Festivals abound in the month of June.  Locally, Harborfest and Seawall Festival celebrate the area's rich maritime heritage.  One of Harborfest's premier events, a sailboat race, was regrettably discontinued a few years ago. Fortunately for local sailors there was considerable interest in bringing a sailboat race event back to Portsmouth. In 2001, a local bank contacted Portsmouth Boat Club (PBC) and offered to initially sponsor a major race if PBC would organize and run the event. PBC answered the call and the HomeTowne Regatta was born. The event has been highly successful and continues to draw up to 60 boats. Due to its success, the race became a Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA) sanctioned event in 2004 and has rejoined Norfolk's Harborfest activities. 

This annual event includes racing for all PHRF rated mono and multi-hull sailboats. A special non-spinnaker cruising class is open to all non-measured yachts. The race course starts at buoy R18 near Craney Island on the Elizabeth River, goes out to designated courses in the Hampton Roads and finishes back at R18.  An after race party for skippers, crews and race sponsors is held to celebrate the race event.  Awards in each class are presented at an Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening. Come join in the fun.