Festival aims to get people on the water

Gosport celebrated its waterfront location with its second Marine Festival '“ aiming to connect people with the sea that surrounds them.

The free event on Saturday gave people of all ages and abilities the chance to find out more about boating as well as Gosport’s marine recreation, sporting and employment industries.

Lucy Harding, left, who is a Coxswain with Gosport Sea cadets and APO Claire Palmer at Gosport Marine Festival
Picture Ian Hargreaves (170623-1) — Lucy Harding, left, who is a Coxswain with Gosport Sea cadets and APO Claire Palmer at Gosport Marine Festival Picture Ian Hargreaves (170623-1)

placeholder image — Lucy Harding, left, who is a Coxswain with Gosport Sea cadets and APO Claire Palmer at Gosport Marine Festival Picture Ian Hargreaves (170623-1)

Record-breaking sailor Alex Thomson also came along to show support for his hometown.

The day centred on Haslar Marina, Trinity Church in the Timespace and at the Cockle Pond near Walpole Park for the first time.

The crew of The Steam Pinnace 199 at the Gosport Marine Festival (170623-1)

Festival chairman John Beavis said: ‘It went amazingly well, we used the whole area and there were 500 places for people to get out on the water and people were constantly going out.

‘We had about 3,000 attending throughout the day, it’s been a fabulous day for the community.’