Parade of Sail

Dedication Boat

Every year, the Parade of Sail is led by the Dedication Boat.

The Classic Boat Festival Committee is proud to present Seneca as our 2008 Dedication Boat. Seneca is a completely restored 1907 Herreshoff design 46' P-Class racing sailboat. She was originally built for the Rochester NY Yacht Club to compete in the Canada's Cup in the early 1900s. She won. But now she calls Nova Scotia her home and is a welcome new addition to the Chester Classic Fleet.

We are thrilled to welcome the Chester Classic Fleet to the Festival this year. The collective ambition of the Classic Fleet is to encourage the restoration and preservation of classic wooden sailing vessels along the Nova Scotia South Shore and to promote racing, socialization, and enjoyment among all those who sail and love them. The Fleet refers to a "Classic" as any boat built prior to 1965. Locally, this includes the Chester Cs, P-Class, Q-Class and IODs. Chester is the only location of an IOD fleet (Norwegian-designed wooden International One Design) in Canada. Other fleets are located in the US, Scotland, Bermuda, Norway and Sweeden. Chester's fleet includes the beautiful Mighty Mo, Elida, La Diva, Zephyr, War Baby and Ibis. Look for some of these boats out in the harbour during the Festival.

Representatives of Seneca will be on board throughout the Festival to talk about the restoration of this beautiful historic sailboat. The boat will be moored at the In-Water Boat Show during the Festival and will available for those who wish to have a closer inspection.



Dedication Boat
Ceremonial launch of Seneca (partway to complete restoration) at Gold River Marina, August 2007.
Photo: Shelli Stevens