2019 Sail Portsmouth Event Most Successful Ever

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle headlined the Piscataqua Maritime Commission’s 2019 Sail Portsmouth event.

Impressive numbers from Sail Portsmouth in August 2019 tell the larger story of success in the Piscataqua Maritime Commission’s creation of a world-class event:

— 10,250 people visited the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle for the three days it was docked at the state pier in Portsmouth for public on-board tours;
— 167 vessels participated in the Parade of Sail, led by the Eagle as the flotilla made its way from the 2KR buoy meet-up point to the state pier upriver on the Piscataqua and under the Memorial Bridge;
— Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people watched the parade from along the shorelines in New Hampshire and Maine, 10 deep  on both sides of the Memorial Bridge;
— About 3,500 viewers from across the country watched a Facebook Live feed of the parade;
— 55 teenagers from the region took part in the Sea Challenge experience of spending a week on a tall ship learning seamanship and life skills, their tuition paid by the commission;
— 682 people took part in day sails on the tall ships Roseway, Lynx and Harvey Gamage, which embarked from the University of New Hampshire pier in New Castle.

Those impressive numbers were made possible by the year-round efforts of the PMC, created to promote the nearly 400-year-old maritime history and tradition of the Piscataqua River region.

“We are proud of the efforts of the PMC and its contribution to the Seacoast community.  Our events bring thousands and thousands of visitors to the area and allow us to send deserving kids to sea to learn about sailing and life,” said Chad Chadwick, PMC’s chairman.

While the annual Parade of Sail is the most visible part of the PMC’s mission, its board of directors and its many volunteers work year-round on a whole variety of community events.  Sail Portsmouth, Sea Challenge and Maritime talks all contribute to the growth of PMC.  As a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, the commission relies on the generosity of its sponsors and donors.  With them, PMC will continue to expand its presence in the Piscataqua region.

“We are proud to sponsor PMC and are thrilled to be a part of helping the kids of the Seacoast,” said Tap Taylor of Black Dog Divers, a sponsor who created the much-needed docking structure at the UNH pier for the ocean sails aboard visiting tall ships.