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Festival History

Festival History

From the big dreams that inspired the very first Festival in 1978, to meeting the next generation of heritage boat enthusiasts on the docks in 2025, we celebrate 46 years of friendships, adventures, and heritage vessels in the Inner Harbour.

1977
Ideas are Born

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1977

Ideas are Born

In the fall of 1977, Victoria was busy planning festivities for the upcoming bicentenary of Captain Cook’s arrival on Vancouver Island (Nootka Sound, 1778). Unfortunately, a struggling provincial economy meant that arts and culture funding were hard to find. Despite this obstacle, a small group, led by Bob Leach of the Sidney Gaffers and Keith Cameron of the Maritime Museum of BC, led a community-wide campaign to secure funds to build a replica of John Mears’ ship, the Northwest America.

It became clear to the group that corporate funds would be needed to build such a replica, however, not in time for the 1978 Captain Cook bi-centennial. However, this small group was determined to celebrate the bicentennial with a display of some kind. Gaining momentum, the group became inspired by the Wooden Boat Festival that had celebrated its first year in Port Townsend. Under the leadership of Bev Highton, President-elect of the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB), and former owner of the schooner Lora Doon, the VREB agreed to sponsor the first Victoria Classic Boat Festival

1978
The First Classic Boat Festival

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1978

The First Classic Boat Festival

The first Festival saw 32 boats in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, overseen by judge and Honorary Commodore Frank Fredette – sealer, boat builder, naval architect, and Thermopylae Club member. Pulling boat races were a hit with young and old, sea shanties were sung, Jim Saul played his saw, and everybody 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.

1989
A Popular Tradition

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1989

A Popular Tradition

Over the first decade, the Festival’s popularity grew to see hundreds of boats sail to Victoria on Labour Day weekend each year for the Classic Boat Festival.

1998
The Festival Continues to Grow

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1998

The Festival Continues to Grow

After the first Festival, the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) considered this to be a community event worthy of ongoing Board sponsorship. The VREB continued to grow the Festival to include a Welcoming Reception, over 30 awards, a dozen judges, a formal Awards Banquet, Classic Open Sail and Schooner Cup Races, and the Sunday Sailpast – all of which are still part of the Festival today.

After two decades of independent sponsorship, the VREB welcomed a new sponsor: the Times Colonist (1998 – 2000).

2001
Black Press

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2001

Black Press

After sponsoring the Festival for two years, Black Press replaced Times Colonist as a presenting sponsor until 2009.

2007
Rowing Regatta

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2007

Rowing Regatta

A Classic Rowing Regatta is scheduled, sponsored by the Gorge Rowing and Paddling Centre.

2010
Canoe Cove Marina and Boatyard

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2010

Canoe Cove Marina and Boatyard

After 3 decades of leadership, the Victoria Real Estate Board and Black Press announced that they were stepping down as the presenting sponsor. The Classic Boat Festival Society is formed, made up of a team of volunteers to find a source of financial support to ensure the Festival’s longevity.

Canoe Cove Marina became a major sponsor along with support from the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and the Maritime Museum of BC, allowing the Festival to continue.

2011
Growing Partnerships

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2011

Growing Partnerships

The Victoria Classic Boat Festival joins forces with the Open Boat Festival in Brentwood Bay, seeing a number of new open boats participating in the Festival.

2017
The Festival is Transferred to the Maritime Museum of BC

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2017

The Festival is Transferred to the Maritime Museum of BC

The Victoria Classic Boat Festival Society officially transferred the Festival over to the Maritime Museum of BC. The vision going forward for the Festival includes a focus on public engagement for a variety of audiences to discover our unique maritime heritage. This year includes several new fun, family-friendly, activities to educate audiences on wooden boats and how they have shaped our maritime culture. What started as a one-time event will surely continue for years to come.

2022
The Festival Returns!

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2022

The Festival Returns!

The Classic Boat Festival returned to the Inner Harbour once more when it was safe to do so. The first year back after the pandemic saw record number of registered boats and general visitors, confirming the value this Festival brings to Victoria and the Inner Harbour every Labour Day weekend.

2023
Canoe Cove Steps Down

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2023

Canoe Cove Steps Down

Canoe Cove Marina and Boatyard stepped down as the presenting sponsor after 12 years of support.

2024
A Pandemic Pause

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2024

A Pandemic Pause

The Classic Boat Festival was on pause for the years 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the health restrictions on in-person gatherings.

