Gone with the Wind in Newport | New England from the Water
Catch yacht fever in Newport, “the sailing capital of the world.”
Mr. Badger & Co. co-owners Denis Dowling and Allie Medeiros head upwind on their classic 1957 Concordia yawl, one of the newer charter sailing options on the Newport scene.
Photo Credit : Bob O'Connor
Photo Credit : Bob O'Connor
For more than 50 years, its waters were the battleground for the legendary America’s Cup. Just up the road, one of the world’s greatest yacht designers revolutionized the sport of sailing. Today it’s home to New England’s biggest public sailing program, and the headquarters of U.S. Sailing are within hailing distance.
The evidence for Newport, Rhode Island’s claim of being the world’s sailing capital is impressive—but if you want further proof, come to this seaside city on June 19, and join the crowds at Brenton Point and Fort Adams as the biennial Newport Bermuda Race gets under way. The spectacular sight of some 200 vessels, from family cruisers to super yachts, filling the harbor with a host of multicolored sails will leave you convinced. In fact, you might even think it looks a little like heaven.
If so, Newport makes it a cinch to get in on the action. Not one but two cruising companies, 12 Meter Charters and America’s Cup Charters, offer rides and sometimes races (!) on yachts that once vied for the America’s Cup, while truly old-school sailing can be enjoyed on the replica 19th-century schooners that tie up at Bowen’s and Bannister’s wharves. For a more personalized escape, there’s a slew of charter options (including Newport Kat’s sprightly 41-foot catamaran) that can transport you for a few hours or even overnight.
For more information on Newport sailing adventures, go to discovernewport.org.
