sailboat in newport ri

Come Along and Sail Awa y

Private sailing charters | newport, ri, 401.236.5005, sailing in newport - an experience you'll never forget.

It's Almost

The warm weather is right around the corner! We will be officially sailing on April 1st!  Book your sail early to guarantee your preferred date.

We can't wait to have you aboard.

Embark on an exclusive maritime adventure ... Reserve a private yacht charter with McCurdy Sailing in the enchanting setting of Newport, Rhode Island. Unwind and savor the experience as you set sail aboar d our 36' sloop , ' Hurrah '. Let our licensed, seasoned, and exceptionally knowledgeable Captain guide you through a captivating sailing tour of the east passage of Narragansett Bay, where a tapestry of historically significant and breathtaking landmarks aw aits.

Marvel at the former Kennedy estate, Hammersmith Farm , Clingstone , and the iconic Rose Island Lighthouse , each steeped in its own unique history. Whether you choose to take the helm or simply relish the journey, your voyage will weave through Newport Harbor, renowned as the sailing capital of the world. Witness the majestic beauty of numerous sailboats, mega yachts, distinctive racing vessels, and historic America's Cup sailboats dotting the shimmering waters.

'Hurrah' offers comfortable seating for up to 6 adults in the cockpit, complete with a bimini and dodger for those seeking shade. For the ultimate thrill, venture to the bow and immerse yourself in the invigorating salt air and spray. Enhance your experience by bringing along a picnic lunch, champagne, or any refreshments of your choice.

Let McCurdy Sailing curate a memorable and personalized journey where the allure of Narragansett Bay's landmarks meets the luxury of a private yacht charter in the heart of Newport's maritime splendor.

Downtown Pickup Location - Step Right on from the dock. Our pickup location is now right in Downtown Newport  at Perrotti Park !  Meet your Captain right at the Harbor Shuttle & Ferry Landing Gazebo.  Easy parking at the  Visitor's Center or simply walk right from town!  A hop, skip & a jump from the   Marriott and Brenton Hotels.    Step right on the boat from the dock for easy, quick access.

2024 calendar now available.

Pick Up Here

Reserve Now. Sail Later.

B ook earl y to guarantee your preferred date and time.  

What People Are Saying

NANCY BREEN

This was the first time I did a private charter instead of a group sail on a larger boat. I do not think I will ever go back to buying tickets for a group sail.

RONALD WATANABE

We had such a wonderful time on this 2-hour sail with Captain Dave! It was the highlight of our trip to Newport! We highly recommend it!

PETE & JESS

Absolutely the best experience. Dave was hands down the most amazing captain and made the entire experience so memorable. Do yourself a favor and book a ride with McCurdy's.

Sailing Charters For All Occasions

bachelor/bachelorette Sail The best place to celebrate this momentous occasion is together with friends on the water! 

DAY Sail We will sail to the mouth of the East Passage of Narragansett Bay and venture into Mackerel Cove

Team Building  

Corporate sailing is one of the best team building exercises you will ever engage in.

Similar to a corporate environment, when sailing, teammates need to constantly adapt to face-paced change.  Perfect for small teams to hone their communication skills!

Call us for pricing and additional information.

Engagement/Wedding Sail Choose the wind, sea and sun to propose to the love of your life.  Get married aboard our Sailboat, Hurrah by our ordained Captain.  Head to a romantic cove or stay in Newport Harbor for your ceremony. 

Sunset Sail Let the heat of the day drain away, all while enjoying the cool evening breeze on Narragansett Bay.

Sail of Remembrance

Celebrate the life of your loved one. An intimate ceremony is performed onboard.

"To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor." OLIVER WENDALL HOMES, SR.  

• Book a Sail | Itineraries
• Private Sails
• Meet the Crew
• About Us & Boats
• Things to DO
• Restaurants
• Parking Map Paid & Free
• Cancellation Policy
• On Watch Blog

Private Charters

Up to 6 guests, sailing in newport since 2011, sail lyra or wren starting april 19, 2024, book before 04/18/24 for any scheduled sail and save $25 enter code pre24, media & reviews.

Quick Links

Round out your stay, world-class sailing in newport, sightseeing and history.

Sailing in Newport Rhode Island’s waters is world-class and is a wonderful way to experience this beautiful and historic area. Aboard one of our two boats, you can enjoy one of our custom private day sail charters. Tour Newport Harbor, with its classic and mega-yachts and picturesque surroundings before venturing onto Narragansett Bay. Cruise along rocky shorelines, see charming lighthouses, take in the impressive mansions, and more… Splash your feet, sail the boat or relax with your group over a tasty beverage.

Our two sailboats are icons of the Newport Sailing fleet and of Narragansett Bay. Lyra is our 44-foot Reliance sailboat and Wren is our 35-foot Allied Seabreeze. With a capacity of up to 6 guests each, both boats sail on daily charters from Newport RI, beginning mid-April through the end of October. We offer private 90-minute, two-hour, three-hour, half and full-day sailing charters. From tours and advanced sailing instruction to proposals or a romantic evening on the the water, experience for yourself why Newport is the sailing capital of the Americas. On Watch Sailing is proudly a Newport RI “Traveler’s Choice” on Trip Advisor and is highly rated on Google. Take a peek below and check out our original reviews by following the links.

Captain Green

Our 2.0 hour early afternoon charter of the Lyra with Green met every expectation in terms of seamanship and engagement…

On Watch Sailing

Definitely book

Definitly book your sailing experience with this company. Don’t even hesitate. We booked day of for an afternoon 1.5 hr sail…

Captain Sam

5-star experience!

