Music by the Sea

Music by the Sea (MBTS) is an eclectic nine-day music festival in the small community of Bamfield that features some of the world’s finest classical and jazz musicians who perform in a natural setting that has no equal: the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island.

For the past several years, flotillas of BCA, RVYC and OCC cruisers have sailed to Bamfield (some arriving by land yacht) to take in the festival, enjoy a mini-rendezvous, and explore Barkley Sound.  This year, the festival’s 10th anniversary is no different.

A flotilla is being coordinated by Marianne and David Scott, Royal Victoria Yacht Club.  Boats can travel together from Victoria or meet up with the flotilla in Barkley Sound.  The first unofficial rendezvous takes place July 1-4 in Turtle Island Bay anchorage, with everyone moving to Bamfield or Grappler inlets on the 4th, arriving in time for the first concert.  Throughout the week, there are opportunities for happy hour onboard various boats, and community-hosted events on shore.  Please use VHF channel 72 for the flotilla throughout the cruise.

MBTS founder and Executive Artistic Director, Christopher Donison, will provide each member of the flotilla – and other boaters joining them – with a $10/ticket discount on concert tickets AND will present each yacht with a commemorative MBTS burgee.

• Tickets: Music By The Sea website. You can pay with PayPal or any of the standard credit cards. Or you can phone 250 888 7772.
• For details about the proposed schedule from Royal Victoria Yacht Club, please email David or Marianne.
• For more background about the festival itself, check out this article in Pacific Yachting from 2013.