Boathouse 4

👋 Come and say hello at Southampton Boat Show!

Step on board High Speed Launch 102, meet the team and volunteers who keep these vessels operational and there’s even the chance to get out on the water by booking a boat trip… 🌊

We’ll be on the marina, stand M727 & M830

We were delighted to welcome some very special guests to Boathouse 4 this week.

Historian James Holland and comedian Al Murray took to the Solent aboard High Speed Launch 102 to film a special Battle of Britain episode for WW2 Headquarters.

While we wait for the episode to air, why not experience HSL 102 for yourself?

She’ll be taking passengers out on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August – don't miss your chance to take a trip on this rare surviving 100-class high speed launch.

Find booking details below – spaces are limited.

🚤 Step aboard the “Spitfire of the Sea”! To mark the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, join us for an exclusive trip on High Speed Launch 102 – built in 1935 and the last of her kind still running. ⚓️ Special offer: £65 per person for a 45-minute tour. Discover her incredible history as you speed out to the Solent forts and learn how she helped rescue downed RAF pilots during the war. HSL 102 has even won the seal of approval from Al Murray @thealmurray and James Holland @jamesholland1940, who recently featured her and praised her remarkable story. @ww2headquarters 📅 Trip times & availability: 30th August – 11:00 (3 spaces left), 13:00 (8 spaces left) 31st August – 11:00 (5 spaces left), 13:00 (2 spaces left) 📍 Departing from Boathouse 4, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 📞 Book now: [email protected] | 023 9289 3331 Spaces are limited – secure your place today and experience living history! #Portsmouth #ThingsToDoPortsmouth #AlMurray #JamesHolland #BoatTripsPortsmouth #Pompey

⚠️Application deadline extended to Monday 23rd June! ⚠️

Come and work with our wonderful volunteer community.

CONSIDER JOINING THE TEAM:

Are you passionate about heritage, people, and purpose?
Could you be our new Volunteer Coordinator?

📍 Site-based in Portsmouth
🕒 Full-time (37.5 hrs) | £28–30k
📅 Apply by 23rd of June

Lead 100+ amazing volunteers bringing maritime history to life!

📩 [email protected]

Deadline: Monday 23rd of June

Volunteers of Boathouse 4... THANK YOU!

Join us for a historic trip aboard MGB 81 to the Cowes Classics Regatta on Sunday 1st June!

🛥️ Full Day Trip– £130pp
Departs Boathouse 4 at 9:15am, arrives back to Boathouse 4 at 4:45pm

⚓ 30-min Gunboat Rides – £65pp
Times: 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 3:00
📸 The *1:30 ride* offers the best chance to see the Spitfire in action!

📍Boathouse 4, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
🎟️ Booking essential – email [email protected] or call *02392 893331*

📣 JOIN US FOR A Q&A SESSION WITH VETERANS TOMORROW

Hosted in partnership with The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, 3 veterans, including Dorothy Walsh, will take to the stage to share their wartime experiences.

You won't want to miss this opportunity to hear their incredible stories first hand.

14:00 in Boathouse 5 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Free to enter with a Historic Quarter Pass or your Ultimate Explorer ticket

🇬🇧 Here it is ... The jam packed agenda for this Saturday!
Portsmouth Historic Quarter presents: VE Day 80 Celebrations

FREE activities:
Open pontoons at Boathouse 4 - get up close to heritage boats including D Day veteran Motor Gun Boat 81, 1936 High Speed Launch 102 and our volunteer built replica of HM Coastal Motor Boat 4

Performances from singing trio The Charlalas

Lindy hop taster sessions with Portsmouth Lindy Hop in Boathouse 5 at 11:00 & 13:00

Q&A with World War 2 veterans supported by Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity in Boathouse 5 at 14:00

A Helter Skelter!

Charity Stalls from Veterans Outreach Support and RNRMC

Children's games and activities

Plus
Delicious food and drink to purchase from Boathouse 7 food stalls and a Powder Monkey pop up bar!

⌚️10:00 - 16:00
📍Boathouse 4 & 5 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
👉 Free to access with a Historic Quarter Pass or your Ultimate Explorer ticket

📸Competition time!

We think Boathouse 4 is a great place to get inspiration for this years theme of 'Craft & Crew'

Whether you are a pro or just love snapping boats, this is your chance to share the stories of heritage on the water.

📢 The 2025 National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition is now OPEN!

This year's theme is 'Craft & Crew' and there are some fantastic prizes to be won, as well as the chance to be featured in our 2026 calendar and an exhibition at Historic Dockyard Chatham. The winning photographs will also be featured in Classic Boat magazine.

We're hoping for entries which reflect the wide variety of historic craft, big and small, afloat and ashore. Photographers may also interpret the theme by capturing the traditional techniques and skills essential for maintenance or highlighting the people that operate and care for these wonderful vessels.

Visit our Events Page at www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/events to discover some of the many maritime events taking place this summer. In a country threaded with navigable waterways, where one is never more than 70 miles from the coast, there are many opportunities to explore this year’s theme and take a winning photograph!

The 2025 NHS-UK Photo Competition is sponsored by:
Beckett Rankine Dennett Boat Builders Maritime Heritage Trust Fat Beehive Bloomsbury Nautical Shipshape and Bristol Fashion

Winners will be announced in our annual Awards film, premiering on YouTube in November.

Read more & enter:
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/photocomp

Join the team in Boathouse 4!

We are seeking to recruit to an existing team of Visitor Hosts in Boathouse 4, where visitors can come to experience the history of naval engineering and craftsmanship on show in our busy restoration workshop, explore the SHE-SEES exhibition and enjoy the food and stunning views from the Boathouse 4 restaurant.

The successful candidate will join a rota to cover three to four weekend days each month and a half to one weekday each week, plus occasional events, holiday and sickness cover.

https://portsmouthhq.org/charity/people/work-with-us

Join us on Saturday 10th May for our VE Day Celebrations!

10:00 - 16:00

Our pontoon will be open!
Get up close to Motor Gun Boat 81 & High Speed Launch 102... why not book a space on one of our trips?
Get in touch with [email protected] for more information.

Plus ALL these activities:
Portsmouth Lindy Hop will be providing swing and lindy hop lessons at 11:00 & 13:00 in Boathouse 5

Look out for The Charlalas roaming performances throughout the day

Vintage games and a Helter Skelter

Plus charity stalls, food & drink and more surprises to come!

Find us at Boathouse 4 of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Free entry with a Historic Quarter Pass or your Ultimate Explorer ticket.

Name a better summer job... 😎

Come and join us as casual crew for the 2025 boat season!

All the details are 👇
https://portsmouthhq.org/charity/people/work-with-us