Late summer and early autumn is perhaps the best time to visit Newport, Rhode Island. Situated on the southern tip of Aquidneck Island at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, Newport has a wellprotected, deepwater harbor and reliable seabreezes typically keep temperatures eight to ten degrees cooler than the neighboring mainland. With the summertime throng thinning, the best part of the sailing season is just beginning.

Founded in 1639, the “City by the Sea” has a large number of Colonial houses, opulent 19th Century mansions, beautiful beaches, walking tours and paths, fresh seafood (cold-water lobster!), more than 160 restaurants and taverns and countless shops and galleries. Indeed, there are more attractions here than most intrepid travelers could visit in a week (and more than space permits), so we’re highlighting some favorites with help from Newport friends. (All phone numbers have a 401 area code except where noted.)

Gettin’ Around

Ever wonder why all of your sailing friends are about the same age? Or why fewer people seem to be sailing these days?

Quickly, on one side of a blank piece of paper, make a list of the top three things that you think kids do in the summer months when they don’t have school, in order of time spent, most first. Don’t think too hard. Just write the things that pop into your head.

Done? Good.

Jack and I have a favorite spot that we like to slip away to – especially on hot summer days. It’s not far from our home harbor – not much more than an hour under sail. It’s our water “playground” where we forget that we’re not kids anymore and do fun, silly things. I’m sure that many of you have a place like this, but, if you don’t, maybe this will be the year you discover one.

As we enter the channel, we are careful to stay well within the markers. The entrance is narrow, with a rock jetty on one side and sand bar on the other. We motor through with the jib furled and I stand look-out on the bow until we’re safe inside the protected pond. The water is so pristine that we can see the sandy bottom as we set the anchor – laying claim to “our” spot.

Abacos, Bahamas

The delights of a Bahamas sailing vacation with The Moorings unfold on Little Bahama Bank’s Great Abaco Island and the surrounding barrier reefs and cays that create the sheltered Sea of Abaco. These islands are well-known for snorkeling, diving, fishing, picturesque settlements, wonderful dining, astonishing beaches, one of the world’s largest barrier reef systems and above all, genuine friendliness. Here, smooth sailing is virtually assured, making this a favorite spot for families, couples and captains of all skill levels. And with easy air access from anywhere in North America, this is “the Caribbean that’s close to home.”

If you are cruising along Great South Bay, and can handle shallower waters, then step into some adventure and come ashore at the South Bay Sailing Center and explore all the fun activities at the Dinghy Shop. Located at the South Bay Sailing Center, just north of Buoy 20, the Dinghy Shop has a beautiful sandy beach on the mouth of Ketcham’s Creek with vistas of the Great South Bay.

There’s a lot to do at the South Bay Sailing Center. You can rent a kayak by the hour, either a single, tandem, sit-on-top, or even a fishing kayak (bring your own pole and tackle). There are lots of fun places to explore, such as the Amityville River with its old boathouses and tiny islands, or the many marsh islands with abundant wildlife. If you are a bird watcher, these islands are heaven! You can also kayak just east to Tanner Park, get lunch and paddle back.

Discover The Soul of the Coast

Once upon a time a monstrous sheet of ice blanketed the Atlantic Northeast. From the cold Arctic Pole it spread over Canada, southward into Maine, spilling onto the land with an enormous weight, pushing the land beneath the sea. For eons, the wind rushed and the sea raged over this expanse of glacial mass, alternately freezing and melting with the cycles of nature until one day, the God of Time rose from a deep slumber, and with a mighty yawn stretched out his arms. Whereupon, the monstrous glacier retreated, leaving sleepy valleys and dramatic ridges as the land rose from the bowels of the sea, forming long arms of rocky ledges, cradling the two bays, giving sanctuary from the sea beyond.

Booth Bay and adjacent Linekin Bay are flanked on each side by long “fingers” of land stretching into the sea. Southport Island separates Booth Bay from the Sheepscot River while Linekin Neck provides the barrier to the Damariscotta. Marking the geographic boundaries for the Boothbay Region, each of these rivers offer a unique boating experience, making the region the perfect destination for a romantic weekend getaway, for families seeking a vacation adventure, or for yacht and boating clubs searching for a rendezvous or flotilla destination. Cruising to Boothbay by car or boat will be a vacation you’ll want to repeat again and again. This is the land of the unexpected…this is the “Soul of the Coast.”

At a time in history when we’ve become so complacent about the ubiquitous presence of electronics in our lives, there are still a few places where living unplugged is the way to go. The schooners of Ocean Classroom challenge students aged 13-19 from all backgrounds to leave their cell phones and iPods behind, and embrace a different way of life, at least for a little while. Remarkably, students return from these adventures with a new and profound appreciation for what they already have, and a very different understanding of what they truly need.

Ocean Classroom’s voyages of discovery and adventure range from one- and two-week Summer Seafaring Camps to full high school and college semesters at sea. Students learn and live the experiential education model aboard a traditional two-masted schooner sailing the Eastern Seaboard from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia, while studying history, literature, science, and math. The schooners Spirit of Massachusetts, Westward and Harvey Gamage are unique platforms for learning. Living and working upon the everchanging sea requires voyagers to be alert, clear-minded, openeyed, and responsive to the environment. This sense of responsive alertness is cultivated as Ocean Classroom’s path to learning.

There is a place in my consciousness separate from the rest of reality; it’s an island in my mind. And it is a real island. Visually, they are pure miracles, the way they just pop up and sit on the surface, sometimes levitating above it on a shimmering mirage. It seems islands have an aura we are unable to turn our backs on. Despite the inconveniences and logistical difficulties involved with island living, it is quite apparent that they are more than worth the trouble. There is no question, their natural beauty and the romantic existence they offer add immeasurably to the unique character of the Maine coast, its bays and rivers.

On the Damariscotta, its islands are like punctuation marks. They are the common reference points on every passage from beginning to end. There are ten islands of any size within the river proper, four with houses occupied during the summer months, plus quite a number of rocky nubbles supporting grass and perhaps a few trees. I know that most, if not all, are regularly visited by picnickers and occasional campers, who possibly have a favorite spot, as we do, where the anchorage is good, the swimming excellent and where there just happens to be a wide and very thick slab of rock stashed in the bushes to be used as a griddle over the fire.