Fantastic sail with Captain Sam at On Watch Sailing! They came recommended as the best place to charter a private sail in Newport, and did not disappoint…

Fantastic day

Captain Green was the perfect guide, story teller and seaman… Very knowledgeable of the area, historic vessels on the water, local culture and personalities…

Repeat Guests

Our 4th trip

Our 4th trip with Captain Green and his 1st mate Simon on Lyra. My wife and I had a wonderful time making more memories together and this time we have a video done by Captain Green…

Sailing on Wren

Sailing on Wren was the best part of our week long trip to Newport. Captain Sam was so accommodating with our requests as well as an amazing sailor. We were even able to watch the Ocean One race…

• Press/Video

Schooner Aquidneck

Sailing cruises aboard Aquidneck are often the highlight of a visit to Newport.  Aquidneck is a beautiful and comfortable schooner for a relaxing Newport sailing cruise.

Aquidneck is named after Aquidneck Island where Newport, Rhode Island is located, and is an Indian name meaning ‘Isle of peace’.

She is an elegant and accurate reproduction of a late 1800s coasting schooner that was built specifically to take guests sailing in safety and comfort.

Aquidneck was built on Long Island in Southampton, New York by a family who has been shipbuilding since the 1600s!

She is one of several schooners designed by world-famous naval architect Charles Wittholz whose plans are archived in Mystic Seaport.

Aquidneck has plenty of comfortable places to sit and spread out including teak benches with backrests,  chair-height cabin tops and deck boxes.  She has wide side decks making it easy for guests to get up, move about, take pictures, and socialize with ease.  Her layout enables one to easily look outboard to enjoy the sights as well as have a conversation.

Aquidneck’s traditional full keel design provides for a smooth and stable sailing experience.  Since you sail the protected waters of Narragansett Bay, queasiness is never an issue. As one of our regular guests commented, “She rides like a Cadillac!”

Sailors and non-sailors alike enjoy their sail on Aquidneck.  Guests may help raise sails, take the helm or sit back and relax. Sailing experience is not required!

Sail through Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay past all the famous sights including Fort Adams, Hammersmith Farm, Clingstone and Newport’s Ocean Drive.  Our captains and crew are knowledgeable about all the sights and will provide light, informative commentary.

We have blankets for cool evenings and light rain ponchos in the event of a passing shower.

For private charters, we have a large, elegant, mahogany table that holds caterer platters, as well as several Igloo coolers to hold beer, wine or champagne. There is a stereo system with an iPod interface.  For private charter food and drink suggestions,  see the Food and Drink section in our FAQ .

Aquidneck sails morning, afternoon, and at sunset,  seven days a week.  Start your day with a  Morning Mimosa Sail or join us for a Classic Afternoon Cruise or Champagne Sunset Sail . Sails are approximately one hour and forty minutes.

Click here for Schedules & Rates  or see availability and Book Online .

"Beautiful boat, friendly crew and a great way to see Newport!”

AVAILABLE CHARTERS

Now taking reservations for May, June, July, August, Sept. & Oct. 2024 charters.

Google Maps Harbor Views

Check out interactive maps of New England’s harbors.

Early May, late-Sept. & Oct. weekend or mid-week special 2-day rate starting from $1,750. Additional days can be added at $500 per day during early May, late-Sept. & Oct.

contact us to schedule your private showing. -->

Yacht Charters & Sailing Vacations from 42′ to 45′ Sailboats… offering 3 and 4 cabin sailboats

Newport Sailing

School & tours.

Newport's Finest Since 1971

Call or Email

(401) 848-2266, [email protected].

Experience Newport the way it should be seen: Under Sail

Join us for a Sailing Tour of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay,  and view all the famous points of interest. We at Newport Sailing would like to introduce you to the very finest in Sailing Tours and Instruction. For over 50 years, we have introduced to thousands of people the thrill of “pure” sailing in Newport, Rhode Island, the “Sailing Capital of the World”! Enjoy delightful narrated Sailing Tour, Team Building Event, Custom Sailing Experience or Learn to Sail.

What Makes Us Special

 As a local family owned company since 1965, we pride ourselves in the personal feel of our tours and instructions and love sharing the beauty of Newport and the thrill of sailing with everyone who sets sail with our crew.

Experienced Local Crew

For over 50+ years, Newport Sailing School and Tours has been providing the finest sailing instruction and tours 

ASA Certified

We are proud to be Certified by the American Sailing Association, and to offer ASA keelboat instruction courses.

Unforgettable Scenery

Discover spectacular Newport Harbor, Castle Hill, Jamestown, Hammersmith Farm, Clingstone, and breathtaking sunsets.

What Our Customers Say:

"We had an amazing time sailing the sunset with our captain, Mike. He was a very experienced sailor and a knowledgeable person about the area...Definitely a must do when in the area!

Newport Sailing School is a great place to learn to sail or see the harbor. Mike took excellent care of our son’s safety and ensured he had the knowledge to become certified. An amazing experience!

My family of five had a great private sail today. Mike was friendly and expert. We learned a lot about sailing and about Newport history and landmarks... Highly recommend Mike and Newport Sailing.

Welcome Aboard

Sailing Cruises Departing every 90 minutes from beautiful Goat Island Marina in downtown Newport, RI, next to Newport Harbor Island Resort.

Free parking at our kiosk located at Dock A5, Goat Island Marina, 5 Marina Plaza, Newport, RI 02840.

5 Marina Plaza, Goat Island Marina, Dock A5, Newport, RI 02840

Free Parking is available here at our Kiosk.

Contact Our Crew

[email protected] | 4 01-848-2266

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Hotels with Pools

Hotels on the Water

Unique places to stay, james beard semi finalists, must-try lobster rolls, top spots for vegan food, spring break in newport, all things spring, march must-do's, best of 2024, top spring events, on-going gallery exhibits, guide to parking, first timer's guide, top 12 things to do.

boating + sailing

Newport is considered one of the sailing capitals of the world. Among its many claims to that title is the fact that it is home to the largest fleet of America’s Cup 12 Meters in the world, most of which are available for charter. Enough said.

