Mystery (log canoe) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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MYSTERY (log canoe)
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Round Top Rd., Kingstown, Maryland |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 |
| Built by | Sinclair, Harry |
| Architectural style | Tilghman |
| MPS | Chesapeake Bay Sailing Log Canoe Fleet TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002250 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1985 |
The Mystery is a special type of boat called a Chesapeake Bay log canoe. It was built in 1932 by Harry Sinclair in Oxford, Maryland. This boat is about 34 feet long and 8 feet wide. It also has a centerboard, which helps it sail better.
The Mystery is famous for its very tall masts. It is owned by a private person and races under the number 8. It is one of only 22 traditional racing log canoes left on the Chesapeake Bay. These boats continue a racing tradition that started way back in the 1840s. The Mystery is currently located in Kingstown, in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.
The Mystery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is an important historical item.
Contents
History of the Mystery
The Mystery was built in a barn in Oxford, Maryland. Its builders kept it a secret! They wanted it to be a surprise weapon to beat another boat called the Flying Cloud in a big race called the Governor's Cup. That's why they named it Mystery.
The Mystery's racing results were not always great at first. In the late 1940s, it was changed into a sloop (a boat with one mast) and used for regular cruising trips.
John Whittum's Ownership
In 1955, John Whittum bought the Mystery. He sailed it all over the Chesapeake Bay as a sloop. Later, he changed it back for racing. He started competing in log canoe regattas (boat races). John even won the Governor's Cup in 1962!
Francis Schauber Takes Over
In the mid-1970s, John Whittum moved away. He left the Mystery with Francis Schauber, who had been racing with him. Francis raced the boat for several years. He then bought it completely in 1975.
The Mystery was in bad shape by then. Francis began a huge repair project. He took the hull down to its original logs. He cut out all the rotten parts and replaced the old, waterlogged decks. He also made the sails much bigger. The front mast was made 60 feet tall! This made it the tallest mast ever for a log canoe under 35 feet long. The Mystery held this record until 2012. That's when the Jay Dee boat showed off its 63-foot front mast.
Recent Adventures
The Mystery has been repaired and updated many times over the years. After the big overhaul in 1976, the next major one happened in 2001. During this time, "cheeks" were added to its hull. This was done to make the boat more stable in the water.
Mast Trouble in 2008
In 2008, the Mystery lost its front mast during a race. This happened at the CRYCC regatta, which was a very windy race. The mast was over 30 years old and could not be fixed. A new mast was built quickly. It was ready in time for the last two races of the 2008 season.
2013 Racing Season
In 2013, the Mystery had only raced twice in 2012. But it came out for the RHYC log canoe regatta, planning to race all season. However, the very next week, at the CRYCC regatta again, it lost its front mast once more. A rope called a "shroud" snapped. The mast was repaired, but the boat could not finish the rest of the season.
2014 Racing Season
The Mystery did not race at all during the 2014 season.
Fun Facts
In 1946, the owner of the Mystery wanted to honor his son. His son had sadly died in World War II. So, for that racing season, the Mystery was temporarily renamed 'Memory'.
- MYSTERY (log canoe), Queen Anne's County, including photo in 1983, at Maryland Historical Trust
