Skip to content

Buttercup finishes trek up Coast by trailer

Marine Heritage
pender
The Buttercup arrives in Madeira Park July 8 for Pender Harbour Days.

The dory Buttercup, a vintage boat built by the late Allen Farrell, made the voyage from the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives in Gibsons to Pender Harbour last week in good time, but with not quite so triumphant an arrival as hoped.

The crew began their voyage by rowing but were pleased to see that the distinctive junk-rigged orange sail caught the wind, and they were whipped along past Davis Bay, where spectators took photos.

When a dry southeaster brought more wind, the crew moored in Sargeant Bay, where one member slept aboard the open boat overnight.

Strong winds from the northwest halted the voyage, and the Buttercup was transported by trailer to Madeira Park on July 8 for the Pender Harbour Days celebration of all things maritime, including their display of wooden boats.

The Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society (PHLHS) was on hand to welcome the return to Madeira Park of the boat previously quartered at the museum in Gibsons, where it had been lovingly maintained by volunteers.

Shendra Hanney, a friend of the original boat owners, the Farrells, greeted the boat on Sunday along with members of the PHLHS.

“The heritage society has the facilities now to keep the boat,” Hanney said, “and it’s close to Hotel Lake where it can be taken out on the lake for occasions.”

Find out more about the activities of the heritage group at www.penderharbourheritage.ca