JUMP TO BOATING + SAILING LISTINGS

• Spring on The Coast
• Ocean Drive
• Free Things To Do
• Beaches, Sailing + Water Sports
• Farms + Orchards
• Arts + Museums

Featured Attractions

• Top 10 Things To Do
• Outdoor Recreation
• Mansions + Historic Sites
• Entertainment + Nightlife
• Spa + Wellness

These listings offer some of the best experiences throughout The Classic Coast.

Best Spots for Sunrise + Sunset

Look no further, here are the top spots for sunset + sunrise in and around Newport.

Weekend Must-do's

Think: Saturday morning farmers markets, Sunday afternoon hikes along the shoreline, and some of the best meals of your life in between (we guarantee it).

Top Photo-worthy Spots

Stunning scenery is synonymous with Newport, here are 12 of the most photographed ones around.

you may also like

Best spring events.

Newport in 2024

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Explore sailing through exciting hands-on activities and exhibits that are fun for the whole family!

A personalized journey through six thematic areas begins with the selection of a boat. For sailors, they can select from one of seven on the screen; while those experiencing sailing for the first time will be given the option of a short quiz that will help them select a boat. For all, this boat will become their avatar throughout their museum experience, guiding them through the interactive elements, several of which will be specific to their selected boat.

The exhibit hall of the museum is divided into six thematic areas:

• Wind & Water
• The Making of a Sailor: Mental
• The Making of a Sailor: Physical
• Competition
• Legends of Sailing: National Sailing Hall of Fame & America’s Cup Hall of Fame

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN 10AM - 5PM DAILY

Visitors should plan on a minimum of 45 to 90 minutes for their journey through the museum. The museum experience is self-guided, but we do offer private tours. Contact us for more information.

General admission tickets are available for purchase online or in-person. Discounted admission tickets must be purchased in-person. The museum is open 10 am to 5 pm daily. The last admission is 4:15 pm, to ensure visitors have time to enjoy their museum experience.

Ticket Type

Senior (65+)/Military/College Student

Youth (11-18 years)

Child (10 and under)

Museums for All (purchase in-museum)

Ticket Price

Always Free!

Newport's Sporting Ticket

Experience Sailing, Cars and Tennis

Newport’s three sporting museums have a join-access ticket! Visitors and sports fans can visit The Sailing Museum, Audrain Automobile Museum and International Tennis Hall of Fame for the price of just two museum admissions, at $39 per adult.

Groups & Tours

For school trips, team building, and more!

The Sailing Museum and Hall of Fame is a great destination for school and youth groups. We also welcome family reunions, corporate retreats, club rendezvous and tour groups. Groups of 10 or more should contact us for a discounted price on their selected date and to organize the details of their visit. Upgrade your museum experience with a VIP guide or even a meet-and-greet with a Hall of Famer!

Contact us for more information and to make plans for your group!

© Katrina Zoe Norbom

Directions & Parking

365 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840

The Sailing Museum and Hall of Fame is located on Thames Street, one of Newport's busiest downtown streets. Centrally located, the museum is a 10-minute walk from most of the shops, restaurants and attractions in town.

Street parking is available throughout the city, but be sure to read the signs hours for Resident Parking or Metered Parking is in place. There are also multiple paid lots in and around Newport, including two just across the street from the museum.

Harbor Shuttle

Access Newport without the Hassle of Parking

For those looking to avoid the traffic, park at the Newport Transportation Center, walk across the street to Perrotti Park and take the Harbor Shuttle to Ann Street Pier. The Ann Street Pier is located right behind the museum. Make a day of it with a hop-on hop-off ticket that connects several destinations around the Newport Harbor.

Seastreak Ferry

From Providence to Newport– FAST!

Experience the majesty of Narragansett Bay on your way to the charming New England enclave of Newport, R.I. Offering quick trips from Providence, Boston and more, Seastreak will spare you the traffic-jammed frustration and replace it with a relaxing and enjoyable cruise to Newport.

Jamestown Newport Ferry

A quick trip across the bay to Newport from Jamestown

The Jamestown Newport Ferry operates from May 21 through October 10 and has five Hop-On Hop-Off stops that include Jamestown, Rose Island Lighthouse, Fort Adams, Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park. Take a quick one way trip across the bay or get round-trip tickets and beat the crowds in downtown Newport. The Sailing Museum is off Thames Street and the Ann Street drop off is right behind the building.

Accessibility

An experience made for everyone

The museum is located across two floors. Elevator access is available and galleries are wheelchair accessible. Please ask any staff member for assistance.

Respectfully, strollers, bikes, scooters and skateboards are not permitted in the museum. Thank you for your understanding.

© US Sailing / Will Ricketson

Museum Rules & Policies

The museum experience is located across two floors. Elevator access is available and galleries are wheelchair accessible. Please ask any staff member for assistance.

• Strollers, bikes, scooters and skateboards are not permitted in the museum.
• Only service animals as defined under the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are allowed.
• No smoking is permitted in the museum or on the grounds.
• Please be courteous of others and refrain from making calls or using your cell phone on speaker in the museum.
• We encourage you to try all the interactive exhibits, but please do not touch the artifacts, artwork or exhibit cases.

For the security of our visitors, staff and collection of artifacts, the following are not permitted in the museum:

• Food, drink, e-cigarettes, backpacks/oversized bags, strollers and any other objects or possessions the staff deems potentially harmful to artifacts and other guests.
• Tripods and live video are not permitted in the galleries.

COVID-19 Precautions

• The Sailing Museum follows all local and CDC recommendations to ensure the health and safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers. Based on regulatory guidance, we will continue making adjustments, which may change without notice.
• In addition to cleaning and disinfecting routines, the museum is equipped with UVC air purification systems throughout the building.

Photography is welcome, and encouraged! Please turn off your flash, and remember to tag us in your posts.

@thesailingmuseum

We could not do this without support!

Thanks to these amazing founding members and donors..

Legends Circle

Join in the Support...

