A picture perfect weekend of sun and wind was the ideal setting for 37 boats that competed in the 6th Annual Gosport Regatta and Kite Festival at Star Island. The race is a partnership event with two nonprofits: Star Island and the Piscataqua Sailing Association. Four classes of boats raced courses that ranged from 7 to 11 miles ending at the Isles of Shoals and Gosport Harbor.
THE WINNERS:
- Maggie, Yankee Dolphin 24, Appledore Island Class – James Homet, Portsmouth, NH
- Airtha, Alerion 28, Star Island Class – George Spiecker, North Hampton, NH
- Fruitcakes, J24, White Island Class – Chris Hilios, Stratham, NH
- Hafa Adai, J109, Smuttynose Island Class – Eliot Shanabrook, Watertown, MA
- Maggie, Yankee Dolphin 24, Cedar Classic Yacht – James Homet, Portsmouth, NH
The visual feast of sailboats racing to the finish was matched by the extraordinary
sight of dozens of huge kites soaring above the historic Oceanic Hotel on Star Island as spectators and visitors gathered to cheer on the racers and enjoy a final weekend at Star Island. Live music was provided by the North River Band and the Funky Divas. The Gosport Regatta family weekend marked the close of the Star Island season which enjoyed some 14,000 visitors this summer. Funds raised from the regatta will support the island’s sustainability initiatives which include the largest off-grid solar array in New England.
“The Gosport Regatta is a shining example of Star Island reaching out and being embraced by the mainland and boating community,” said Star Island CEO Joe Watts. “We appreciate the support and hope that everyone who participated had as good of a time as we did.”
A special thank you to the event sponsors: Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, Sam Adams, Peter Paul Wines, Shops on Star, Optima Bank & Trust, Lamprey Energy, Tugboat Alley, Ricci Lumber, Gobbi Plumbing and Heating, Ambit Engineering, Infinite Imaging, Shipyard Waste Solutions, McLane Middleton, Riverside & Pickering, the M/V Utopia, Seascape Capital Management and Fun With Wind.