The festival was wonderful. le Vent du Nord was a huge hit, and a revelation for me, as I hadn't heard them before. they perform some of the most energetic, joyous music I've ever heard; just irresistible. The band members are very much in the spirit of what the festival is all about. They are full of life and energy, inviting listeners to get up and dance, the button accordionist/stepdancer coming offstage to quickly teach a simple, basic step, leading a long line of people weaving around the lighthlouse point area. Their joyous approach to their music and their joy just being at the festival was infectious.
I agree with Sol Zeller that The Johnson Girls are sounding better and better (and were excellent to begin with). They are now clearly (IMHO) one of the great sea music groups on the world stage.
For me, it was also a chance to reunite with friends and former colleagues who used to be rangers at SF Maritime National Historical Park. Former rangers and SF chantey sing leaders Celeste Bernardo and Revell Carr were on the program. Revell is doing some pioneering doctoral work in ethnomusicology, and delivered a paper on musical contacts between Pacific Islanders and whalemen. It was Stan Hugill's contention that the chantey John Kanaka is the only surviving example of Pacific Island/whalemen musical mixing in chanteying. It is Revell's contention that there is more that survives, and he is immersing himself in this study. Stay tuned! Celeste is a very strong singer, as ever. She gracioiusly invited Revell, myself, and former SF chantey sing regular Greg Bullough to join her at her Fishtown Chapel solo gig. It was like old times, singing with them.
Always great to see louis Killen, Jerry Bryant, John Roberts (John Roberts did M.C. duties as well as performing), and local bay area heroes Holdstock and Macleod, and Carol Holdstock.
Saw Charley Noble, MMario, and, at the aforementioned Fishtown gig, saw a man in the audience with a mudcat T-shirt, who's moniker, if I remember correctly, when I asked him, is Just Another Dave.
Barry Finn was greatly missed. Barry, if you're reading this, I hope you're well! I kept Hard Times In old Virginia going at the sessions in your abscence.
   Was their a lowlight to this festival that stood out like a sore thumb?

Yes: it ended. :-).

Chanteyranger