The Maritime Museum of BC’s 46th Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival Returns to the Inner Harbour

An incredible Festival awaits! Joshua painting by Richard Linzey.

May 6, 2025

About the Victoria Classic Boat Festival

Now in its 46th year, the Classic Boat Festival, run by the Maritime Museum of BC, returns to the Inner Harbour this Labour Day Weekend, from 29 – 31 August 2025.

Thanks to community support from the City of Victoria, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd., Abernethy & Gaudin Boatbuilders Ltd., and the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling & Croquet Club, more than eighty classic vessels will be viewable by the public on the docks, along with live music, artists, and museum programming.

This beloved festival is now open to boater registrations, with a link available on the MMBC’s website.

The Victoria Classic Boat Festival is a spectacular annual gathering of vessels of a Classic design, both new and old, power and sail. Vessels attend from all over the Pacific Northwest, with the occasional visiting vessel from distant oceans. Each year during the Labour Day Weekend, approximately 10,000 visitors tour the docks and the boats on display. The public is invited to view the boats while they are moored at the Inner Harbour docks. Many owners generously offer tours of their boats.

Bill Noon, Marine Operations Head, noted that “the Pacific Northwest is blessed with an enormous number of traditional boats – from sailboats, to workboats, to cruisers. The Festival began in 1977 with the idea that our maritime heritage must not only be preserved, but also celebrated. The Festival’s open docks, events, and activities serve to engage our community and visitors on our maritime history, culture, and its ongoing story. ”

What’s Ahead for 2025
i-Land Fest and Classic Boat Festival at Ship Point
The Inner Harbour will be filled all weekend long with not one, but two festivals: i-Land Fest, Victoria’s Caribbean Carnival operated by the Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub will run in the Enterprise Wharf and on Ship Point Wharf showcasing music, dance, art, and cuisine. The Maritime Museum of BC will join i-Land’s vendor market at the Ship Point gate with a museum programming tent.

SV Dorothy Returns!
The Maritime Museum of BC’s 1897 heritage sailboat Dorothy will be attending the Classic Boat Festival this year. Dorothy was honoured last year at the Classic Boat Awards, administered by UK-based Classic Boat Magazine, with a win in the Best Restored Vessel under 40 ft category.

Sail Past and Sail Races
Participating vessels will join the annual “Sail Past” and Race on Sunday, August 31. The modern day “sail past” tradition began at the first yacht club that was formed in England nearly 200 years ago. It was first introduced as a continuation of the naval habit of having Admirals and Royalty review the fleet on special occasions. The Festival’s tradition is similar, however, the Honourary Commodore, instead of the Admiral, receives the salute. Spectators can head out to watch the parade of ships and races from Victoria Waterfront on Sunday afternoon.

The Honourary Commodore for the 2025 Festival is William E Harpster. His wonderful vessel Joshua, depicted on the festival poster by artist Richard Linzey, is a replica of Joshua Slocum’s famous circumnavigating sailboat Spray.

Artists Aboard Program
Four maritime artists join the Victoria Classic Boat Festival as our Artists Aboard! You will see them from shaded perches and Festival boat decks throughout the weekend, to capture the spirit, excitement, and marvellous heritage boats of the Festival.

**SV Dorothy at the docks. Image Courtesy of James Holkko.**

We welcome artists Peter Loebel, Susan Pearson, Meg Randall, and Kathleen Schmalz to the 2025 Festival.

An Artists’ Showcase day will follow at the Maritime Museum of BC on 19 October 2025, where the public can view the finished works, meet the artists, and purchase art.

Music Program
We are delighted to announce our performance lineup for 2025. Performers include: MMBC’s Salty Singers, the Hounds of Cuchulain, Bilgewater, Michael Wilford and Joshua Litton, and Jordan Matchett.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The Maritime Museum of BC is delighted to announce the application period is now open for the Abernethy & Gaudin Boatbuilders Ltd. Young Boaters Scholarship and the Maritime Museum of BC Boat Bursary, to help improve access to the Festival.

Both will cover registration and four days of moorage at the Festival, two tickets to the Friday night opening reception and two tickets to the Awards Banquet on Sunday.

Maritime Museum of BC Executive Director Brittany Vis said, “we want the next generation of young boaters to join the Festival and continue this 46-year tradition in the Inner Harbour. Providing this support will ensure the Victoria Classic Boat Festival continues for the next 45 years.”

Boaters under 40 are invited to apply to the Young Boaters Scholarship; the Boat Bursary is open to all. Applications are due by May 30, 2025, and will be reviewed by the VCBF Committee. Only one scholarship and one bursary will be awarded per year. Previous holders of both may apply again, but not in consecutive years.

Apply via the same Boater Registration portal as boaters, selecting “Scholarship and Bursary Application”.

Many thanks to Abernethy & Gaudin Boatbuilders Ltd. for supporting the Young Boaters Scholarship.

Info for the Public and Boaters

The Maritime Museum of BC is excited to welcome boaters back for the 2025 Victoria Classic Boat Festival. Registration is open to vessels of Classic design and Traditional construction. Unique vessels of maritime interest are considered by invitation only.

Contact info@mmbc.bc.ca for more information about vessels.

To register for the festival boaters can visit the Festival’s webpage.

Registration Costs

Up to 19’ – $185.00
20’ – 30’ – $243.00
31’ – 45’ – $278.00
46’ – 59’ – $312.00
60’ – 80’ – $335.00
Beyond 80’ – $358.00

Cost includes four nights moorage and a boater registration package. Event tickets are not included in registration and must be purchased separately.

Date: 29 – 31 August, 2025
Location: Victoria’s downtown Inner Harbour
Cost: Open by donation
Website: Classic Boat Festival – The Maritime Museum of BC

BC Marine Search and Rescue Responder Duncan Peacock wins 12th Annual Tim Jones Award

By Mathew Channer

Duncan Peacock, resident of Kitimat BC and member of Kitimat Marine Search and Rescue and RCMSAR Unit 63, has been awarded the 12^th annual Tim Jones Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Outdoor Community in British Columbia.

Peacock has been a member of Kitimat Marine Search and Rescue and RCMSAR Unit 63 for 31 years, making him one of the longest-serving members in the province.

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