Save the tall-ships festival

The last time the Victoria Tall Ships Society staged a tall-ships festival, it brought in an estimated $5.8 million to the local economy. But more important than the money was the opportunity for locals and visitors to connect with the Island’s maritime past and to experience firsthand the beauty of these elegant sailing ships.

The future of the tall-ships festival, though, is not bright. The society has dissolved due to a lack of funds.

Finding the means to fund future festivals would be a worthwhile endeavour.

The society organized the first festival in 2005 and the second in 2008. The events brought about two dozen ships to Victoria where people were allowed to come aboard and get hands-on lessons in maritime history.

Victoria was the first port of call for the travelling spectacle that was the 2008 Tall Ships Challenge. The traditionally rigged sailing vessels were crewed by young people in programs organized by the American Sail Training Association.

Apart from training, one of the association’s goals was preserving North America’s maritime history, which makes the festival a natural fit here. After all, the sea has been part of Island life from the time of the first inhabitants. And James Douglas debarked from a tall ship, the Beaver, to build a fort near what is now Wharf Street in June 1843, laying the cornerstone for our community and our province.

It would be a shame and a loss if the ships did not return.