For over three decades, Victoria Inner Harbour has played host to an 香蕉视频直播渆xhilarating adrenaline-pumping香蕉视频直播� show 香蕉视频直播� all performed at the rather modest speed of six nautical miles per hour.

The stars of the spectacle are five Victoria Harbour Ferry pickle boats and their captains, who gather on the water opposite the Empress Hotel to perform a carefully synchronized water ballet.

香蕉视频直播淚 often tell passengers we're like the Snowbirds, except they're at 600 knots 香蕉视频直播� we香蕉视频直播檙e at six,香蕉视频直播� says John Palmer, who is entering his second season with the water ballet.

First created in 1990, inspired by the RCMP Musical Ride 香蕉视频直播� a troop of up to 32 police officers on horseback who perform intricate formations and drills set to music  香蕉视频直播� Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 water taxi ballet has become a much-loved local tradition and also 香蕉视频直播渨orld famous香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� so they say.

香蕉视频直播淪elf-proclaimed,香蕉视频直播� jokes Palmer.

But while the five captains are quick to poke fun at themselves, the ballet is a serious business.

Between 60 to 100 hours of training are needed before a captain is given the green light to join the 香蕉视频直播榙ancing香蕉视频直播� troupe.

香蕉视频直播淚t takes absolute focus,香蕉视频直播� says Paul Thomas, who has been with the ballet six years and the company eight.

Even those well-practiced need time to rehearse. Before performances resume in May for the summer season, captains attend at least three training sessions; a dozen 香蕉视频直播渁t least香蕉视频直播� for those new to the team.

And rehearsals are also held on the morning of each show, under the watchful eye of Stan Huston, who has been the ballet captain lead for eight years 香蕉视频直播� a 香蕉视频直播榬egular香蕉视频直播� captain for 12 years.

香蕉视频直播淚t's basically my 香蕉视频直播榬aison d'锚tre香蕉视频直播� for being involved with Harbour Ferry,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭his is more fun than barreling monkeys, truly. It's the most fun we have all week.香蕉视频直播�

Huston describes the ballet as a 香蕉视频直播渟eries of maneuvers in close confines,香蕉视频直播� sometimes travelling only six inches apart, performed to music for 13 minutes.

香蕉视频直播淪o I'm the monkey in the middle and the guys on the outside are coordinating their moves 香蕉视频直播� but they don't do anything until they get a command from me,香蕉视频直播� he explains.

However, the music is not as important as some might think.

香蕉视频直播淲e're not coordinating our moves to the music,香蕉视频直播� says Huston. 香蕉视频直播淚t's incidental to what we're doing.香蕉视频直播�

Which comes in handy when things go slightly off beat.

香蕉视频直播淭here's no way, even if we get out of sync a little bit for whatever reason 香蕉视频直播� we can't stop,香蕉视频直播� says Huston. 香蕉视频直播淲e do it no matter what happens. If the music stops, we don香蕉视频直播檛."

While Huston says they have never had an orca join in, there have been boat failures, and he cites floating plastic bags in the harbour as one of the biggest risks to smooth sailing.

香蕉视频直播淚f you wrap one around your prop, you're done,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚t just stalls the boat."

Risks and hazards aside, the team strive to make each show one to remember for the watching crowds.

香蕉视频直播淭here are lots of moving parts, but it's fun at the end to see the smiles on the faces of the people that are watching and know that we've given them a really special show,香蕉视频直播� says Palmer.

For Thomas, who admits the captains can be their own worst critics, nothing beats the feeling when they 香蕉视频直播渘ail香蕉视频直播� a show in front of a big crowd.

香蕉视频直播淲e know when we've done a good show, because we know how it should be 香蕉视频直播� the crowd probably doesn't realize it,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it香蕉视频直播檚 great knowing that people have really enjoyed it.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 not just the audience who get a buzz from the ballet; it香蕉视频直播檚 the captains too, who enjoy the sense of camaraderie that comes with the role.

香蕉视频直播淚 was in the Royal Canadian Navy for 25 years, so I'm always striving to be part of a team,香蕉视频直播� says Palmer, who adds he also 香蕉视频直播渇oolishly香蕉视频直播� thought the ballet would help boost his skills as a captain for his day job.

香蕉视频直播淭here's really not very much we do in the ballet that converts to what we do in regular service,香蕉视频直播� he continues. 香蕉视频直播淲e're not driving our boats six inches apart and doing manoeuvres really fast 香蕉视频直播� we香蕉视频直播檙e making nice, even slow movements for our passengers.香蕉视频直播�

Looking ahead to the season, Palmer says the team is determined to deliver performances that will make both Victoria Harbour Ferry and the City of Victoria proud.

香蕉视频直播淲e hope people will come out and enjoy our performances and acknowledge what the captains have done,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淲e're really here for the people to enjoy themselves 香蕉视频直播� and it's absolutely free and there's not a lot in life that's free.香蕉视频直播�

Victoria Harbour Ferry water ballet performances run from May through to September on select dates, starting at 10.30 a.m. The best spot to view the water ballet is at Ship Point in the Inner Harbour.

For more information, visit the Victoria Harbour Ferry website: .