At long last, 1897 sailing vessel Dorothy returned home at the Classic Boat Festival. Built in J. J. Robinson’s boatyard on Montreal Street in the Inner Harbour, she triumphantly sailed back on August 29 after a summer of touring festivals, regattas, and youth sailing programs on the Salish Sea.
That was only the beginning of Dorothy‘s weekend adventures!
Sail Past and Sail Race
SV Dorothy (centre) joins the Sail Race. Photo courtesy of James Holkko.
During the traditional Sunday Sail Past and Sail Race, Dorothy showed off what won her the prestigious Classic Boat Award for Best Restored Sail Boat back in the Spring (administered by UK-based Classic Boat Magazine). She looked marvellous out on the water! With her refit begun by artist and shipwright Tony Grove and continued by volunteers at the Ladysmith Maritime Society led by boatwright and Dorothy historian Robert Lawson, she also claimed the Best Restored Sailboat Award at the Festival.
Host to Artists Aboard Program
Artist Janet Moore paints en plein air aboard Dorothy.
New to the Classic Boat Festival, four artists in the inaugural Artists Aboard Program cohort roamed the docks to sketch and paint en plein air. Their interpretations of the vessels and the Festival will be on display for a special Artists’ Showcase in the Maritime Museum of BC gallery on October 20.
One of their perches was aboard Dorothy! Artists Liz Charsley, Richard Linzey, Janet Moore, and Richard Linzey got a few hours each taking in the view from the deck. Dorothy had interpretative volunteers all weekend long to chat with visitors about her mid-life refit, and her long history in Victoria and on the Salish Sea.
Dorothy, meet Dorothy!
Dorothy Zimmerman and Angus Matthews sail Dorothy in Cadboro Bay.
Dorothy Zimmerman, a 96-year-old Dorothy superfan who has been following our refit project from afar, made the voyage from Minneapolis to Victoria specifically to see Dorothy return to the Classic Boat Festival. A member of the Northern Lights Sailing Club, Dorothy met Dorothy at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club with Angus and Sandy Matthews, who have been Dorothy’s primary ambassadors this summer at clubs, regattas, and festivals along the coast. Both Dorothys sailed together in Cadboro Bay—an incredible testament to the narrative and emotional pull of the ongoing Dorothy story.
What You Can Do for Dorothy
Dorothy‘s mid-life refit, ongoing summer operations, and endowment fund are supported by generous sponsors and many individual donors. You can be a Dorothy supporter; donate below! To donate to Dorothy‘s endowment fund, please contact us at info@mmbc.bc.ca.
We are grateful for the support of:
