The 2022 Star Island Gosport Regatta will set sail September 18. The storied sailing race is organized by the Piscataqua Sailing Association (PSA) in conjunction with Star Island to benefit both nonprofit organizations.
The Gosport Regatta's first race was held 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.
Star Island CEO Joe Watts said, “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.”
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.”
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/
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