General Information

Entrance Criteria

The Festival is open to well-maintained vessels of traditional construction built to a classic design. The Festival Committee reserves the right to restrict entry.

Registration

Pre-registration is mandatory for all vessels that wish to be judged for awards categories.
Pre-registration and purchase of dinner tickets also guarantees your seat at the Awards Banquet. General registrations are accepted right up to the Festival. You can print off a Registration From from this site then complete and return it along with your registration fee. Post-dated cheques are not accepted. We will again be offering an Early Bird Pre-Registration Draw. The winner of the draw will receive a refund of their registration fee at the Awards Banquet on Sunday evening. In order to qualify for the draw, pre-registration is required by June 30.

2010 Resgistration Form currently not available

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On Arrival

The Registration Desk will be located in the Peden RV Centre’s RV in the parking lot west of Milestone’s restaurant on the Lower Causeway. As usual, for added safety first-aid coordinators will cruise the docks (look for the red jackets). Their base of operations will also be in the Peden RV.

We appreciate your usual courtesy, co-operation and patience while our energetic harbour control organizes docking. (Festival Wharfinger Radio Contact: VHF 68).

Pick up your registration kit and participant ribbons at the Registration Desk, from 1200 hrs to 1800 hrs Friday, September 04, and Saturday, September 05 from 1200 hrs to 1700 hrs. All boats on the main fingers are asked to dock stern to the Empress Hotel.

Federal Government Harbour Master

VHF Channel 68

Washrooms/Showers & Laundry

Available at the Harbour Authority facility, 945 Wharf (white building/blue door) adjacent to West Coast Air and the Customs Dock.
Access code: to be announced .

Washrooms also available at the back of the building adjacent to Milestone’s restaurant (open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m).

Please Note

Please note: there is no reserved docking, and “For Sale” signs or “Charter” signs are not permitted.
Space is always at a premium and the Festival Wharfinger will determine final location of all vessels. Simply arriving first does NOT guarantee dockside.

Awards Banquet - Sunday, September 06

The Festival Awards Banquet will be held at Hotel Grand Pacific
463 Belleville Street
Click for Details & Menu

How to get to the Awards Banquet:

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Festival Highlights

Official start to the Festival
Friday at noon in the Inner Harbour.

Welcoming Reception
the Friday Reception will be held from 1800hrs to 2000hrs at the Maritime Museum of BC in Bastion Square – just a short walk up Government Street from the Inner Harbour. Hoist a glass of good cheer and exchange yarns with your mates. Please wear your "Participant" ribbon.

Classic Rowing Regatta
10 a.m. - noon
The boats will launch from the Gorge Rowing and Paddling Club starting the race just before the Gorge Narrows and finishing at the Undersea Gardens.

Steamboat Parade
See the unique steamboats cruise the Gorge Waterway on Saturday from 1400 hrs onwards.

Sailpast
The weekend's highlight! Sunday, September 06. All participants cast off at 1045 hrs., file out of the Inner Harbour, and parade past the Salute Vessel to take the salute of the Honorary Commodore. Please attend the Skippers' meeting Sunday at 0900 hrs. on the Lower Causeway for details. Learn more about the sailpast.

Races
Schooner, Classic Open and one Design races. Please attend the Skippers' meeting Sunday at 0900 hrs. on the Lower Causeway for details. Starts for the races will sound following the Sailpast.

One Design Race includes Sailorettes, Folkboats, Cubs, 6-Metres, 8-Metres, Stars, Blanchard Knockabouts, Spitzgatters, Concordias, etc. A minimum of four boats is required to compete. Please advise the Race Committee in writing if you have a One-Design vessel for this race.

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Favourites

Costumes
Show off your own classic outfit! There will be an award for the best-dressed crew.

Festival Poster
Pick up a copy of thus year’s festival poster at the registration desk.

Vancouver Island Blues Bash
A weekend of blues music in all shades for your soul! This annual festival presents performances of blues and R&B by regional and international bands. Free performances will take place in the afternoons at Ships Point in the Inner Harbour. There will also be paid admission evening performances at Ships Point and various downtown Victoria clubs.

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