We Can Build Together

Sailing has a long history, and a tradition that prepares and propels us to go forward. Each of us has learned valuable life lessons on the water, made relationships that last a lifetime and experienced the challenges, and joy, that come from sailing. This is a legacy we have the ability, and privilege, to pass on to others. The Sailing Museum will bring incredible people and inspiring stories from across the country into ONE place that is accessible to all.

Quick Links

Getting Here

The Sailing Museum & Hall of Fame

365 Thames Street

Newport, RI 02840

401.324.5761

[email protected]

THE 5 BEST Newport Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in newport.

• Boat Rentals
• Fishing Charters & Tours
• Water Sports
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding
• Speed Boats Tours
• Scuba & Snorkeling
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Parasailing & Paragliding
• Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Hammersmith Farm
• Classic Cruises of Newport
• Fort Adams State Park
• Gansett Cruises
• Castle Hill Lighthouse
• Newport Harbor Light
• Narraganset bay
• Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Afternoon Grand Tour | Gansett Cruises in Newport, RI

2. Evening Voyage with Gansett Cruises in Newport, RI

3. Morning Mimosa Cruise with Gansett Cruises in Newport, RI

4. Newport Afternoon Sightseeing Sail on Classic Sailboat

5. Newport Sunset Sail on Classic Sailboat

6. Morning Mimosa Sightseeing Sail on Schooner Madeleine in Newport

7. Newport Sightseeing Boat Tour aboard Rum Runner II

8. Newport Sightseeing Day Sailing Experience on Schooner Adirondack

9. Newport Sunset Sail on Schooner Adirondack

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Boston Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise with Up-Close View of USS Constitution

Boston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Catamaran

90 Minute Seal Watching Tour from Wickford

Sunset Cruise

Boston Day Tour by Ferry: Salem Witch Trials Past to Present

Twilight River Cruises

2 Hour Sailing Tour of Vineyard Haven Harbor and Sound

Private sailing trips around Fishers island from New London, CT

Haunted Boat Tours

Father's Day Boat Rides

Providence Architecture Boat Tour

Boat Tour of Green Jacket Shoal

Brews Cruise with Narragansett Beer

6 Hour Sailing Tour of Vineyard Haven Harbor and Sound

3 Hour Sailing Tour of Vineyard Haven Harbor and Sound

Private Yacht Charter in The Hamptons, Montauk or Sag Harbor

90-Minute Boston Harbor Sunset Sightseeing Cruise

Sunset Sail Shared Tour

Boston Summer Nights Tour plus River Cruise

What travelers are saying.

• Afternoon Grand Tour | Gansett Cruises in Newport, RI
• Newport Afternoon Sightseeing Sail on Classic Sailboat
• Morning Mimosa Sightseeing Sail on Schooner Madeleine in Newport
• Newport Sightseeing Boat Tour aboard Rum Runner II
• Newport Sightseeing Day Sailing Experience on Schooner Adirondack
• Antique Yacht Collection
• Sail on Hope San
• On Watch Sailing
• Newport Classic Cruises
• Sightsailing of Newport
• Schooner Madeleine
• Island Style Parasail
• America's Cup Charters

Welcome to New England Sailing Center

Learn to Sail and Bareboat Charter in Jamestown, RI or the British Virgin Islands

Email: [email protected] Phone: 401-619-1697 Directions: Getting to Us Contact Form: Contact NESC

ASA Sailing Certification and Courses

NESC is an accredited American Sailing Association training facility.

• Competent Crew Endorsement: Course for students and family members wanting to experience sailing without a detailed training regimen or certification.
• Basic Keelboat Certification: Two day Basic Keelboat course teaching you the fundamental principles of sailing.
• International Bareboat Cruising Certification: Five day International Bareboat Cruising Certification (IBCC) course teaching you both theory and skill requirements on a cruising yacht.
• Accelerated Bareboat Certification: Seven day Accelerated Bareboat Certification (ABC) course to complete a fast track program advancing from beginner to bareboat certification.
• Coastal Navigation Certification: Eight hour Coastal Navigation theory course teaching you how to safely navigate a sailing yacht in coastal or inland waters.
• Coastal Passage Making Certification: Five day Coastal Passage Making for advanced sailors looking for experience of at least 50 nautical miles upon coastal waters.
• Offshore Passage Making Certification: Offshore Passage Making graduates are able to skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat to any destination worldwide.
• VHF Certification: One day, covering general rules for the use and operation of VHF radios, SARTs, and EPIRBs.

NESC specials & events

Special: passage making course.

Nov. 1st – 13th Itinerary: Jamestown, RI to Tortola BVI Only 2 slots available

Phone: 401-619-1697 Email: [email protected] Contact Form: Contact NESC

SPECIAL: ASA 106 Advanced Cruising Course

Sept. 12th – 16th on Hanse 548 Itinerary: Newport, Block, Nantucket, Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, Newport/Jamestown Rate: $2,595pp Duration: 5 days

SPECIAL: Intro to sailing on J22 (a 2 1/2 hour sailing experience)

Enjoy a 2 1/2 hour sail on a J22 keelboat with tiller with New England Sailing Center and discover the principles of sailing. You can experience sailing while also having the option to gain hands on experience. The J22 offers strength, stability and speed unmatched in a keelboat of its size.

Intro to Sailing is a great option for individuals that are trying to determine if sailing is right for them before taking the Basic Keelboat course. NESC holds up to two sessions daily in both group and private formats.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 401-619-1697 Contact Form: Contact NESC

• Sailing Courses & Certifications
• Yacht Charters
• Discover Sailing
• Specials & Events
• Yacht Management
• Caribbean Connection
• Payment Center
• Getting To Us

Newsletter Signup

Email Address

By submitting this form, you are granting: New England Sailing Center, 47 Conanicus Ave, Jamestown, Rhode Island 028351, United States, https://www.nesailingcenter.com permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Contact Info

© 2023 New England Sailing Center. All Rights Reserved.   |

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Browse by Boat

• Schooner Adirondack II (4)
• Schooner Madeleine (3)
• Sloop Eleanor (3)
• Yacht Rum Runner (2)

Browse by Theme

• Cocktail Sailing (3)
• Day Sailing (5)
• Morning Mimosa Sailing (3)
• Motor Yacht Boat Tours (2)
• Romantic Sails (3)
• Sailing (6)
• Sightseeing Boat Tours (8)
• Special Events (2)
• Sunset Sail (3)
• Sloop Eleanor

Buy Tickets Now   Call to order 401-847-0000

This classic sailing yacht is the perfect way to experience Newport RI with a small gathering of friends or family.  Enjoy Newport the way it is supposed to be enjoyed: on the water aboard a sailing yacht!

