Lining a cutter?? Oh, we’re supposed to be in the boat.. The cutter crews taking a break break The cutters, St. John and St. Andrew
Do you ever wonder how the outdoor canoe program began? Before there were canoes at St. John’s, there were navy cutters. In the late 1950’s the boys were introduced to the cutters on trips on Lake Winnipeg. Later there would be races along the Red River. The cutters were named the St. John and the St. Andrew.
The first cutter trip headed out in the summer of 1957 on a two week 300 mile trip around the lower section of Lake Winnipeg.
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September 9, 2019 at 9:17 pm
The shot on the river is the 7 day cutter race from Grand Forks to Winnipeg in 1961. Thats my brother in the bow before his 8th birthday- too young to be jumping in the river to push the boat over a sandbar!
The race rules had us up at 3am ,in the water by 5 and rowing till 1 pm ( the heat of the day). The crew of the St Andrew slept through the 5 am start and we in the St John passed their camp and went on to win the race which ended at the Pritchard docks in Winnipeg. The race was referreed by Frank Wiens and Alfie Phillpot in their aluminum boat.
Paul Westal was cox on the St John and I believe Geoff Norquay was cox on the St Andrew.