Bluenose II was launched at Lunenburg on July 24, 1963 and cost $300,000 to build. It was sold to the government of Nova Scotia for $1 and serves as a goodwill ambassador, tourist attraction in Lunenburg, and symbol of the province. During the summer it visits ports all around Nova Scotia and the world. Bluenose II does not race. It has the largest working mainsail in the world. The schooner Bluenose II is the well-loved replica of the famous Nova Scotian vessel Bluenose from 1921 to 1946. A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main pole of a sailing vessel. On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main pole.