Festival History

"A Celebraton of our Maritime Heritage"

In the fall of 1977, a small group led by Bob Leach of the Sidney Gaffers and Keith Cameron of the Maritime Museum of BC got together at the museum to plan the building of a replica of John Mears’ ship, the Northwest America, for the Captain Cook bicentenary. The provincial economy was struggling at the time and a request for a provincial grant had been turned down. It became apparent that sufficient corporate funding would not be available in time to get the ship under construction for 1978. There was, however, momentum in the little group which now included Bev Highton, President-elect of the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB), and former owner of the schooner Lorna Doon. In the eleventh hour Bev and the VREB agreed to sponsor a Classic Boat Festival®. In July 1978 the Board hired Jim Russell to coordinate and promote the festival.

Port Townsend had started their festival the previous year and the Victoria group got in touch with them seeking their guidance, which was freely given. A close relationship developed that continues to this day.

The Labour Day weekend arrived and 32 boats collected in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Frank Fredette, sealer, boat builder, naval architect and Thermopalyae club member was judge and Honorary Commodore. Pulling boat races were a hit with young and old, sea shanties were sung, Jim Saul played his saw and every body had a great time. One award was given — Best Sail — at a seafood dinner at the White Eagles Hall in James Bay. After much dancing the participants were loaded on to double-decker buses and returned to their boats in the Inner Harbour in front of the Empress hotel.

Over thirty years later the festival, which started as a one-time event, has become an annual event with as many as 100-boats participating from all over the world. The list of awards has risen to over 30. The Best Restored Power and the Best Restored Sail awards have, in particular, shown the incredible dedication of individuals to the preservation of our maritime heritage. Unlike other festivals of its type, the festival is free to the general public thanks to the generous sponsorship of Victoria area REALTORS® (members of the Victoria Real Estate Board) and Black Press. This stability of sponsorship and a close working relationship with the City of Victoria’s other maritime organizations, particularly SALTS and the Maritime Museum of BC, has enabled the festival to become a major event in Victoria’s summer calendar.

The boats start arriving on the Thursday prior to the Labour Day weekend and the festival officially begins on the Friday with the arrival of the Honorary Commodore. A number of the vessels will be open to the public over the weekend in addition to the activity of the smaller boats, motor and steam, running around the harbour. The Sunday morning Sailpast is always a great spectacle.