Sunset Sail on Sloop Eleanor

Join us for a Newport Sunset Cruise! Experience a Newport sunset from the water.  Sail with us for an evening and take in Newport’s historical waterfront aboard this classic sloop. Smaller than the 80′ Adirondack II this boat is just as comfortable and sails even faster than her big sister. There are only 24 guest spots available on board the new boat making it a more intimate experience. (Alcoholic drinks range from $6-$7)

Afternoon Sail on Sloop Eleanor

The best way to experience Narragansett Bay is to join us for some Newport Afternoon Sailing! Our classic afternoon sails are the perfect way to see the sights of Rhode Island. Experience Newport like you never have on a sail aboard the newly built Eleanor , a 48-foot Scarano built sloop. A smooth sailing vessel with some speed to boot, the Eleanor offers a comfortable ride that is brisk and invigorating. (Alcoholic drinks range from $5-$7)

Morning Mimosa Sail on Sloop Eleanor

Step aboard for a Newport Morning Mimosa Cruise! Our classic morning mimosa sail is the perfect way to see the sights of Narragansett Bay. Experience Newport like you never have on a sail aboard the brand new Scarano built 48′ sloop. Smaller than the 80′ Adirondack II, this boat is just as comfortable and sails even faster than her big sister. There are only 24 guest spots available onboard the new boat. Within minutes of leaving the dock, you’ll forget the distractions of life on land, as you experience the joy of a leisurely sailing cruise. (Alcoholic drinks cost $3-$7)

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

See our calendar of events, private yacht charters.

Sail out into Newport Harbor and impress your guests. Step aboard the legendary Schooner Adirondack II or Sloop Eleanor for a private charter. These yachts are perfect for Corporate outings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, and more. Read more »

PUBLIC EVENTS

Sail out into NY Harbor and impress your guests. Step aboard one of our classic vessels for a private charter. These yachts are perfect for Corporate outings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Team Building and more. Read more »

• Private Yacht Charters
• Ticketed Cruises
• Schooner Adirondack II
• Press/Video
• Buy Tickets
• Contact / Directions
• Our Newport Location
• All Locations
• Information/Rates
• Terms and Conditions
• Private Sunset Sails
• Bachelorette and Bachelor Parties
• Press Contact Form
• Live Dock Cam
• Private Charters: 401-318-9728
• Tickets: 401-847-0000

Copyright © 2024 Classic Harbor Line 23 Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840 | Powered by Diedrich RPM.

Back to top

Set a course for adventure: 'Love Boat' cast reuniting for cruise – and a stop in Newport

Bernie Kopell remains proud to have never lost a patient. And that was in 12 years as Dr. Adam Bricker, beloved ship's physician/Casanova on the 1970s-1980s “The Love Boat” television series.

The popularity of Dr. Bricker and the whole ”Love Boat” series refuses to fade. Instead, thanks to four decades of reruns, Doc, Isaac, Gopher, Julie, Vicki and Capt. Stubing may be more popular than ever.

Why else would Princess Cruises keep bringing the ships' crew back again and again and again as ambassadors and stars on their Love Boat-themed cruises? All of the major actors, except Gavin MacLeod/Capt. Stubing (died in 2021), are still with us. And Kopell, Ted Lange (bartender Isaac Washington), Fred Grandy (purser Burl “Gopher” Smith), and Jill Whelan (captain's daughter Vicki) are scheduled to be aboard the Enchanted Princess for its late summer, seven-day, five-port U.S.-Canadian excursion, which includes a Day 2 (Sept. 1) stop in Newport .

“It's a dream, and I've been living my dream with Princess for all these many years,” Kopell, 90, said during a recent phone interview from his home in Tarzana, California. “And I say, lucky, lucky, lucky. Thank you, thank you.”

Christened in the fall of 2021, the 1,083-foot Enchanted Princess features 19 decks, 1,830 cabins and accommodates 3,660 guests served by a crew of 1,346. The summer Love Boat cruise starts and ends in New York City and features port stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Maine, St. John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The dates are Aug. 31 to Sept. 7.

"The Love Boat" television series started out with the Pacific Princess (actually two ships were used) on three-night Mexican cruises out of Los Angeles. With the show's popularity, the cruises expanded to Alaska, the Mediterranean, China and beyond. In their roles as ambassadors, the crew has seen even more of the world. It's one heck of a retirement gig.

“It's never-ending. It just keeps on going,” Kopell said. “We go to other places we've never been before. Just came back with the Ruby Princess. We went down to South America, Central America. All over the place. It's just a treat.”

Also loved for his five-season recurring role as hilarious bad guy Sigfried on “Get Smart,” Kopell was no sailing neophyte when he landed the role of Dr. Bricker. Kopell is a Navy veteran, having toured the world while serving aboard the USS Iowa in peacetime between the Korean and Vietnam wars. Enroute to shooting Love Boat outdoor scenes aboard Princess ships in San Pedro, California, Kopell said he would drive right by his old Navy ship.

Aboard the Iowa, Kopell's duties included teaching a GED course to help shipmates earn a high school equivalency diploma. A graduate of New York University, Kopell was also a ship's librarian. “People say, what did you do in the Navy?” Kopell said. “I said, well, I kept America safe from overdue books.”

What was 'Love Boat' like for Bernie Kopell?

