Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 11, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Sunday july 11, 2004 editor Boris Rybinsky 697-7430 perspective b1 Tom Thomson / Winnipeg free press luxurious historic wooden yacht Home to Many business deals on Lake of the Woods by Bill Redekop k Enora ? in the summer of 1999, a Small group of pharmaceutical executives boarded the Grace Anne ii a historic wooden yacht reserved for business soirees on Lake of the Woods. The executives fished smoked cigars drank scotch and even found time to talk a Little business Over three Days and nights. Then they signed one of the biggest pharmaceutical deals of the Century viagra. The men agreed on the marketing rights for the european launch of the anti impotence drug which had already become one of the fastest Selling drugs in history in the . Not bad for Kenora a lady of the Lake an 85-foot mahogany yacht Given to Grace Anne Forlong As a birthday present by Hus band John in 1931. The grand Dame is still seen regularly plying the Waters in and out of Kenora a Harbour front. Its the most Beautiful boat on Lake of the Woods. There Are no other boats of its size and grandeur said Lori Nelson Lake of the Woods museum director. When it was built there really want anything spared in terms of luxury. That integrity has been maintained with original fixtures and Minnesota mining and manufacturing co. Of St. Paul minn., bet Ter known As 3m, an $18-billion conglomerate purchased the yacht in the mid-?50s and ran it As a kind of floating boardroom for the next four decades. American businessmen sealed deals while hold ing fishing rods instead of Golf clubs. There have been some big deals signed on this boat said Brad Doerksen Captain of the Grace Anne ii. People Are understandably sceptical that real business gets done on such excursions. The 3m format went something like this the boat sleeps eight so the Host company 3m would fill four spots with its staff and invite guests from four other companies to fill the remaining spots. Then the executives would pair off to fish during the Day ? one Host and guest per fishing boat plus a fishing guide and a 150-horsepower motor. The idea was to reel in prize contracts As Well As prize fish. One Deal inked on the Grace Anne ii was 3m?s very significant launch of a non invasive application for diabetics. On another Occa Sion the United states budget was announced during an excursion by 3m executives and some american politicians and a copy of the document was delivered to the boats passengers by Jet plane. The latest Deal however involves the yacht itself. Winnipeg Busi Nessman Morris Chia purchased it this year becoming the fifth owner in 70 years. Chia who emigrated from Singapore in 1976, owns several travel businesses including tip travel group which has Independent travel agents across Canada and does administrative services for other agencies. Chia also has a separate business in Toronto that manages corporate and incentive travel which rewards top executives with trips to a variety of locations. Purchasing the Grace Anne ii fits with the latter business but mostly it was a passion for the Lake and the boat that prompted him to buy the boat said Chia 42. I used to wonder Why people Here drove two hours to get to the Lake. But once my wife and i were exposed to Lake of the Woods we fell in love with they had their eyes in particular on the Grace Anne ii. We first saw the Grace Anne about 10 years ago. From the moment my wife and i saw it it was almost like a the original owners of the Grace Anne ii the Forlong family have a history in the area that dates Back to 1893, when mrs. For Long a father Alexander Macdonald built a summer Home on Coney Island. In 1930, John Forlong commissioned Ditchburn boat works of the Muskoka Lake Region of Southern Ontario ? Canadas finest boat maker ? to build the yacht As a birthday present for his wife. Members of the Ditchburn family originally from England had been boat builders since the Spanish Armada of 1588. It took five months and $75,000 to construct the Grace Anne ii ? the last boat built by Ditchburn boat works before the depression contributed to the company a bankruptcy. Today the Grace Anne ii is the largest Ditchburn still in existence. After its construction the herculean task of transporting the boat to Lake of the Woods began. It took six weeks. The Grace Anne had to be taken apart and loaded onto four rail cars and then transported from Thunder Bay to Rainy River at the Southeast end of Lake of the Woods. The furlongs famously cruised the Lake for 15 years. Their son Duncan Forlong still owns a cottage on Coney Island. The family sold the yacht in 1946 to Ralph Erwin then owner of the Salisbury House restaurant Chain who offered Grace Anne ii cruises to Hunters and anglers. 3m became the sole owner from 1954 to 1994, operating it under the company name Salisbury cruises Ltd. Doerksen and two other employees bought the boat from 3m, which was looking to sell before relinquishing ownership to Chia this year. Many people have never seen the Interior of the Grace Anne ii because accommodation is so pricey. It costs $1,800 us per person for two nights or $2,500 for three nights. Everything is included in that Price from rubber boots to tooth paste. There Are gourmet meals prepared by chef Nicky Dart ail on full China and Crystal setting in the yachts dining room fishing boats gear and guides and Access to a private 33-acre Island with a Lodge with Clay and trap shooting courses. The Sweet Sticky scent of grand Mariner and Glenlivet scotch whisky that emanates from the boats Well stocked liquor Cabinet is a reminder that liquor is included. All water sports Are available. Fall Hunting trips Are also popular. More information is available at prominent local families like the Aspers and Richardson have rented the yacht. Prince Michael of Kent toured the Lake on the Grace Anne ii last year. The president of aircraft maker Boeing has been aboard As have governors of Texas and Tennessee. Mostly it has been used by american business people since the 1950s. Chia Hopes to make it More affordable for Ontario and Manitoba residents. That Campaign was begun four years ago when dinner cruises were introduced. Chia recently offered two new overnight pack Ages. One package starts at 4 30 . And returns by 11 . Next morning. It begins with horse oeuvres and cocktails a five course dinner a cruise to the yachts private Island and Lodge for the night and return cruise and breakfast in the morning for $600 can per person. The second for $900, has an additional morning fishing Outing on two boats with guides Shore lunch with wine and trap shooting returning by 5 . Many people like to experience sleeping on the boat. If there a a 10-mile-per-hour wind it rocks you to sleep said Doerksen who worked his Way up from fishing guide to supervisor to Captain and eventually part owner before Selling to Chia. The whisky helps too he added ? for the passengers Only of course ;