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CNAV PICKLE QW7
Sail Training Vessel
"The impression one gets from these plans is that they have been drawn by a man with a thorough knowledge of the sea and that the vessel can come straight from the builder's yard into the race capable of winning it, or she can sail straight from the builder's yard round the word, for these plans, without doubt, represent a very fine cruiser that would also make a good ocean racer, a vessel on which men can live in comfort for months on end. Seaworthiness, speed and comfort all combine to make her a perfect little ship." (From the book "The History of the Helgoland")
Helgoland was a yawl designed by Henry Gruber of Germany in 1936 and was built at the naval yard Burmester Yacht of Bremen. From the onset, she was a race winning sailing vessel and in 1939 she was the first German sailboat to win the "Hawke Trophy" putting to end 40 years of British supremacy in this race. With the onset of WW II, she was transferred to the Kreigsmarine as a school ship. After the war, the Royal Navy took over Helgoland as a war prize and renamed her PICKLE to honour the sailing vessel that brought back the news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. The RN did not have the funds to maintain a vessel of this class and after a short period she began to deteriorate. The decision was made to gift her to the RCN who at the time was better financially placed to maintain her.
In 1953 the PICKLE was gifted to the RCN by the RN. After inspection she was deemed not worthy of a transatlantic voyage and was hoisted aboard the carrier HMCS Magnificent and transported to Halifax. The PICKLE was given to HMCS Shearwater where she sat for a year and a half when it was decided to transfer her to the Sail Association of the Canadian Navy. Before the transfer was done, she had to be repaired and restored and made ready to take to sea again.
During her refit PICKLE was in a hanger on the waterfront at Shearwater. She was launched in late May early June 1955. After re-launching she was sailed exclusively during late June and July by the base XO Cdr Wadds. She completed three cruises during August 1955. The first cruise was to St Margarets Bay with the UNTD AE class aboard. The second cruise was to Guysborough with a group of supply branch PO’s aboard. The third cruise was to Lunenburg with a group of supply branch officers aboard. While in Lunenburg the crew had the memorable experience of meeting Angus Walters past skipper of Bluenose.
There was never a shortage of volunteers to man the PICKLE and while her primary focus was training, she was participated in several races: The Marblehead to Halifax Race from 1957 to 1970; the Century Transatlantic Race of 1968 between Bermuda and Travenmude, Germany; and the Transatlantic International Race between Newport, Rhode Island and Cork Ireland in 1969. She won the Bermuda Race four times in 1956, 67, 62 and 64. The PICKLE was used to teach future navy officers to navigate, make contact with the sea, acquire the art of sailing and promote the Canadian flag.
In 1972, PICKLE represented Canada and the Canadian Navy at the Olympics in Kiel, Germany. Soon afterward, it was determined the the PICKLE was too expensive to maintain and a potential buyer was sought. She was purchased by Mr. Norman Gowland, from Toronto, Ont, who had the intent to restore her. He moved her to the James D. Rosborough shipyards, where, after experiencing financial difficulties, he abandoned her. James Rosborough new of the PICKLEs history and tried to save her. She was slowly deteriorating in the shipyard and steps had to be taken before she sank at her moorings. He contacted Mr. Gowland and permission was given to sell the PICKLE.
In 1984, René Renaud, a fisherman from Bonaventure, on the Gaspé coast in Quebec, purchase her. After having divers removed 5 inches of seaweed and barnacles, he had her towed to Paspebiac, Que. The restoration lasted two years. The Oregon pick deck was completely removed and rebuilt. Some hull planking was replaced as well and the engine, transmission and sails - for a cost of $95,000.00.
Renamed Helgoland I in 1986, she re-entered service in the Baie des Chaleurs, was operated between Bathhurst, NB, Baie Comeau, Que and Miramichi, NB. Mr. Renaud petioned the Que government for funding to help cover the cost of her restoration, but all requests for grants wnet unanswered. In 1990, after exhausting all resources to keep her in operation, René Renaud had to to sell the Helgoland I.
In the summer of 1990, Julien Chevarie, a fisherman from Nouvelle, on Baie des Chaleurs, bought the Helgoland I and brought her to Carleton where he sailed her during the summer for cruises on Tragadigache bay. That fall, he had her full sandblasted and found most of the planking was rotted around the holding down bolts. Determined to restore his dream, he spend over $100,000 to restore the hull, but past away in 1993 before realizing his dream. After several years and attempts to raise funds, the Helgoland I was sold to Mr. Michel Tadros, from Madeleine, Que. around 1996-97.
At a cost of over $500,000 (Cdn), Mr. Tadros restored the Helgoland I. Her deck was replaced with Oregon pine, the hull coated with epoxy inside and out. The sails were replaced; the engine rebuilt and a new transmission installed. She was inspected by the Canadian coast Guard and classed as a sightseeing/whale watching vessel for 38 persons. After one season, her owners put her up for sale and she is once again under the ownership of René Renaud.
RCN Memories: The PICKLE's C.O. The Unsinkable PICKLE
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
(TA) - crew of PICKLE for 1968 Trans-Atlantic Race (MR) - crew of PICKLE for 1961 Marblehead Race (NB) - crew of PICKLE for 1964 Newport-Bermuda Race
Photos and Documents
(PKL001) Scale drawing of the Yawl Helgoland (PKL002) Drawing of the Helgoland from "The History of the Helgoland" // Courtesy of Eric Ruff
(PKL003) CNAV PICKLE // RCN Photo # DNS 14477 // Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum (PKL004) CNAV PICKLE // Source/Credit: The Library and Archives of Canada - a162805 (PKL005) CNAV PICKLE's 1968 Trans-Atlantic Race // The Sentinal Magazine (PKL006) Recent RMC grads who were part of PICKLE's crew for the 1968 Trans-Atlantic Race // Front (L-R): Eric Ruff, John Jamieson, Jean-Marie Olivier, Richard Lalonde Back (L-R) Tom Badenoch, Tim Blythe, Chris Haines, Ian Sanderson // Courtesy of Eric Ruff (PKL007) LCdr George Fulford III at the helm of CNAV PICKLE // From the collection of LCdr George Fulford III // Courtesy of George Fulford IV
(PKL008) CNAV PICKLE, Charlottetown, PEI - 1973 // Courtesy of Bill Perks (PKL009) Whatever Happened to PICKLE? // the Trident Magazine 03 Nov 1981
(PKL010 - PKL011) The restoration of the Helgoland I (former Pickle) Gaspé, Quebec at the end of 1990 // Photographer: Michel Tremblay // © Michel Tremblay 1990 (PKL012) The Helgoland I at the Chantier Naval Forillon (CNF) Gaspé, Quebec 27 Aug 2020 // Photographer: Michel Tremblay // © Michel Tremblay 1990 (PKL013) The Helogland I, Gaspé, Quebec, 11 Mar 2022 // Photographer: Michel Tremblay // © Michel Tremblay 1990
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
