostly enjoying having grandchildren aboard.

Lou Kenedy died on July 25, 1991 in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Lou and his wife Pat are buried in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

References

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

  1. Russell, Joe (2006). The last schoonerman : the remarkable life of Captain Lou Kenedy. Anacortes, WA: Fine Edge. ISBN 9781932310412. OCLC 642511413.
  2. "Kenedy, Page 18 - End". Svsarah.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  3. "Sailor's yarns find permanent place 'tween the covers". Naplesnews.com.
  4. "Louis Kenedy (American) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats". Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. "Yachting". 1 February 1992. p. 16. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via Google Books.
  6. "Round Barbados: News". Barbadossailingweek.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
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