The majestic tall ships of the age of sail put Portsmouth on the map. This weekend, the tall ships return in Sail Portsmouth’s Tall Ship and Maritime Festival. Sail enthusiasts can tour the boats and learn about life at sea in days gone by.
A Parade of Sail was supposed to include five visiting tall ships plus Portsmouth’s own tall ship, the gundalow Piscataqua. Due to thunderstorms, however, the parade has been cancelled.
Two ships will be open for tours this weekend, from Friday through Monday, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., at the Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier (1 Pierce Island Road). The ships are the Trinidad, a replica of Magellan’s flagship, and a restored, two-masted schooner, the Ernestina-Morrissey. The gundalow Piscataqua offers public sailing trips and is docked just across from the fish pier.
Photo Source: David Murray Clear Eye Photo-Gundalow Company
The festival will also feature maritime exhibits, entertainment, period reenactors and food for sale. Ticket sales support Sail Portsmouth’s scholarships for its Sea Challenge, an experiential learning program for high school students aboard tall ships.
For more information, please visit https://sailportsmouth.org/event/sail-portsmouth-festival/