Related Posts

Participants Archive

Boats are tagged with the years they attended the Festival. Thank you for your patience as we develop this searchable archive and database.

Vessels

Alcyone

Class Sail
Year Built 1956
Alembic

Alembic

Class Sail
Year Built 1960

Aloha

Class Power
Year Built 1962

Alondra

Class Power
Year Built 1941

Ananda

Class Power
Year Built 1931

Anja

Class Sail
Year Built 2014

Arianna

Class Power
Year Built 1970
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

Belle

Class Power
Year Built 1982
Bianca - Classic Boat Festival

Bianca

Class Power
Year Built 1959

Bruno

Class Power, Power Deck
Year Built 1963, 1991

Burrows

Class Power
Year Built 1993
Michael Tug Buse in Buʔqʷ

Buʔqʷ

Class Human Power
Year Built 2022

Catlin

Class Sail
Year Built 1979

Circe

Class Sail
Year Built 1931

Comrade

Class Power
Year Built 1930

DeAnza

Class Power
Year Built 1954

Dodo

Class Power
Year Built 1934
Archival photo of Dorothy, from the collection of the Maritime Museum of BC

Dorothy

Class Sail
Year Built 1897

Ern

Class Sail
Year Built 1956

Eulalie

Class Sail
Year Built 1946

Fairwyn

Class Sail
Year Built 1957

Faranda

Class Power
Year Built 1937

Faun

Class Power
Year Built 1926
Gikumi

Gikumi

Class Power
Year Built 1954
Gipsy - CBF

Gipsy

Class Sail
Year Built 1932
Glorybe

Glorybe

Class Power
Year Built 1914

Goforth

Class Power
Year Built 1927

Gyrfalcon

Class Power, Power Deck
Year Built 1941

Haven

Class Power
Year Built 2020
SV Helma

Helma

Class Sail
Year Built 1938

Herself

Class Power
Year Built 2002

Isobar

Class Sail
Year Built 1962
Isobel K

Isobel K

Class Power
Year Built 1990–1999
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

Jaguar

Class Power
Year Built 1939

Joshua

Class Sail
Year Built 1980

Jura

Class Sail
Year Built 1978

Luna

Class Sail
Year Built 2012

Lux

Class Sail
Year Built 1980

Madera

Class Power
Year Built 1953

Manitou

Class Power
Year Built 1958

Maranee

Class Power
Year Built 1940

Martha

Class Sail
Year Built 1907

MAX

Class Power
Year Built 1940–1949
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

Meko

Class Power
Year Built 1931

Merva

Class Power
Year Built 1932

MISCHIEF

Class Sail
Year Built 1964, 1982

New Seeker

Class Sail
Year Built 1971, launched – 1971
NOMAD in Port Townsend

Nomad

Class Sail
Year Built 1964
Nootka

NOOTKA

Class Power
Year Built 1957

Oak II

Class Power
Year Built launched – 1952

Olmaha

Class Power
Year Built 1926

Orenda

Class Sail
Year Built 1979

Patamar

Class Power
Year Built 1937

Petrel

Class Power
Year Built 1928

Poem

Class Power
Year Built 1938

Prosecco

Class Power
Year Built 1971, Unknown
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

Puffin

Class Sail
Year Built 1986
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

RIPTIDE

Class Power
Year Built 1927

Romance

Class Power
Year Built 2001 – 2008

Sandpiper

Class Human Power
Year Built 1980

Sannox

Class Power
Year Built 1920
Saravan

Saravan

Class Power
Year Built 1938

Silvana

Class Sail
Year Built 1937, 1997

Skoal

Class Sail
Year Built 1939

Sockeye

Class Power
Year Built 1944

Sue

Class Power
Year Built 1961

Suellen

Class Power
Year Built 1951
Streetview of the Maritime Museum of BC

Teal

Class Power
Year Built 1927

Tioga

Class Sail
Year Built 1954

Trekka

Class Sail
Year Built 1954

Trine

Class Sail
Year Built 1941
Tsona

Tsona

Class Power
Year Built 1950

Varya

Class Sail
Year Built 1940

Waxwing

Class Sail
Year Built 1975-1982

Windsong

Class Sail
Year Built 1946, 1964

YDT II

Class Power
Year Built 1961

Zella C

Class Power
Year Built 1927

Judges

Honorary Commodores