22 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

Anyone checking any of these out (OK, you can't check out the Stennis, but you can go look at it from afar)?



3,200 sailors heading our way
U.S. aircraft carrier to bring cash windfall to Victoria shops
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Font: * * * * Rob Shaw, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, August 05, 2006
A visit by a U.S. navy aircraft carrier is expected to bring 3,200 sailors to the city -- and a shot in the arm for the local economy.

The USS John C. Stennis is scheduled to drop anchor off Esquimalt Harbour from Monday to Thursday.

The nuclear-powered, 24-storey warship is taller than Victoria's highest building, with a flight deck almost two hectares in size.

The USS Stennis sailors will come with wallets full of cash. Local merchants are dusting off their cash registers, preparing to ring in what is estimated to be a more than $600,000 windfall for the local economy.

The ship's nine-squadron air wing, made up of more than 80 fighter jets, will not make the trip. That reduces the crew complement from around 5,500 to about 3,200.

"The people who are on board the ship and have gone [to Victoria] before talk about how great it is, how beautiful it is, and how much fun they have," said Lieut. John Perkins, a media officer on the USS Stennis.

The USS Stennis crew is ready for some relaxation and recreation after a seven-week intensive training period off the southern coast of California, said Perkins.

The carrier will travel to Victoria from its home port of Bremerton, Wash.

Tourism and business groups trumpet the economic windfall each time such a large ship visits. The crew and family of the USS Stennis will fill local hotels, restaurants, bars, golf courses and even the cigar stores.

"It's a big deal, and we certainly want them to know we like them coming here, and we want them to return," said Lorne Whyte, president and CEO of Tourism Victoria.

Tourism Victoria staff have been on-board the USS Stennis for the past three days, handing out brochures and helping plan trips, said Whyte.

The USS Stennis will not be open for public tours. Boaters around Esquimalt harbour, between Saxe Point and Albert Head, should be aware of a 500-metre security zone around the ship.

The last carrier to visit Victoria was the USS Abraham Lincoln in July 2004. The USS Stennis also stopped here earlier in 2004.

[Mike K.]

$5 says another sailor falls over the infamous Boom Boom railing.

[Jarrod]

I'm not going to see the Snowbirds as they used to practise over my high school in Courtenay because they train up in the Comox Valley...

...

[VicHockeyFan]

Plus they only go 115mph for some of their manoueveres, and for gosh sakes, I did that on a motorcycle down Douglas once (true story).

[Gregory Hartnell]

+++

The City of Victoria should take over control of the Victoria Harbour Authority.

Nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ship visits should be banned from the Port of Victoria.

+++

[Mike K.]

Mr. Hartnell, the Port of Victoria /= Esquimalt Harbour.

[FunkyMunky]

3,200 sailors heading our way

Well, I can see I'm not gonna get much sleep this week.

[G-Man]

No this is an old thread they aren't coming right now.

[TheVisionary]

+++

The City of Victoria should take over control of the Victoria Harbour Authority.

Nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ship visits should be banned from the Port of Victoria.

+++

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Nuclear powered, diesel powered or powered by rubber bands doesn't matter to me as long as they show me...us the money. Money talks, bullshit walks.

As for the other person who said drunk sailors cut back on her sleep, there's plenty of time for sleep when you are newly wed, or beyond nearly dead. A colleague said Victoria is not a great party town because the newly wed and nearly dead are all "home in bed".

I miss big cities parties like in Calgary, Vancouver, LA, Hong Kong, Las Vegas. It was so exciting going back to my room with my buddies all partied out and boozed up, after the casino. Then the female companionship isn't bad either.

I guess there are a few things I value: making money and having fun with cool people, prefereably with fat wallets, cheque books, credit cards. 8) :-D

[Number Six]

:smt015

[Holden West]

Here is my prediction.

When you are sixty years old you will sit back in your marble house, champagne glass in hand, admiring the luxury cars in your driveway. You will think of the wealth and power you have accumulated. The people you crushed on the way to the top. The relationships you sacrificed. You will look back on your climb to the top and think of the people who now choose to associate with you. As you examine the fine crystal in your hand a cold, empty chill will wash over you. Your footsteps echo as you walk to the picture window overlooking your empty acreage. And you will weep.

[Ms. B. Havin]

^ ...and whisper "Rosebud..." as the glass falls from your hand...

Well, either that, or you'll drop dead at age 29 from a STD.

:wink:

[Caramia]

I'm going with Ms. B Havin's option. Or you might discover that all those rich famous people have as much distate for greed and boastfulness as anyone else, and that if anything taste, tact and class are pre-requisits to admission to the ranks of the powerful, while in-your-face sliminess is a one way street to becoming a dime-a-dozen used car salesman, with a toupe, nothing more.

