Tall ships sail into Portsmouth: Where to watch, where to park, how to enjoy 2022 event

PORTSMOUTH — Three tall ships sailed into Portsmouth Harbor Thursday greeted with cannon fire and by hundreds of spectators on land and sea cheering the Parade of Sail. They will remain in the city for the Sail Portsmouth Festival running through the weekend.

Sail Portsmouth is returning to the city for the first time since 2019. The festival was cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parade of Sail kicks off the Sail Portsmouth Festival at the Commercial Fish Pier, running Friday through Sunday, Aug. 12-14.

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A group of excited kids adorned with pirate-themed bandanas sat overlooking Portsmouth Harbor at Prescott Park earlier Thursday, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the tall ships of Sail Portsmouth.

Ashley Neal, assistant teacher at the Treehouse School in Portsmouth, had brought the kids to the event as part of their pirate-themed, week-long summer camp. In addition to seeing the ships, the kids had crafted their own boats and treasure chests, and were preparing for a treasure hunt at Pierce Island following the arrival of the ships.

When asked if they were excited to see the tall ships, an array of “yeahs!” and “argghhhs” resounded from the group of children.

When describing the reason for their enthusiasm, one of the kids put it simply: “They’re big!"

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With less than an hour until the ships were set to make their entrance, visitors and locals of all ages gathered at Prescott Park with the same goal of seeing the long-awaited tall ships.

Finally, the ships arrived, welcomed by loud cannons signaling their entrance into the harbor. Behind them was a large group of private boats that acted as their entourage.

First to arrive was the Spirit of Bermuda, a three-masted replica of the Bermuda Sloops that were used by the British in the War of 1812.

Second in line was the Kalmar Nyckel, which replicates the fully rigged vessel which brought the first Swedish colonists to America in 1836. As it got closer to the harbor, the big blue hull, and intricate, colorful Swedish art became visible.

Finally, the Lynx made its entrance, replicating the Baltimore Clipper ship and privateer that acted as the American counterpart to the British Bermuda sloops in the same war.

“It’s the history and the beauty of the ships that attract me,” said Joyce Orcutt who brought her good friend Madeline Senkal to Portsmouth for the day. “We get together once a month to do something, go out to eat and we've been planning a trip to Portsmouth. And I said to her, ‘Hey, I just read the Tall Ships are coming,’ so we've been waiting three months for this.”

Mary and Rick Adadie also came out for the event, setting up a couple of folding chairs at Prescott Park to await the ships.

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“We're both retired now so we said this would be a great adventure today,” she said.

The couple moved to the Seacoast three years ago, but both spent their summers in the area growing up.

“We love it,” said Mary Adadie. “We enjoy and bring our guests and our kids when they visit.”

Among the other children at the event was 8-year-old Nelson Jacobs, who was excited to see the ships in part because dad was in the Navy. He was accompanied by his mom, Erin Jacobs, and grandmother who were out for a family day in Portsmouth.

“We have been local to the area for many years. And we always want to come, and we always miss it,” she said. “This is our first time coming.”

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Sea lovers were also there, some watching from their boats docked at Prescott Park, and others watching from the grass.

Charlotte and Ken Bell, former boat owners brought their family from Florida to see the arrival of the three historic vessels.

“We call ourselves water babies, we are just attracted to the water and enjoy it so much,” said Charlotte Bell.

Ken Bell added that they had two boats years ago, one of which was kept on a mooring near the Navy base for a season.

“Then we downsized to kayaks,” Charlotte Bell joked.

Can I tour the tall ships in Portsmouth?

The Kalmar Nyckel and the Spirit of Bermuda will be open for tours Aug. 12-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier. The Lynx will be offering sails from Aug. 11 following the Parade of Sail through Aug. 16 where passengers board at the UNH Pier in New Castle.

Sail Portsmouth will be hosting a tent at the Commercial Fish Pier at 1 Pierce Island Road offering an array of educational exhibits, activities for young and old,  and even some pirates to interact with the kids.

Where can I buy tickets for Sail Portsmouth?

Tickets to the tours and sails can be purchased at sailportsmouth.org. The sails are offered to passengers 8 years of age and older for $65, but are most likely sold out The ship tours are free for children 12 and under, and $12 for guests above age 12. Tickets for members are $10 and family tickets that cover one adult and three children ages 15 and below costs $30.

Where can I park for the tall ships in Portsmouth?

There will be no public parking on Peirce Island during the Sail Portsmouth Festival. Event-goers should not seek parking options on Peirce Island, at the boat ramp, or on Four Tree Island.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when the ships are open for tours and the Sail Portsmouth tent is open at the Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier, the city will run a free shuttle to the festival site at the pier from the Foundry Parking Garage, 100 Foundry Place, Portsmouth.

A three-shuttle system, where two of three shuttles will be ADA-equipped, will operate during the festival. At lunch, wait times may be longer as drivers rotate taking lunches. The goal is a 20-minute maximum wait time for a shuttle.

Another location to park is Portsmouth's High-Hanover parking garage at 2 Hanover St. in Portsmouth, and walk from there to the pier.

For those who require ADA-accessible parking, it will be available at the Hanover Garage as well as the Foundry Garage, where the ADA-accessible shuttles will pick up, and limited space will be available at the lot at Little Harbor School. All parking is first come, first served.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sail Portsmouth 2022 NH brings tall ships arriving in Parade of Sail