If you are looking for a relaxed plan this weekend, the historic yacht Lively Lady is sailing back into Portsmouth today, Saturday, 4 July 2026. The 36ft ketch is scheduled to arrive at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard at noon, berthing at Boathouse 4. This return marks a special moment for the city's maritime heritage, especially as it coincides with the year-long Portsmouth 100 programme celebrating the centenary of Portsmouth receiving city status back in 1926. Visitors will have the opportunity to step aboard the vessel for the first time since 2019, and Alan Priddy, who led the yacht's previous restorations and voyages, will be on hand to take the lines.
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The Lively Lady has a storied history that connects deeply with Portsmouth. Built in 1948 in Calcutta with a teak hull and Padauk frames, the yacht was originally bought for Sir Alec Rose by his wife. Sir Alec, a local Southsea greengrocer, famously completed a solo circumnavigation of the globe between 1967 and 1968. He departed Portsmouth on 16 July 1967 and returned exactly 353 days later on 4 July 1968, where he was welcomed by a crowd of 250,000 people before being knighted. To prepare for that historic voyage, the vessel was modified from a cutter to a yawl, increasing its weight and draft for safety. Following Sir Alec's passing in 1991, the yacht was bequeathed to Portsmouth City Council, which later leased it to the charity Around and Around in 2009.
In the decades since, the yacht has continued to make history. Between 2006 and 2008, Alan Priddy led a second global circumnavigation with a crew of 38 disadvantaged young adults, returning to Portsmouth on 5 July 2008. Extensive restoration work followed, including a major refit between 2015 and 2018 at Hayling Island to prepare for the 50th anniversary of Sir Alec's voyage. After a period of being loaned to the Sea Scouts and a temporary relocation to Chatham Historic Dockyard in 2023, the yacht is finally back home.
If you decide to head down to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to see her, Boathouse 4 is the place to go. Built during World War II, this building now operates as a Heritage Skills and Boatbuilding Centre, housing a collection of 20th-century military powerboats. You can view the yacht and explore the boathouse during the dockyard's regular hours, which run from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm during the summer season. If you want to grab a bite with a view of the harbour, the Boathouse Kitchen is accessible inside the building without needing to purchase a full Dockyard entry ticket.
Published Date
4 July 2026