[TheVisionary]

Nah, I don't want to be a used car salesman; I'd rather be a used condo salesman, more bucks. Fortunately for me, all (most) of my male ancestors don't seem to have the "bald head, hair loss" gene. My chances of being toupe free are good. I don't do drugs and always keep my myself wrapped in latex sheath; my odds of catching anything is greatly reduced.

Go ahead, "Eat, Drink, Be Merry, for tomorrow you will die!"-Julius Caesar (?), Roman Republic Dictator. Perhaps this quote was from some other Roman, person of high rank, don't remember which one.

[m0nkyman]

Here is my prediction.

When you are sixty years old you will sit back in your marble house, champagne glass in hand, admiring the luxury cars in your driveway. You will think of the wealth and power you have accumulated. The people you crushed on the way to the top. The relationships you sacrificed. You will look back on your climb to the top and think of the people who now choose to associate with you. As you examine the fine crystal in your hand a cold, empty chill will wash over you. Your footsteps echo as you walk to the picture window overlooking your empty acreage. And you will weep.

Naah. I plan on sitting on my front stoop, twelve gauge shotgun laying on my lap, in a rocking chair, taking pot shots at door to door salesmen....

[TheVisionary]

Here is my prediction.

When you are sixty years old you will sit back in your marble house, champagne glass in hand, admiring the luxury cars in your driveway. You will think of the wealth and power you have accumulated. The people you crushed on the way to the top. The relationships you sacrificed. You will look back on your climb to the top and think of the people who now choose to associate with you. As you examine the fine crystal in your hand a cold, empty chill will wash over you. Your footsteps echo as you walk to the picture window overlooking your empty acreage. And you will weep.

Naah. I plan on sitting on my front stoop, twelve gauge shotgun laying on my lap, in a rocking chair, taking pot shots at door to door salesmen....

==================================================

That is just so funny! It reminds of the Beverly Hill Billies, movie and the classic tv show! They are billionaire country hick rednecks moved to Beverly Hills (LA) California.

[Holden West]

Maybe we could name this thread "Harbour Events"?

Tall Ships II coming to Victoria

By Brennan Clarke
Victoria News
Dec 01 2006

On the heels of a successful first run, the Victoria Tall Ships Society has unveiled plans to host a second Tall Ships Festival 18 months from now.

Society director Bernard Brown said this week the American Sail Training Association has agreed to bring the unique array of schooners and brigantines back to the Inner Harbour in 2008.

“The festival is held on the West Coast once every three years, and since we had it last, we had first right of refusal,” Brown said. “There are some economic spinoffs which are really significant for the local tourism industry.”

In 2005, close to 30 of the vintage vessels anchored in Victoria’s harbour, drawing 38,000 visitors and generating $5.2 million worth of business for the local economy.

Long lineups and confusion over boarding passes marred the opening of the four-day festival, but Brown said with the benefit of hindsight those aren’t expected to resurface.

“An event like this is going to draw a crowd,” he said. “If you didn’t have a crowd, you’d have a financial problem.”

About half the people who attended in 2005 came from out of town, Brown added.

As it turned out, the Tall Ships Society posted a “modest profit” in the wake of Tall Ships 2005.

It’s unlikely the roster of ships will be exactly the same as 2005, but many crews have expressed a desire to come back after having a positive experience the first time around.

“It sort of depends on which ones happen to be (on the West Coast) at the time, but we’ve heard a number of them will be interested in returning,” Brown said. “A lot of the crews had an excellent time here.”

Tall Ships 2005 also featured nightly entertainment along Ship Point, a range of children’s activities, a bustling craft market and artists working with maritime themes.

While planning is in the early stages, Brown said no major changes are anticipated for 2008.

“We want to keep it as a family oriented, affordable event,” he said.

The 2005 ticket prices were $5 a day to take part in on-shore activities and $15 a day for boarding passes.

mailto:bclarke@vicnews.com

[aastra]

Calgary, Vancouver, LA, Hong Kong, Las Vegas...

Seriously, what on earth is Calgary doing in this list??

Including Vancouver was a stretch. Including Calgary is just silly.

[jaylow]

having never been to calgary, i ask, does it have more "big cities parties" than victoria does? if so, then what he says, in context to himself missing "party towns" is correct, to some degree, no?

[Phil McAvity]

With the exception of Hong Kong, I have been to each of those cities at least twice and i can assure that no city parties per capita, like Las Vegas. Not even Moose Jaw.

I like this thread! It's cool to have a thread for **** going on around town that isn't really advertised or posted anywhere else.