Luxury Guide

Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival

The main site for the Festival is the Mahone Bay Town Wharf and surrounding area although some events may also be scheduled elsewhere throughout the town. The 15th annual Classic Yacht Race will be held on Saturday August 1, 2009. The race is open to a wide variety of boat designs and sizes with a diverse representation of sailing rigs. The race is open to all boats 22 feet LOA and over. It's a fun race with a simple handicap system and simplified racing rules. Previous racing experience is not necessary. The owners of any and all cruising boats are encouraged to enter. The object of this race is to create a spectacle of sailing vessels on Mahone Bay and to allow crews to be part of the festival. The Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival is organized and run by a non-profit society dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich wooden boat heritage of Nova Scotia's South Shore. In the mooring field and tied to the wharf, the Festival grounds are surrounded by beautiful boats. Take a tour through the moorings on our Festival boat, or simply enjoy the atmosphere from the wharf.

Throughout the wharf and Festival grounds and in the tents you will find displays of boats and other nautical artifacts.

There will be many beautiful small craft to be seen, up close and touchable on the wharf during the festival, Cape Island style fishing boats, various style dories, kayaks, punts, skiffs and sea-going duck tubs, some still under construction with their builders standing by.

Boatbuilders are known to be inclined to spin a salty yarn or two with any passers by who may wish to strike up a chat. Who knows? You may be inspired to build a boat yourself!