Bluenose’s American competitors were determined to take the crown away in 1923. They hired the designer of the Mayflower; Starling Burgess, to design another schooner to compete with Canada’s unbeatable ship. The result was the Columbia. It defeated the Henry Ford for the right to take on Bluenose in the 1923 race. The ship’s captain, Ben Pine, would become Angus’s greatest adversary in coming years, but also a friend. He had assembled a crew of skilled captains to man his ship.
The 1923 race, held from October 23 to November 1, was also controversial. Bluenose won the first race but was almost forced onto rocks by the Columbia. Bluenose also won the second race in the series but committed a violation by passing a buoy on the landward side. The American side protested, and the race was awarded to the Columbia.
Bluenose’s fiery captain was furious and refused to race a third time. Walters sailed back to Lunenburg, despite the anger of the International Racing Commitee and against the advice of the ship’s managing owner. He felt that he and his crew had been wronged, and he was not afraid to take a stand.
After the first race in this series, it was decided that the course of the race would be marked out by buoys, floating markers anchored to the ocean floor. The ships would have to pass on the seaward side of these. This rule was introduced for safety after the Columbio inadvertently forced Bluenose close to shore, causing Bluenose to veer back towards the sea and almost collide with the American ship.
