Hall of Fame

1987 Hall of Fame Inductees

1877 Placentia Fisherman's Crew
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The Fishermens' Race of 1877 was the talk of hundreds of Regatta admirers long after the event had taken place. That was the year in which a crew of fishermen from the "Ancient Capital", Placentia, dared to compete for supremacy on the historic waters of Quidi Vidi Lake. They were the first crew of "strangers" ever to enter the Annual St. John's Regatta.

In 1877, Mr. Edward Sinnott of Placentia, who had never built anything before, undertook the building of a boat to race in the Regatta. It measured 34 feet in length, 3 feet 10 inches beam, and its depth was 17 inches. It was christened the "Placentia".

Mr. Sinnott assembled a crew of six strapping fishermen, all over 6 feet. Their names were Philip Morrissey, Daniel Morrissey, John Morrissey, Patrick Morrisey, Moses Morrissey and James Whelan. Sinnott would act as the coxswain.

On Saturday night, August 4, the crew hoisted their boat on their shoulders and left Placentia to walk the 90 miles to St. John's. The trail was a rough one, through the woods, as there was no road. The press and the public anxiously awaited their arrival. The Morning Chronicle of August 4 wrote, "This new contribution to the forthcoming contest on Quidi Vidi Lake, will, no doubt, add largely to the spirit of competition, without which no aquatic sport can be successful."

On Tuesday, August 7, in the same paper, we read, "We have no doubt that their-brother fishermen in St. John's and the neighboring outports will accord to them a hearty welcome, and in the friendly contest of Thursday next willingly concede to them all the immunities of honorable rivalry."

After a four day trek, they arrived in St. John's on the morning of Wednesday, August 8, one day before the 1877 Regatta. The Chronicle described their boat as "a good model, and evinces a good deal of skillful workmanship in the details. They barely had "sufficient time to make themselves partially acquainted with the hydrography of Quidi Vidi Lake."

In a letter to the Editor of the Morning Chronicle dated August 4 which appeared August 9, "Correspondent, Placentia" states, "As they have had pluck to start I trust they will make a favorable show; but it is hard to expect men who have had no practice, and who are unaccustomed to the pond, to match men like you have in St. John's - well practiced and acquainted with the race course. I merely mention this to show that they will be contending against big odds. I do not mean to throw anything like disparagement on the men; they are good strapping fellows, no doubt, and deserve great credit for breaking the way for others to follow their plucky footsteps in future contests."

The great race of Regatta Day, August 9, was the Fishermens' Race among the six-oared set crews in whale boats. Seven boats entered: "Placentian; "Volunteer"; "Native"; "Queen of Beauty''; "Orient"; "Rosetta"; and "May Glover" The competing crews came from Torbay, Outer Cove, Harbour Grace, Placentia, St. John's and from a British warship that was in port.

The Morning Chronicle of August 11 describes the race: "The Placentia crew, in their own boat, walked beautifully over the course and won the Prince of Wales 1st prize. The famous Outer Cove crew of last year were left far away behind, and proved that even their magnificent rowing could not retrieve the reputation of a boat whose natural propensity to push all before her seemed to be insuperable.

The shortest time for the day, viz: lOm. 28sec., was made by the Placentia crew, which is also the shortest on record for whaleboats. It will be remembered that the winning set crew last year occupied 10'40" on the course. This was the Outer Cove crew, in the "Mary", last year's favorite."

For rowing the quickest time of the day, the crew of the "Placentia" were awarded a bonus of $10.

The victory was the cause of great excitement and Governor Muagrave asked to have the seven visitors brought to him so that he could give each a gold sovereign.

Their moment of glory over, the victorious crew lifted their boat to their shoulders and walked home with it to Placentia.

On Monday, August 13, their champion boat "Placentia" was sold by Dryer and Green at the Market House in St. John's for $112.00.

The Morning Chronicle of Tuesday, August 14 reported that Mr. Sinnott intended to try his hand at building another boat, "and we have no doubt his next effort at boat-building will be a complete success."

It is no wonder that this legendary Placentia crew have become known as the "Seven Placentia Giants"