"The Love Boat" was somehow given three pilot episodes before ABC brought it into its regular lineup. The first pilot featured Kopell's friend, Dick Van Patten, as the ship's physician, then named Dr. O'Neil. Kopell said ABC, which had Van Patten under contract, yanked him from "Love Boat" to star in “Eight is Enough,” which enjoyed great success. Shortly before “Love Boat,” Van Patten and Kopell both had supporting roles on the famously flopped ABC TV show “When Things Were Rotten.” Van Patten subsequently made multiple guest star appearances on “Love Boat.”

After Van Patten lost his medical license, so to speak, Kopell landed the ship's doc role, but it was not handed to him. He had to audition where, for one of the rare times in his life, he opted not to be a nice guy. Kopell recalled wearing a spiffy nautical jacket. Another actor there to audition complimented Kopell on the jacket and asked if he could use it for his audition.

“I'm supposed to say yes and be so generous,” Kopell said. “But I said sorry. I got it for my own self. So, of course, that's how I got the part.”

Perhaps Kopell's favorite “Love Boat” episode starred dancer/actress Juliet Prowse playing one of Doc's ex-wives. The script called for the two to become, briefly, romantically reunited. Kopell said he was excited and nervous when he first saw the script. He almost went into cardiac arrest when, after a stuttering inquisition into who would play his ex, he was told it was Prowse, whom he confesses to having had a crush on. “I said oh, how lucky can I get?”

Kopell loves to mention that “Love Boat” numbered multiple Academy Award winners among its guests stars. In fact, he said he's writing a book on that topic. He listed Eva St. Marie, Ernest Borgnine and Shirley Jones. He and the late Borgnine, of “McHale's Navy” fame, became close friends.

Kopell said he routinely watches “The Love Boat” on Sundays at 5 p.m. on his Channel 54. Recently, his 21-year-old son, after watching dad on an episode, complimented Kopell for being fit and trim. Kopell said he stayed fit by playing a lot of tennis and skipping rope, which he is shown doing in at least one episode.

Kopell said that today, at 90, he still whacks the tennis ball around. “Keep coming at 'em. That's been my motto since the beginning,” he said.

Kopell said that when he first came to Hollywood, his agent told him he wasn't handsome enough to be a lead nor gooney enough to play a “heavy.” Kopell survived those first five years by playing roles that called for a Latino accent.

His German/Austrian accent served him so well as Siegfried on “Get Smart.” To this day, fans of the show ask him to recite famous lines, often from an episode where he is captaining a KAOS (the self-professed international organization of evil) submarine which is the target of good-guy depth chargers. After one charger shakes the submarine and his crew starts to scream and run about in fear, Siegfried grabs the microphone and barks out, “This is KAOS. You will not panic until you are given the order to panic.”

After another depth charger rocks the sub much more severely, Siegfried again grabs the mic and this time cries out, “Prepare to panic.”

Kopell said he never had a contract to do his “Get Smart” work. At the same time, he also had a recurring role on “That Girl,” starring Marlo Thomas. He said he got to know the ABC schedulers well and was able to shoot “Get Smart” on Mondays and Thursdays, and do “That Girl” on the other days.

Love Boat cruise is 'like coming home'

He also remains close friends with “Get Smart” co-star Barbara Feldon and with Marlo Thomas, and still meets them for dinner when he's in New York City.

Which is where he will be on the last day of August for the Love Boat cruise and yet another reunion with people he considers family. From the beginning of "Love Boat," he said, the cast got along very well. The chemistry was great.

And it's still the same come cruise time.

“It's like coming home,” Kopell said.

Rooms are still available for the late-summer Love Boat cruise which stops in Newport. Visit  www.princess.com  for details.

12 America's Cups. 3 Ocean Races. Is there any doubt Newport is the US Sailing Capital?

NEWPORT – Google "What is the sailing capital of the U.S." and the answer might surprise those from Newport.

The results page greets searchers with "Annapolis, Maryland" in large text, accompanied by an April 2023 article by Travel + Leisure magazine extolling everything you need to know about the mid-Atlantic coastal town.

It takes a handful of links before a Newport entry makes the case for the title, but what does Google really know?

It’s hard to find somebody in Newport who would contest the city’s title as the sailing capital of America. People locally might give Annapolis an honorable mention out of pure politeness, but ask sailors who have been to both harbors and the consensus is clear.

Daniel Schoenefeldt was born in Germany but fell in love with sailing after moving to New Jersey 10 years ago. The engineer and three of his friends had been planning their sailing expedition from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to Newport for The Ocean Race stopover since last October, and they made the excursion in Schoenefeldt’s Beneteau First 30 and his friend Tony Montemurro’s Beneteau First 375, arriving in Newport Friday evening. They had to motor through the ripping tides of the East River but got a good stretch of sailing in once they hit the Rhode Island Sound.

The Ocean Race in Newport: Boats fill Newport Harbor, spectators clog shoreline as Ocean Race boats depart Newport

“Of course, Newport is the sailing capital of America!” exclaimed Schoenefeldt, who has also sailed his 30-foot boat from New Jersey to Annapolis by way of the Delaware-Chesapeake Canal. “Annapolis is nice, but it feels more centered around the Navy. The Navy is here (in Newport) too, but there are lots of small crafts, everybody is sailing, and there is a huge concentration of industry and public interest in sailing here.”

Of course, it was easy for Newport to lay claim to the title last Sunday. It was a beautiful, sunny day that more than made up for Saturday’s poor conditions, almost a bit lacking in windspeed for the in-port race but prime viewing conditions for sailing diehards and curious tourists alike to watch the fleet of cutting-edge IMOCA 60 racing sailboats kick off leg five of the around-the-world Ocean Race, a transatlantic sprint starting in Newport and finishing 3,500 nautical miles later in Aarhus, Denmark.

This marked the third time Newport has served as the North American stopover point for The Ocean Race. Not to mention that between 1930 and 1983 the America's Cup was held 12 times in Newport.

