This September marks 47 years of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s Classic Boat Festival. This on-water community event is the perfect chance to swap stories and bond over timeless nautical craftsmanship.
“It really is a lot of fun,” said Frank Schattauer of Tioga (1954), winner of “Best Overall Sailboat” at the 46th Classic Boat Fest. “It’s great to see all the different types of vessels that show up from all around. The power boats, the work boats, the sail boats, the traditional boats and more modern ones—it’s just wonderful to see the variety.”
For three days in Victoria’s Inner Harbour the public is invited to fawn and drool over the most stunning boats from around the coast. With 60 boats already registered at the time of writing, this year’s festival is shaping up to be something special. Highlights include BC’s oldest sailing ship, Dorothy (1897), the iconic Delta Lifeboat (1944) and the returning champion of “Best Overall Powerboat” Carmelita (1935).
This year’s event takes place September 4 to 6. Each days’ festivities will ring out through the harbour from morning to night, leading to the festival’s grande finale: the Sail Past and Sail Race on Sunday, September 6 at 11:00, best viewed from the Ogden Point Causeway, Clover Point or Fisherman’s Wharf.
Admission is by donation with a suggested donation of $5 a head. Proceeds from the festival go toward funding next year’s event. In years past, the Maritime Museum typically sees around $10,000 over the course of the weekend.
For the museum’s development manager Anya Zanko, a highlight is always the music. “We’ve had some really wonderful maritime bands,” she said at last year’s event. “Every one of them had their own spin on maritime music, but it really captured the spirit of the festival. We had people singing along, clapping along, and with the boats as the background it was magical.”
For others, it’s just the point of gathering that makes it worth the trip. Jess Hickey of Isobar (1962), who has registered again for 2026, said last year, “We get to hangout on a dock with a bunch of beautiful boats with people we know. This is our dock neighbour down in Seattle,” she gestured to the slip behind her, “and this is another friend of a friend that we sail with. It’s enhancing the community.”
Whether you come with your boat or on foot, the event is a highlight and one of the last chances to meet the community before fall and winter sets in. Be sure to find a snack at the Yacht Dogs Café and take part in “enhancing the community.”
