Sea Angling Classic hosts Gunwarf Quays event to unveil £150,000 boat as grand prize

A ‘MASSIVE’ sea angling competition coming to Portsmouth has unveiled its grand prize in Gunwharf Quays, as hundreds of anglers sign up.

By Richard Lemmer

Published 19th Mar 2022, 18:04 BST

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The city is set to host the inaugural Sea Angling Classic this summer, with events across Guildhall Square and a boat parade leading up to the two-day competition on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18.

Now the competition has drawn a crowd at shopping centre Gunwharf Quays to unveil the grand prize for the competition’s main recreational boat category – with one expert caster set to net a £150,000 high-end fishing boat.

The winner – who is set to compete against 1,500 anglers in the competition - will be able to sail home in a 22-foot 745 Game King boat from Extreme Boats.

From left, Ross Honey, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Frank Jonas, Lady Mayoress Joy Maddox, James Donougher, Richard Soutar, Karen Clarke and Juliet Boyles. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-33) — From left, Ross Honey, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Frank Jonas, Lady Mayoress Joy Maddox, James Donougher, Richard Soutar, Karen Clarke and Juliet Boyles. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-33)

From left, Ross Honey, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Frank Jonas, Lady Mayoress Joy Maddox, James Donougher, Richard Soutar, Karen Clarke and Juliet Boyles. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-33) — From left, Ross Honey, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Frank Jonas, Lady Mayoress Joy Maddox, James Donougher, Richard Soutar, Karen Clarke and Juliet Boyles. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-33)

But the competition aims to create an event for the enjoyment of the whole city and not just those taking part, according to Horndean-based Ross Honey, founder of Angling Spirit and Sea Angling Classic.

The event organiser said: ‘This is a lot more than just a fishing competition.

‘It’s about raising awareness about the environment.

‘And it’s about creating something for the city – we will be having a min-festival in Gunwharf Quays on the weekend of the competition.’

Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-32) — Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-32)

Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-32) — Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. This is the boat offered as a prize Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-32)

Over 50 police officers and staff from Hampshire Constabulary reported for domes...

The competition will open with a parade from Gunwharf Quays to Guildhall square on Wednesday, June 15, before a boat parade in the harbour the next day.

And the approaching competition already has anglers across the city buzzing, with those present at the reveal of the grand prize keen to nab the top-of-the-range fishing boat.

Luke Fitzgerald, who goes on regular angling trips in his boat moored in Port Solent, said: ‘I’m going to win that boat – I haven’t won a competition before, but I have a good feeling about this.

Angler Luke Fitzgerald and his daughter, Belle, 5, aboard the boat offered as a prize. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-35) — Angler Luke Fitzgerald and his daughter, Belle, 5, aboard the boat offered as a prize. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-35)

Angler Luke Fitzgerald and his daughter, Belle, 5, aboard the boat offered as a prize. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-35) — Angler Luke Fitzgerald and his daughter, Belle, 5, aboard the boat offered as a prize. Launch of Sea Angling Classic competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190322-35)

‘The competition is massive. It’s huge for Portsmouth.

Entry to the competition costs £250 for a boat with a minimum of two anglers and a maximum of four.

Smaller prizes will be available from those placed 1st to 40th.

The Charter Boat category prize table is set at £50,000 with prizes for 1st to 20th place.

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Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth

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