Gosport’s waterfront is not only home to wonderful beaches - its eastern shores form part of Portsmouth Harbour; the busiest port in the UK.

The Harbour is a world class destination and home to leading ocean racing events, the home of the Royal Navy and now boasts a new 170 metre/ 550 foot public viewing tower; ‘The Spinnaker Tower’.

Ferries arrive and depart through the harbour entrance on their way too and from the Isle of Wight, France, Spain and the Channel Islands. There are also large cargo ships bringing goods in from around the world.

Gosport plays host to many famous sailing yacht skippers, including Alex Thomson and Dee Caffari M.B.E.

Dee is the first woman to have sailed single-handedly against the trade winds the ‘wrong’ way around the world and was awarded the Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year for 2006. Following on from this success, Dee has now set her sights on the world of Open 60 racing on the IMOCA circuit. Intense training now starts for Dee as she strives toward her latest goal ...the Vendee Globe 2008/9. Find out more at Dee’s website by clicking on the logo below.

Alex achieved the single-handed record for the most miles covered over 24 hours (468 nautical miles; averaging 19.5 knots). Visit Alex’s website to read his account of the dramatic events which forced him out of the Velux 5 Oceans Race and of his position in the Barcelona World Race.

“Gosport has been my home for the last 18 years and I still love it.”

Says Alex “I learnt to sail at Stokes Bay Sailing Club. For me, there’s nowhere else quite like it, especially for marina facilities. My racing takes me all over the world but it’s always great to come home - I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

The Waterfront Trail runs from the Royal Navy Submarine Museum to Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy’s Hard. The Trail is a millennium project, comprising a three kilometre (1.9 miles) charming walk, following the chain motifs and mosaics. It takes you past all sorts of interesting places, such as the ‘Timespace', the 'Tidal Clock', The Falkland Gardens, which commemorate the 1982 South Atlantic expedition, and the Oakleaf Brewery. The free ‘Gosport Waterfront Trail Guide’ provides a map with all the exciting points of interest marked and a short explanation of each site.

A different sort of waterfront can be found around Haslar Creek, where the big marinas (Haslar and Premier) hold a surprising range of vessels, from small boats to large super yachts. The ‘Waterfront Trail’ allows you to take a good look at the marinas, which lie along Gosport’s harbour frontage.

For information on all these attractions and for a copy of the ‘Waterfront Trail’ guide, call at the Tourist Information Centre (at the ferry/bus interchange in South Street) before you set out to get a taste of the great range of things to see and visit.

[RETURN TO TOP]