2022 Star Island Gosport Regatta to set sail from Portsmouth Harbor

Portsmouth Herald
·2 min read

ISLES OF SHOALS — The 2022 Star Island Gosport Regatta will take place Sunday, Sept. 18. The storied sailing race is organized by the Piscataqua Sailing Association in conjunction with Star Island to benefit both nonprofit organizations.

A photo from the Shoals Regatta circa 1875
A photo from the Shoals Regatta circa 1875

The Gosport Regatta has a rich history with the first race held back in 1874. Today, the race is open to sailboats in four classes of competition, and the public is welcome to purchase spectator tickets to watch the race from the deck of the M/V Thomas Laighton out of Portsmouth as it follows the regatta from Portsmouth Harbor to the Isles of Shoals.

Upon arrival at Star Island, post-race events will include an awards ceremony honoring the regatta participants, live music, a kite festival, non-alcoholic refreshments, and a casual cookout meal. Tickets for the round-trip ferry ride and Star Island festivities cost $65 and can be purchased at StarIsland.org/regatta.

“This regatta has a wonderful seafaring tradition, which we revived in 2009 in partnership with the Piscataqua Sailing Association and we’re looking forward to our 13th annual race and a beautiful day on the water, particularly since it’s been a couple of years since we have been able to host the post-race event on Star Island due to the pandemic," said Star Island CEO Joe Watts.

Island historian Ann Beattie says early writings and images of the first races show an exciting time, “Imagine 50 yachts with sails furled, along with tugboats and steamers with decks lined with hundreds of spectators, all approaching Gosport Harbor at the Isles of Shoals. This is what took place with the Star Island regattas nearly 150 years ago, in the summers of 1874 and 1875.”

A photo of a recent Gosport Regatta.
A photo of a recent Gosport Regatta.

Star Island Corporation and the Piscataqua Sailing Association are grateful to the sponsors of the 2022 Gosport Regatta: Admiral Sponsors: Paul and Jessica McKeon; Commodore Sponsor: Isles of Shoals Steamship Company; Captain Sponsors: Ambit Engineering; Peter Paul Wines; Underwood Engineers; Supporting Sponsors: McLane Middleton; Ricci Lumber.

Proceeds from the event support the nonprofit Star Island Corporation and the Piscataqua Sailing Association. For more information on the event schedule and to make reservations visit www.starisland.org/regatta/.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 2022 Star Island Gosport Regatta to set sail from Portsmouth Harbor