Bluenose II marks restoration milestone

The whiskey plank has been attached to Nova Scotia's famed schooner Bluenose II, traditionally the last piece of lumber to be joined to the hull.

Heritage Minister David Wilson along with local officials and craftsmen gathered on the Lunenburg waterfrontFriday for the event.

The restoration of the replica is being funded by the provincial and federal governments.

The federal government is contributing almost $5 million through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for the hull reconstruction, which is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

The work being done by a consortium of three Nova Scotia boatbuilders entails replacing the hull, frames and planking of the ship with improved laminates using traditional methods.

The tradition of the whiskey plank comes from a historical practice in which work is stopped briefly and all hands are poured a tot of whiskey to celebrate the job's completion.