Parade of Sail and Flotilla

Description

Parade of Sail and Flotilla

Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 7:30pm
Location: Portsmouth Harbor
Docking: Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier

The Parade of Sail marks the official kickoff of the Sail Portsmouth Maritime Festival, welcoming our visiting ship into Portsmouth Harbor in spectacular fashion. Starting at the mouth of the harbor and escorted by private pleasure craft and commercial vessels, the featured ship will make her way through the harbor before docking at the Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier.

This year’s Attraction Vessel is the Oosterschelde, a beautifully restored Dutch three-masted topsail schooner with a rich maritime history and an unmistakable presence on the water.

Private vessel owners are welcome to join the festivities by escorting the ship during the Parade of Sail.

Parade of Sail Details: 

• Starts at the mouth of Piscataqua River on Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 PM
• Ships take 45 to 60 minutes to navigate up river to the Memorial Bridge, downtown Portsmouth
• Canon salutes as ships pass Ft. Cary, Portsmouth Yacht Club, Kittery Point Yacht Club, and period reenactors on Four Tree Island
• Tall Ships in the Parade of Sail as of April 1, 2026 are all three-masted schooners:
  • Oosterschelde with guests and sponsors on board
  • Denis Sullivan with Sea Challenge students on board
  • Liberty Clipper with paid passengers on board
  • Interested in being aboard a three masted schooner in the parade of sail? Buy your tickets here. 
• The best vantage points to watch the Parade (or departing ships on Monday)?
  • New Hampshire Viewing Spots:
    • New Castle Common
    • Portsmouth Yacht Club (members only)
    • Kittery Point Yacht Club (members only)
    • Four Tree Island, Portsmouth. Park on nearby Peirce Island.
    • Memorial Bridge Sidewalk

• •  Maine Viewing Spots:
    • Fort McClary
    • Memorial Bridge Sidewalk, Kittery side

• Where is the best vantage point for a disabled person in a wheelchair to view the parade? 
  • We suggest the sidewalk of the Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth and Kittery.

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