We love Newport and visit there many times, mostly by car, and once before by sailboat. In 2019, for our 25th wedding anniversary, we celebrated in Newport.
On Tuesday May 28, we packed up everything that was left to bring for our two-week trip and headed to SYC and prepped the boat with food and water.
The yellow roses made a cheerful addition to the galley and salon.
Limerick had arrived and was hanging on our mooring. Don and Cindy dinghied into our dock to visit in person after the off season 8 months. Now summer can begin!
We had a good ride (36 nautical miles, 5 ½ hours) to Newport, with some rolly seas from ocean swells.
Beavertail Lighthouse on the southern tip of Conanicut Island. Originally built in 1749 The 3rd lighthouse built in the United States in 1749. There were two more lighthouses built on the site, 2nd in 1754, and the current in 1856 of granite. It stands 64 ft tall.
In 2021, federal government determined the lighthouse was “excess to the needs of the U.S. Coast Guard.” It was then made available, under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, to government agencies, non-profits for preservation purposes. In 2023 ownership was transferred from the federal government to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Castle Hill Light, built in 1890 of granite blocks, standing at a petite height of 34 feet tall on the East Passage of Narragansett Bay.
Mystery lighthouse! This one sits near the edge before turning in to Newport, but I could not find a name.
Fort Adams State Park is situated on the point that we round to enter Newport Harbor. I think we need to put this on our to-do list for our next land trip to Newport.
We got our moorings from the Newport Harbormaster at what is a reasonable cost given where we are – $1 per foot plus $5.
Founded in 1639, Newport took advantage of its seaside location by using sailing for trade, pleasure, sport and business. The five leading ports in colonial America during the 18th century were Newport, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. It is a great place to hang on a mooring and just watch the amazing sailboats go by.
Time to stretch our legs and show Don and Cindy a few of our favorite Newport spots. This is the public dinghy dock behind the Maritime Center/Sailing Museum.
The Sailing Museum. Poked our heads inside to learn that admission is free on Wednesdays in May and this was the last Wednesday! We remember this historic Armory Building was filled with assorted antiques and collectible dealers. Built in 1894 it was the site of the Press Headquarters for the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1983. The conversion into a sailing museum, which opened in May of 2022, is the perfect evolution.
The museum holds many exhibits, including interactive ones about sailing and racing. Displays of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and America’s Cup races demonstrates how those championships and adventures shaped the sport. The museum’s mission is stated as follows: “There is a magic that happens when wind and water meet. A magic sailors know and share with others.”
My favorite quote for my sweet captain is posted in the lobby. 😘😍❤️🥰
Without fail, we always stop in at IYRS, the International Yacht Restoration School, observing its evolution over the past 20 years. I wrote a more extensive blog post about IYRS in 2019.
The view of IYRS from the water (brick with green trim.)
Students working, Don and Al surveying from above.
The Coronet, an 1885 133-foot luxury schooner and the last of the Gilded Age yachts, spent several years here in that now-empty spot, for restoration. We have visited it over the past 20 years, from when it just sat in the water before any restoration work had begun to December 2022 when it was moved from IYRS in Newport to Mystic Seaport for a further three years of restoration.
In 1851 America, a U.S. yacht, stunned a British fleet by winning the 100 Guineas Cup in the “All Nations Race” a 74-mile race around the Isle of Wight in Great in Great Britain. The New York Club brought the prize home across the Atlantic and renamed it “The America’s Cup” after the winning boat. Newport became the location for the America’s Cup 12-Meters race because of the light and predictable winds and small volume of commercial traffic. During the 19th and 20th centuries American yachts and sailors had dominated and successfully defended the America’s Cup 24 times, the longest winning streak in the history of organized sports. That streak was ended in 1983 on the waters off Newport when the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s challenger, Australia II, devastated the New York Yacht Club’s defender Liberty skippered by Dennis Conner, by winning the America’s Cup and ending the New York Yacht Club’s 132 year winning streak. There is an excellent documentary about that race on NETFLIX – “Untold: The Race of the Century”.
Even on an ordinary day in late May, there are plenty of beautiful yachts to watch in Newport harbor as they take tour groups out for a sail.
We had a great view of the sailboat tours as they departed and returned each time. Clockwise from upper left: Aquidneck, Madeline, Adirondack II, and Eleanor.
Sometimes they passed by quite closely!
Spruce, this cute little red boat, was moored near us. Sweet!
Newport at night was magical with the lights on shore and in the harbor.
Just beautiful…as you know I love your posts but I think that’s because of the pictures and the info you share. Newport is a fun place to visit (although I do it on land) and it’s always interesting to me to see it from your perspective. Glad you connected with friends and enjoyed your stay…when do you return? Continue to sail and be in love with the water…talk soon. xo
Jeanne
I have not been to Newport in over 30 years and your history and pictures leave me wanting to go back. Beautiful.
Ellen Seltzer
Just beautiful…as you know I love your posts but I think that’s because of the pictures and the info you share. Newport is a fun place to visit (although I do it on land) and it’s always interesting to me to see it from your perspective. Glad you connected with friends and enjoyed your stay…when do you return? Continue to sail and be in love with the water…talk soon. xo
watsons
We will be home on Tuesday sometime.
I can’t wait to hear about your trip to the Netherlands.
Claire Taylor
Love cruising with you as we sit here in New Hampshire. You visit all of our favorite places! No icecrem this time?
watsons
We were just talking about you and Dick yesterday! We miss seeing you around the club. Hope you are both well.
No worries – there will be ice cream!