Beyond the racing events, the National Sailing Hall of Fame moved from Annapolis to Newport, opening in the Armory building on Thames Street in 2022.

'This institution belongs here': A peek inside The Sailing Museum in the heart of Newport

“Newport is the sailing capital of America,” said Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, “and with every event we host, like the Ocean Race, our heritage with the sport grows deeper.  When sailors and their teams come to Newport they don’t just find spectators, they find fans.”

In addition to a robust crowd watching from the shoreline of Fort Adams State Park, a fleet of hundreds of civilian craft of all shapes and sizes, under power and under sail, lined the shores of Jamestown and Newport, gently jockeying for position at the edges of the course to watch The Ocean Race teams head north past the Newport Bridge during the in-port race and then south out the East Passage of the Narragansett Bay and out to sea for the start of their dash to Denmark.

“This Ocean Race is unique,” explained Khamsyvoravong, “because thanks to the premier sponsorship of Newport-based 11th Hour Racing, there was a strong focus on the health of our seas. We saw our state and local government take action in the form of resolutions supporting ocean rights and over 5,000 students came to the race village to learn about the sailing and the health of our oceans. Most importantly, we saw our community, led and organized by Sail Newport, come together to support the event and its important message about ocean rights.”

It is true that the presence of 11 th Hour Racing in Newport has only enhanced the City-by-the-Sea’s longstanding legacy as a hub of elite offshore sailing and strengthened Newport’s status as an international destination for sailors and fans of the sport. Through the lens of the international competitive sailing community, Newport is one of the most famous destinations in the entire world.

Though the folks in Annapolis have their own thoughts on the matter.

“While some may view it as a double entendre, our destination will always boast itself as America’s Sailing Capital due to the fact that Annapolis is the preeminent sailing gateway to the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s Capital City,” said Kristen Pironis, executive director of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County – the destination marketing organization for the Greater Annapolis region. “But all kidding aside, both Annapolis and Newport, Rhode Island, are two vibrant sailing destinations that visitors from around the globe need to experience for themselves to better understand who the true winner is – and while visiting, help us to settle another score… who really has the best seafood?” she laughed.

A record on the high seas: Cole Brauer becomes first US woman to sail solo around the world

On Thursday, Cole Brauer made history, becoming the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world. The 29-year-old from Long Island, New York, celebrated at the finish line in Spain by drinking champagne from her trophy.

Friends, peers and sailing enthusiasts had been cheering Brauer on since last October, when she embarked on her more than four-month journey.

Race organizer Marco Nannini told USA TODAY he started the Global Solo Challenge to "create a platform for sailors like Cole to showcase her skills and move on to a pro sailor career."

While at sea Brauer kept her more than 400,000 Instagram followers updated − and entertained − with videos from onboard First Light. The trip was extremely challenging and physically exhausting, Brauer said in one video from December.

In the post, she describes how frustrated she felt when she had to fix and replace different parts of the boat.

"I don't want you guys to think I'm like Superwoman or something," Brauer said. "Right now I've been feeling just broken," she added, describing how she had to fix the boat's autopilot system after injuring her torso against the side of the boat's hull amid intense waves.

Who is Cole Brauer?

Brauer is from Long Island and competed for the University of Hawaii sailing team. She went to high school in East Hampton, New York, her university team website says. She was the youngest of more than a dozen sailors, or skippers, in the Global Solo Challenge.

The professional sailor lives in Boothbay, Maine, and during the spring and summer, she can be also found in Newport, Rhode Island, gearing up for races, the Newport Daily News reported last year .

Brauer has sailed on First Light, a 40-foot yacht, for over five years, the outlet reported.

"I always said I wanted to race around the world in this boat," she told the newspaper.

From above and below First Light's deck, Brauer shared aspects of her journey with followers and die-hard sailing fans.

On New Year's Eve, she donned a dress and danced at midnight , and in another post, she showed off how many pull-ups she can do.

As the only woman racing solo, nonstop around the world in the first Global Solo Challenge, Brauer said she was determined to prove there's nothing women and girls cannot accomplish.

"I push so much harder when someone's like, 'No, you can't do that,'" Brauer told NBC Nightly News . "And I'm like, 'OK, watch me.'"

Brauer is the first American woman to sail solo around the world. But Kay Cottee of Australia was the first woman in the world to accomplish the milestone, sailing off from Sydney Harbor in Australia in November 1987 and returning 189 days later.

On her profile page on the Global Solo Challenge website, Brauer said she wanted to send a message to the sailing community that it's time to leave its male-dominated culture in the past. In the profile, Brauer took aim at a lack of equal pay and what she describes as harassment in the sailing industry.

"Just as well as this community has built me up it has broken me and my fellow female teammates down. I am doing this race for them," Brauer said.

Brauer and her spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How long was Cole Brauer at sea?

Brauer was sailing for over four months after departing on Oct. 29.

She finished second in the race, behind a sailor who departed about a month before she did.

The start times differed because that first place boat, Phillipe Delamare's Mowgli, is much slower, Nannini said, explaining the race's staggered start times.

"The format means that if you enter on a slow, small boat you can still win, which makes it much more inclusive than an event where a bigger budget is a definite advantage," he said.

France's Delamare will win first-place prize money of 7,500 euros (about $8,140), Brauer will win 5,000 euros (about $5,430) and the third place finisher will win 2,500 euros (about $2,710), Nannini said.

How dangerous was Cole Brauer's sailing race?

A medical team including a nurse and a physician trained Brauer and sent her on her journey with medicines and medical supplies, in case of any health issues, according to her Instagram account.

Early in the race, Brauer administered her own IV with a saline solution after she became dehydrated, according to one video posted to her social media.

Brauer's most serious health scare happened in early December when she said gnarly ocean conditions caused the boat to jolt, throwing her across the inside of the boat and slamming her hard against a wall.

Her ribs were badly bruised as a result, and her medical team told her to alternate between taking Advil and Tylenol, Brauer said on Instagram.

