The sailing conditions in Newport RI are considered to be some of the best in the world and for good reason: it possesses a deep water harbor with consistent breezes year-round. Just offshore in Narragansett Bay to the north, and off the south coast in Rhode Island Sound, the wind picks up slightly, offering sailing enthusiasts perfect weather much of the year. Newport's protected harbor offers refuge against ocean storms and squally weather, making the port city an ideal resting place for sailboats of all shapes and sizes.
Newport Becomes the Sailing Capital of the World
These perfect sailing conditions and the focus of the sailing industry in America provided the perfect backdrop for the home of the America's Cup Races for many years. Combined with the wealth that the Gilded Age in Newport provided, sailing became an anchor industry and sport in the community.
Take A Sail On A Famous America's Cup Boat
A good number of these America's Cup boats are still docked in Newport harbor and offer visitors a unique sailing charter opportunity, experiencing the thrill of sailing from a bygone era. These sailboats can be privately chartered for events and
weddings, or you can take a harbor cruise on regularly scheduled times throughout the day. Sunset cruises are especially popular with the sun setting over the Newport Bridge in the background. Not a bad way to end the day, glass of champagne in hand! If you want to get more involved, many boats will let you help out with the sails and even steering the boat while under way. For an even greater sailing experience, the America's Cup boats in Newport RI will let you use the grinders that move the sails and actively participate in keeping the boat balanced during sailing manuevers. That being said, if you have no sailing experience (and don't want any), you are always welcome to sit back and enjoy the ride without any participation at all. It's all up to you!
See Newport From A Whole New Perspective
While taking a Newport RI harbor tour in Narragansett Bay and the ocean waters off Castle Hill, you will see a tremendous variety of sailboats and motor yachts from all over the world. With such a proliferation of classic vessels in Newport's harbor, sometimes it seems as if you are in a floating museum of sailing history. If you get an opportunity, get on a boat of any type for an unforgettable view of Newport and the surrounding islands. Seeing Newport from the ocean is something that everybody visiting the city of Newport should experience. The best times of the year to sail are in the early fall, when some of the Newport summer crowds have gone and Newport's ocean water is still very warm. Most days in September and even into October, you can go sailing with just a light jacket or sweatshirt and be very comfortable on the water. Summer is also a great time to be sailing, but there will be a lot more sailboats in Newport's harbor at this time of year.
Sailing Can Be A Tranquil Experience
Probably one of the best things about sailing in Newport is the fact that you will experience a completely different Newport than you will on land. From the water, you have unobstructed views of Newport's coastal mansions and homes, and can imagine Newport the way the first visitors did when they sailed into Newport Harbor for the first time. Out on the water, the din of the crowds, the smells of the restaurants and the busy summer activity of Newport fades away. Under sail in Newport Harbor all you will hear is the occasional flap of a sail or the splash of a wave against the side of the boat. Sailing offers a truly relaxing experience unlike any other and Newport has dozens of sailboats to explore from small 4-person boats to large 150-passenger replicas from the past two centuries.
