Varuna (pilot boat)

The Varuna was a 19th-century Sandy Hook pilot boat, built in 1890 for a group of Boston pilots. She was designed by yacht designer Edward Burgess, known for his America's Cup defenders. She was the first centerboard pilot-boat in operation in the Massachusetts Bay. The Varuna went out of service in 1912 because of the introduction of steam power into pilot-boats.

Boston pilot boat Varuna, No. 6.
History
US
Name: Varuna
Namesake: Varuna the Vedic king
Owner: Captain Thomas Cooper
Builder: Howard & Montgomery
Launched: 8 May 1890
Out of service: 28 June 1913
Fate: Sold
General characteristics
Class and type: schooner
Tonnage: 90-tons TM[1]
Length: 87 ft 0 in (26.52 m)
Beam: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
Draft: 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
Depth: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
Propulsion: Sail

Construction and service

The Boston Pilot Boat Varuna, was a 90-ton schooner, built in 1890 by Howard & Montgomery at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Her design was by the American yacht designer, Edward Burgess, known for his America's Cup defenders, Puritan (1885, Mayflower (1886), and Volunteer (1887).[2] Varuna is the name for Varuna the Vedic king of the waters of early Hindu mythology.

The new pilot-boat Varuna, was launched on 8 May 1890, at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Her dimensions were 87 feet in length, with 23 feet beam and 10 1/2 feet draught. She was the first centreboard pilot-boat in the Boston fleet. At launch, she was commanded by Captain James H. Reid, who mastered General Benjamin F. Butler's yacht America.[1]

On 26 November 1898, while returning to Boston, the Varuna, No. 6, met up with the Portland Gale. Captain William McMilan, succeeded in working the Varuna out off Highland Light, when she was driven into shoal water during the storm. He had been captain of the Varuna for four years.[3] McMilan was able to board a Johnston line steamer Sedgemore, inbound from Philadelphia. Varuna's double reefed sails were damaged and her yawls washed away. The steamer was able to tow the pilot-boat from off Highland Light into the Boston harbour. Captain William McMilan, Captain William H. Fairfield and the crew were grateful to Captain Bartlett of the steamer for rescuing them.[2] During the gale, sister pilot-boat, the Columbia, No. 8, was driven ashore at the Sand Hills beach in Scituate, Massachusetts with the loss of all five men aboard. Captain Thomas Cooper was transferred from the Columbia to the Varuna, who had ownership in the Varuna.[4] Captain Frederick W. Ahlquist, was head boatkeeper on the Varuna and later told of the experience of surviving the storm.[5]

End of service

The Varuna was out of commission in 1912 because of the introduction of steam power into the pilot-boats. The Pilots' Relief Society reduced the Boston fleet five to three boats. On 28 June 1913, the pilot-boat Varuna was sold to Stephen Simmons to be used as a trading vessel between ports in the Spanish Main. The price paid for the pilot-boat was $3,000.[6]

See also

References
  1. "A Centreboard Pilot Boat". The New York Times. New York, New York. 9 May 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-12-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: Wooden Boat Publications. p. 162. ISBN 9780937822692.
  3. "Death In Newton Of Capt McMilan". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 2 Mar 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-12-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Harbor Front Items". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 1 Dec 1898. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  5. "Frederick W. Ahlquist Retired Pilot Dies". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 3 Apr 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Varuna Is Sold. Old Pilot Boat Becomes Property of Stephen Simmons, Is Going to Jamaica". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 28 Jun 1913. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-12-15 – via Newspapers.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.