Maritime Museum of BC brings historic vessels to Victoria’s docks
July 12, 2018
Midnight Sun by John MacFarlane
This coming Labour Day Weekend (Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 2, 2018) sees the return of The Victoria Classic Boat Festival to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Over a hundred boats are expected to descend on Victoria and visitors are welcome to tour the docks to view these historic vessels.
The Victoria Classic Boat Festival (August 31 – September 2), will feature WWII-era boats on display, a special floating exhibit, activities, and events surrounding the role of BC’s fishing vessels, yachts, and shipyards that played an important role on the “home front” of WW2.
John MacFarlane, Honourary Commodore of Victoria Classic Boat Festival 2018 and Curator of the Nauticapedia provides this history of Midnight Sun.
The Midnight Sun, the lead vessel at this year’s Festival, is an example of a vessel that served on patrol for the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. The vessel was built in 1938 by the Pacific Salvage Co. Ltd. and was converted and rebuilt in 2005 as a yacht. In 1938-1944, the boat was owned by the Friendly Cove Boat Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1942, the vessel was acquired by the Royal Canadian Air Force for service in the Western Air Command Marine Squadron with Pendant Number M-425. In 1943, during wartime the boat sank in the Queen Charlotte Islands due to an explosion but was later salvaged and repaired.
In 1945-1961 the vessel was owned by the Canadian Fishing Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC and in 1962-1972, was owned by Midnight Sun Boat Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1973-1993 the boat purchased by Floe Fishing Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1994-1997, the vessel was owned by Pacific Faith Fishing Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 2001, the boat was purchased by CPS Construction Positioning Systems Ltd., Surrey BC. In 2003, ownership was transferred to David H. Doig, Vancouver BC.
The Victoria Classic Boat Festival is operated by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. All funds raised through the Festival go to support the educational programs and exhibits, and its mission to promote and preserve BC’s maritime experience and heritage.
