"She's starting to slip. ... Knock out the block on the other side," shouts one of the Vokey brothers.
With the order given a maul is heard beating against the final wooden key until it lets go.
As the cradle starts down the slipway, a great cheer rises from hundreds of people standing on the shoreline and three years of hard work slips into the water - Henry Vokey's two-masted schooner was launched.
The 82-year-old Trinity resident's skilled hands have spent more hours than he cares to count on the 44-foot Leah Caroline, named after his great-great-granddaughter Leah and his late wife Caroline, who died while the boat was under construction.
Vokey is proud of his accomplishment.
"She looks good," said the modest man.
After a successful launch it was easy to note a sense of satisfaction.
"It's a great feeling," he said watching his creation on a maiden jog around Trinity harbour.
Vokey said there are still a few details to finish up, but no more than a day's work.
"There are still a few little things to do inside."
Vokey has his doubts about taking on another project of this magnitude.
"It will be the last one of this size," he said. "I'd imagine (I'll do smaller boats), but I don't know how long I'm going to live," quipped the sharp-as-ever senior.
A family affair
It was more than just a boat launch for the Vokeys.
Of their 12 children, nine were home for their father's big day.
Sons, daughters, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and close friends were all on hand preparing the rigging and making final preparations to the slipway. They came from as far away as British Columbia.
"Some came as a surprise, and I didn't even know they were coming," Vokey said. "I feel great about it."
Henry's son Cyril lives in Trinity but works on vessels on the Great Lakes. His holidays were scheduled so he could be home for the launch.
"I've got one brother here today that I haven't seen in 15 years. I've got another brother here I haven't seen in 20 years," he said. "Everybody gathered for this boat launch and it has become a family reunion. It's a special day."
Cyril said his father's knowledge of boat-building was passed on to his children and it has stuck with them over the years.
"We grew up building boats. I've built a couple myself," he said.
He's pleased with his father's latest creation.
"It's a beautiful boat," he said, noting his father's passion for the craft.
"Everybody has got their reason to live - this is his."
Cyril doesn't think his father will walk away from the craft as easily as he says.
It might not be another two-masted schooner, but "the next one will probably be three-mast," he said with a chuckle.
"As long as his health holds I can see him continuing to build boats; although they probably won't be this size. This is his hobby."
Nothing but praise
Chris Osmond, director of the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton, wasn't going to miss the launch.
Osmond was eager, ever since he heard about the project three years ago.
"We knew there would be a lot of people on hand for this because it's something that hasn't been seen in many years ... and you won't see again for a while," Osmond said.
He had high praise for Vokey's work.
Because of people like Vokey, Osmond said, people start talking about wooden boat-building again.
"We have hundreds of wooden boat-builders in this province and it's getting a lot of the younger ones involved in the building process," he said.
"Personally, I never seen a boat launched in this fashion, first hand," he said. "To be here and witness it, and to see the history behind the boat, it was a memorable, educational event for everyone on hand."
