ItB次元官网网址檚 rare that you wonB次元官网网址檛 find Bill Noon on the water.
With a lifelong passion for history and boats, the Victoria native will return as a judge for the this weekend in the Inner Harbour.
And with 36 years of Coast Guard experience, Noon knows what heB次元官网网址檚 talking about.
The ship captain will sail his own schooner, the Messenger III, inherited from his father-in-law, down to the docks of the Empress Hotel to join 76 other wooden vessels on display. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always a different mix of boats,B次元官网网址� Noon says.
B次元官网网址淪ome years we see more sailboats than power boats. This year there will be a few converted commercial fishing boats.B次元官网网址�
As the festival celebrates 40 years, it has seen steady growth and this year, the Maritime Museum is on board.
Along with the two-day showcase along the Inner Harbour, the museum at 634 Humboldt St. near the event will host some new events for kids, including pirate school and boat building workshops.
New to the festival this year is a showcase of retired boats from the Ex-Forest Service Vessel Squadron. B次元官网网址淭hey used to patrol the coast for all the forestry work,B次元官网网址� Noon explains. B次元官网网址淣ow itB次元官网网址檚 all done by helicopters and airplanes. They had quite the fleet that they lived and worked aboard.B次元官网网址�
The boats will open for public viewing Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, at 11 a.m. sharp, the boats will weigh anchor and embark on the annual Sailpast. More than 70 vessels will leave the Inner Harbour to cruise along the water to Ogden Point, quite the sight to see according to Noon.
The weekend culminates in an awards ceremony recognizing everything from the Master Disaster, for the most embarrassing event of the weekend, to an award for the boat that travels the greatest distance. Past winners have come from as far away as Europe and Asia.
B次元官网网址淓very boatB次元官网网址檚 got an amazing story,B次元官网网址� Noon says.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all fairly old vessels, so thereB次元官网网址檚 always lots of interesting stories there.B次元官网网址�
