Tall Ships Through Time at the Sail Portsmouth Maritime Festival
For over 25 years, the silhouettes of historic tall ships have transformed the Portsmouth skyline in the summer, turning the Piscataqua River into a living maritime museum. Since its origins under the Piscataqua Maritime Commission, the Sail Portsmouth Maritime festival has grown into a cherished annual Seacoast tradition.
We have welcomed many vessels to the festival throughout its history and want to share a (non-exhaustive) chronology of visiting tall ships that have joined us on the banks of the Piscataqua River from 1998 through today. The ships continue to draw thousands to the waterfront for the iconic Parade of Sail, deck tours, and day sails, and remain a vital connection between current day Portsmouth and its rich, seafaring roots.
1998: Sail Portsmouth – HMS Endeavor
2002: Sail Portsmouth – Providence (Sloop-of-War; John Paul Jones’ command.)
2003: Sail Portsmouth – Jennie Johnson (separate visit.)
Providence (separate visit)
2004: Sail Portsmouth – Friendship of Salem
2005: Sail Portsmouth – Gazela
2006: Sail Portsmouth – USCG Eagle (separate visit.)
Bluenose II (separate visit)
2007: Sail Portsmouth – Prince William
Pride of Baltimore II
Spirit of Bermuda
Urania
2008: Sail Portsmouth – Roseway
Friendship of Salem
2009: Sail Portsmouth – USCG Eagle
Kalmar Nyckel
Spirit of South Carolina
Spirit of Massachusetts
2010: Sail Portsmouth – Lynx
HMS Bounty
2011: Sail Portsmouth – Gazela
USCG Flyingfish
2012: Sail Portsmouth – OSV Bold (separate visit.)
Providence
Pride of Baltimore II
2013: Sail Portsmouth – USCG Eagle
2014: Sail Portsmouth – Mystic (Appearance Vessel)
Lynx (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Mystic
2015: Sail Portsmouth – El Galeón (Appearance Vessel)
Lynx (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Harvey Gamage
2016: Sail Portsmouth – Oliver Hazard Perry (Appearance Vessel)
Harvey Gamage (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Roseway
2017: Sea Challenge – Roseway (1-trip) and Harvey Gamage (2-trips)
2018: Sail Portsmouth – Oliver Hazard Perry (Appearance Vessel)
Harvey Gamage (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Oliver Hazard Perry and Roseway (2-trips)
2019: Sail Portsmouth – USCG Eagle (Appearance Vessels)
Lynx (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Roseway (1-trip) Harvey Gamage (2-trips) \
2020: No event or Sea Challenge due to Covid.
2021: Sea Challenge – Roseway (2-trip2) Harvey Gamage (1-trip)
2022: Sail Portsmouth – Kalmar Nyckel and Spirt of Bermuda (Appearance Vessels)
Lynx (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Roseway
2023: Sail Portsmouth – Trinidad, Ernestina-Morrissey, and Bowdoin (Appearance Vessels)
Lynx (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Roseway
2024: Sail Portsmouth – USCG Eagle (Appearance Vessel)
Ernestina-Morrisey (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Denis Sullivan
2025: Sea Challenge – Denis Sullivan
2026: Sail Portsmouth – Oosterschelde (Appearance Vessel)
Liberty Clipper (Day Sail Vessel)
Sea Challenge – Denis Sullivan
This log does not include vessels brought to Portsmouth by the Maritime Heritage Commission between 1981 and 1997.
Whether you are stepping onto a historic deck or watching the Parade of Sail from the shore, the annual maritime festival invites us all to learn about maritime history and keep the spirit of adventure alive. We look forward to continuing to steward this annual tradition for many years to come.