Schooner Esperanto

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[edit] Esperanto (schooner)

The Gloucester Schooner Esperanto was winner of first International Fisherman's Schooner Race.

In 1920, the Gloucester Fishing Schooner Esperanto (Capt. Marty Welch) defeated the Canadian Fishing Schooner Delawana (Capt. Thomas Himmelman), in the first International Fisherman's Schooner Race.

The Esperanto crew during the 1920 championship races was: Capt. Martin L. Welch, R. Russell Smith, Isaiah Gosbee, George E. Roberts, Harry P. Christianson, George Young, Benjamin W. Stanley, Roy P. Patten, Raymond McKenzie, James McDonald, Wallace Bruce, John Batt, John F. Barrett, Thomas Smith, Michael J. Hall, Stephen F. Whitney, Hugh Young, Benjamin H. Colby, James B. Connolly, John J. Matheson, Thomas S. Benham, Leon G. Murray, Lawrence F. Percival, Ernest Hendrie, Robert W. Sawtell, Morril Wiggins

Schooner Esperanto was undefeated in competition, but sank in 1921.

Esperanto was designed by Tom McManus of Boston, built by Tarr and James Shipbuilders of Essex, Massachusetts, and launched on June 27, 1906. Esperanto's length 107', width 25', depth 11'. Gross weight 140 tons. On 30 May 1921, Schooner Esperanto struck a submerged wreck near Sable Island, and sank. The crew was rescued.

Schooner Esperanto was the first, and is one of only two undefeated International Fisherman's Schooner Race champions.

[edit] References

"Esperanto Defeats Canadian Schooner in First of 3 Races", New York Times, October 31, 1920
"Esperanto Wins Fisherman's Cup", New York Times, November 2, 1920
"Captain Marty's Great Race", The Literary Digest, November 20, 1920
"The Book of the Gloucester Fishermen", James B. Connolly, 1927