Southampton Maritime Festival

Sporting Taster Sessions at Calshot Activities Centre to coincide with Southampton Maritime Festival

Coinciding with the Southampton Maritime Festival, just down on the Southern shore of the New Forest, Calshot Activities Centre hosts GJW Direct SailFest.  Running from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th August, SailFest centres around a 3-day sailing regatta, with non-sailors welcome.
 
Really?  Non-sailors for a dinghy sailing regatta?
 
The sailing regatta is the focus of the event, but a full schedule of adventure activities is available throughout the 4 days of the event.  Choose from velodrome cycling, rock climbing, archery, kayaking, windsurfing and more.  Not just taster sessions, these are fully instructed lessons of up to 90 minutes (depending on the activity).  There is even the opportunity to truly master a sport by booking lessons throughout the weekend.
 
The sailing regatta takes place from Saturday to Monday, with GPS trackers on every boat to beam the action to screens ashore and via the internet.  The fantastic beach-side bar gives a fine view of the race area and the rest of the Solent.
 
Accommodation packages on site (sea-view room with breakfast included and meals available) for up to 10-days around the event provide the ideal base for visiting the Maritime Festival, trying out some adventure sports and enjoying a break in the New Forest.  Accommodation and activities are open to all, not exclusive to competitors, simply click on the pink 'Order extras' button rather than via the 'Enter' tab.
 
For full details visit the event website at sailfest.sailracer.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Walks and Talks

Talk Stage programme

Our programme of FREE talks take place on the Festival talk stage, inside the Ocean Cruise Terminal. 

Friday 22nd August
10.00 - 12.00 - The Arch-Manche project contributing to EU coastal zone management
12.30 - The Flying Enterprise and the tug Turmoil - John Avery
13.30 - The SS Shieldhall story - Nigel Philpott
14.00 - Nigel Smith: The history of Trafalgar Dock
14.30 - Social Maritime History of River Itchen - Anne McGillivray 
15.00 - Discovering the changing solent through art and archaeology - Lauren Tilbury
15.30 - Changing lives through sailing - Jubilee Sailing Trust
16.00 - The Solent’s lost landscapes - The Maritime Archaeology Trust
16.30 - Forgotten shipwrecks of the First World War

Saturday 23rd August
12.00 The Thetis Widows - John Avery:
12.30 The steam tug Challenge - Jerry Lewis
14.00 Social Maritime History of River Itchen - Anne MacGulliver
14.30 The history of Southampton’s Trams - Nigel Smith
15.00 Forgotten Shipwrecks of the First World War - Steven Fisher
15.30 -16:30 The history of Red Funnel Group

Titanic trail walks

Southampton Tourist GuidesStart from the Southampton Tourist Guides stand, (downstairs inside OCEAN terminal) and take a walk back in time with your guide, to discover sites and stories associated with the Titanic.

  • See where some of the First Class passengers stayed the night before sailing

  • Stop outside the pub where several of the crew were drinking the morning of the sailing and find out if they made it on board

  • Stand on the steps of the White Star Offices and imagine yourselves waiting to hear news of whether your loved one had lived or died

  • This and much more will be revealed

Cost of the walks £2.00. 

Simply come to the stand to book your ticket.

Schedule - Friday 22nd August

12:00 - 12:45

14:00 - 14:45

15:00 - 15:45

16:00 - 16:45

Schedule - Saturday 23rd August

12:00 - 12:45

14:00 - 14:45

15:00 - 15:45

16:00 - 16:45


Heritage bus tours around Southampton sights

Heritage Bus tour

Take a free bus tour courtesy of the Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust. Places are limited, register here. 

Advertising and sponsorship

Reach over 12,000 visitors at this major family heritage event

 

Advertising in the show programme 

For advertising enquiries please contact:

Natalie Sprake
Business Development Manager
Newsquest
Tel: 02380 424872
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Gold Sponsor £5,000


ONLY 4 AVAILABLE
• Logo on all show materials.
• Event programme - Front page gold sponsor logo and rear page 1/8 page company advert on the show programmes.
• Editorial opportunities in the show programme.
• Sponsor logo on direct mail to 50,000 homes across the region.
• Sponsor logo on email campaign.
• Gold sponsor logo on 25,000 promotional flyers inserted into regional press.
• Gold sponsor logo on street marketing campaign at sites across Southampton, Bournemouth and Portsmouth.
• Gold sponsor logo at show entrance, exit and behind main stage.
• Online banner and linking on the Southampton Maritime Festival website, Twitter and Facebook accounts with links reaching out to an anticipated 50,000 people.
• Sponsor mentions in pre-event press.
• 3 x 6 m exhibition space in main terminal building.
• 12 tickets for entrance to the Festival.
• Invitation for four to the Festival VIP event

 

Silver Sponsor £2,000


ONLY 8 AVAILABLE
• Silver supporter logo on the show programme.
• Silver sponsor logo on 25,000 promotional flyers
inserted into regional press.
• Half-page banner advert in the show programme.
• Online banner and linking on the Southampton Maritime Festival website, Twitter and Facebook accounts with links reaching out to c50,000 people.
• 3 x 3 m exhibition space in main terminal building.
• 8 tickets for entrance to the Festival.
• Invitation for four to the Festival VIP event
• Silver sponsor logo at show exit.

Please contact Chris Whiley, Marketing Officer to discuss your advertising needs. Tel: 02380 593290 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Best Vintage Vehicle competition

 


Enter our competition to find the best vintage vehicle in the area.

If you've got a vintage vehicle then come on down to the festival! Those attending the show with a vintage vehicle will gain automatic free entry to the show and you'll also be able to enter the competition ‘Best Vintage Vehicle’ where the public will vote for their favourite vehicle each day.  Vehicles are welcomed across a broad range of history – from the Model T to the 70s.  

Space will be limited at the event. To register a vehicle, click here

 

Titanic Ghost at the 2013 festival

 

Get a taste of what you may have missed at last year’s event

Costumes

Fun 1940’s dress-up theme 

Volunteers and visitors really got into the spirit of the heritage festival by dressing up.

Vessels

Historic vessels and steam rally

The historic Steam Tug Challenge returned to Southampton fresh from her recent HLF funded refit. With HRH Prince Michael of Kent on board, she was given a grand escort by a flotilla from the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. Visitors also had the chance to view the many historic vessels on show, including the Southampton based  S.S. Shieldhall  in steam and take a cruise.

 Children enjoy exploring

 

Exploring the docks

Visitors got the chance to explore normally off-limits areas and discover numerous displays, stalls and demonstrations.

 Hard hat diver

 

Hard Hat Divers

 
The dry dock was be taken over by the Historical Diving Society with their standard or ‘hard hat’ diving gear. Children watched amazed at the suit demonstrations and took a live video journey into the deep.

 Workshops

Heritage workshops and children’s activities

A variety of organisations offered workshops to educate and entertain the whole family.

 Tram

Historic trams, cars and steam locomotives

It was all aboard Southampton’ historic trams and heritage buses for families whilst car and steam enthusiasts were treated to displays by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts club

 Lancaster bomber

Lancaster Bomber flyover

Last year’s highlight of the festival was the fly over of the Lancaster Bomber of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. 

Stalls and Displays

Including Sam's Fudge, Cosy Knits n Bits, Lucy's Farm, Heartstrings Jewellery, The Book Man and many more!

 

  

 

 

 

 


 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much to see - make sure you don't miss the boat in 2014!