1930Essex-made schooner Gertrude L. Thebaud won the Sir Thomas Lipton International Fishing Challenge Cup.People and Communities, Economy and Industry, Maritime & Fishing Industry, Sports

A challenge was sent to the Canadian schooner Bluenose to race Gertrude L. Thebaud in a series of races in October 1930 for the newly established Sir Thomas Lipton International Fishing Challenge Cup. The captain of Bluenose, Angus Walters, accepted the challenge. Gertrude L. Thebaud was to be captained by Ben Pine, the former master of Columbia, the fishing schooner that had tied Bluenose in the last International Fisherman’s Trophy race. In the first race, Gertrude L. Thebaud, finished ahead of Bluenose by 15 minutes. The second race was controversial, as it was called off twice when Bluenose was in the lead. The third attempt saw Gertrude L. Thebaud defeat the Canadian schooner by eight minutes. The Americans won the Lipton Cup and handed the Canadian schooner its first defeat in competitive racing.