"Rigging up a sleeping seat belt has been added to my priority list," she said in the post's caption. "I know I'm very lucky that this wasn't a lot worse."

What is the Global Solo Challenge?

The inaugural Global Solo Challenge is a nonstop sailing race in which competitors departed last year from A Coruña, Spain.

The race encompasses nearly 30,000 miles and takes place mostly in the southern hemisphere.

After leaving waters off the coast of Spain, sailors travel south and around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The race then includes the two other capes that together make up the famous three great capes: Australia's Cape Leeuwin and South America's Cape Horn.

About half of the other competitors dropped out of the race, according to racing data posted online by the Global Solo Challenge.

Delamare finished the race late last month after embarking on his journey in late September 2023, according to race data.

Contributing: Associated Press

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

Inside the Just-Opened Gardiner House, a Newport Hotel With a Rich History

By Lilah Ramzi

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.

A visit to Newport, Rhode Island , is incomplete without a tour of Bellevue Avenue’s famous homes. Though their original owners (Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans) dubbed them “ country cottages ,” they stand as imposingly as any mansion on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue. We’d even go as far as to argue that these homes—properties like Marble House, The Elms, and The Breakers—are the coastal New England town ’s main draw. But there are also the ones you can’t tour, the privately-owned mansions that you need an invitation to step inside. The alternative? You can check into Newport’s newest hotel Gardiner House.

Opened late last year, Gardiner House is a 21-room property located on Lees Wharf, directly next to the International Yacht Restoration School. The hotel’s proprietors, Wirt Blaffer and Howard Cushing, have a deep connection to the town—especially Cushing, whose 1860s family home, The Ledges, inspired much of the interior design of Gardiner House. (The original white Stick-style Victorian house of The Ledges was built by Cushing’s great-grandfather, the artist Howard Gardiner Cushing, and has sat on a cliff perch overlooking the town’s member’s club, Bailey’s Beach, for 150 years.)

This elder Cushing, a celebrated painter whose works can be admired at the Newport Art Museum , painted the entryway of The Ledges with a powdery mural in rose quartz-pink and turquoise blue, featuring butterflies mid-flight and peacocks on the branches with viney weeping willow trees. A wallpaper of the very same mural, digitally reproduced by twenty2 Wallpaper + Textiles, now greets guests of Gardiner House hotel in a loving nod to the Cushing family home. As guests walk up a winding staircase alongside the mural, they’ll notice unfinished traces of flora and fauna, as well as cracks in the artwork. Howard Gardiner Cushing passed before he could finish it, and the charming patina of the 100-plus-year-old mural is reflected in its recreation—a thoughtful design choice that winks to Newport’s rich design legacy.

“I love the immediate reaction people have when they walk into [Gardiner House],” says Cushing. “It’s like, ‘Okay, this is different, and I’m going to have so much fun here.’” Of paying homage to his great grandfather’s artwork, he says, “It wasn’t something I thought about recreating, but given the opportunity with Gardiner House—the idea of recreating the mural there was such an obvious yes. ”

Traces of “Old Newport” abound as you tour the property. Take a conversation-starting pair of wicker peacock chairs picked up from a sale at the 1904 home Clarendon Court, or the second-floor Sun Room, arranged like a Gilded Age indoor-outdoor space with clusters of seating and palm fronds.

Located in a former shipyard just off bustling Thames Street—which leads you to Newport culinary institutions like The Black Pearl and Clarke Cook House—Gardiner House is also uniquely positioned right on the wharf, offering views of the Newport Harbor and Fort Adams State Park. And what the hotel might lack in curbside appeal, it more than makes up for in views, which have been wisely designated to the hotel’s public spaces for maximum impact.

By Emma Specter

By Clarissa Schmidt

By Jeanne Ballion

No two guest rooms are quite alike, yet what unites them is their bright and cheery textiles—think wobbly stripes or block-printed floral motifs—and their year-round sunny feel, courtesy of sisal rugs, wicker seating, and burled wood accent furniture. As for the activities on offer? Cushing has high hopes his family’s Lobster boat—which one welcomed JFK for a fishing excursion—will be rehabilitated and can tour around hotel guests. In the meantime, the hotel has partnered with local charter companies should hotel-goers be interested in a sunset cruise. (Gardiner House also offers a beach picnic experience—parasols and all—and provides bicycles for roving the town.)

The aforementioned Sun Room, meanwhile, offers guests a cozy spot to take their continental breakfasts with a view of the harbor. The buzzy Studio Bar welcomes guests and locales (there are “liquor lockers” for frequent patrons) alike a spot to enjoy a cocktail by the fire. And later this summer, a restaurant on the top floor of the three-floor hotel will open, serving coastal Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant will be one of the few Newport spots with a view—most of those belong to private houses, as Cushing and Blaffer are very well aware.

“Gardiner House has a spirit and feel that is familiar to Newporters, but hasn’t existed in a hospitality concept in Newport. Walking into the hotel is like walking into a house on the water full of art and unexpected design, and views that transport you into another world,” says Cushing, “But now, this scene exists in a hotel.”

Booking details for Gardiner House:

Amenities: Complimentary breakfast, free parking, restaurant, bar

Address: 24 Lees Wharf, Newport, RI, 02840

Vogue Daily

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Architectural Digest.. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

David Evan Thomas

Oct 12, 1954 - mar 01, 2024, october 12, 1954 - march 01, 2024.

Services for David haven't been added yet. Sign up below to be notified when the services are updated.

Sign-Up To Our Newsletter

Learn more about pre-planning, check out our blog.

Let the family know who you are using our sign-in form below.

Just for verification: we never spam!

Get service directions in your inbox.

we never spam!

Get updates

Sign up to receive a notification daily whenever there is an update on this obituary.

Get In Touch

• [email protected]
• Like us on Facebook

MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME

• 375 Broadway Newport, RI 02840
• 401-846-0698

CONNORS MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME

• 55 West Main Road Portsmouth, RI 02871
• 401-683-2511