New England Yacht Charters

The northeastern coastline of the United States designated as New England is an extensive area stretching from Long Island in the state of New York, along the coast and southern coastal islands of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, and up along the coast of New Hampshire, the coast and islands of Maine, and into Canada, along the coast of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton Island. While an extensive area, the coastline throughout is beautiful, with wide sandy beaches and sand dunes in southern New England giving way to rocky cliffs and pine trees further north, with towns and villages exuding traditional New England architecture, all dotted throughout with historic lighthouses. And the cold water of this New England is home to excellent seafood, including, of course, the Maine Lobster, Codfish, and Halibut, but also a wide selection of oysters, clams, mussels, crabs and scallops.

Southern New England is anchored by Newport, Rhode Island, also the historic home of the America’s Cup Races. As out of this port town, is the cruising gateway to the islands of Block Island, Cuttyhunk, the Elizabeth Islands, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, along with the southern coast of Cape Cod.

Maine offers downtown Portland, an active port town adapted from a working mill city to an artist’s haven with fine dining. And further north, after cruising past Kennebunkport and Boothbay is the sailing area of Down East Maine filled with pine covered islands and the historic fishing villages of Camden and Rockport. Everywhere you look in these coastal waters are the gaily painted lobster buoys, marking the ocean bottom location of a lobsterpot baited to catch the infamous Maine Lobster.

Southern New England and Newport

In the face of heavy seasonal tourist traffic and rampant property development, the southern New England charter yacht cruising ground steadfastly clings to its atavistic roots.

Newport, with its outrageous nineteenth-century mansions and colonial-era housing stock, maintains its classic charm. Newport reinvented itself after Australia won the America's Cup away from the New York Yacht Club in 1983, many believe for the better.

The well-known larger islands south of the Cape - Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Block Island - are all about weathered shingle cottages and cobblestone streets.

It's no great mental leap to imagine bustling wharves, sailing ships with trimmed yards unloading cargo from the four corners of the world, whaling ships and small trading schooners. The waterfront bustle of those days remains, but today yachts of every configruation compete for mooring space with the vestiges of the commercial fishing and lobster industries.

A number of the taverns that once catered to a more elemental trade remain, but many of the old waterfront buildings now house first-class restaurants and upscale boutiques.

View a sample New England Charter Itinerary.

Newport's dramatic shoreline along Cliff Walk

Weather

	Read articles about cruising and chartering in New England, and featuring Northrop & Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters: Power & Motoryacht Magazine (Oct. 2004) - Southern N.E. Yachting Magazine (Mar. 1998) - Southern N.E. Conde Nast Traveler (June 1993) - Maine

New England’s weather and climate, arguably among the most varied in the world, are influenced by many factors relating to the physical geographical setting, including the region’s latitude and coastal orientation.

However, summer temperatures, especially along coastal cruising grounds, are more predictable. By mid-June, New England’s climate is well into summer, and despite the region’s northerly and coastal location, it can be rather hot and sometimes humid. July is reliably warmer and August is warmest of all. Cool sea breezes, however, often creates the need to wear light sweaters in the evening.

Travel

Newport, Rhode Island is centrally-located in southern New England and is just an hour from points north like Boston or about three hours from New York City by car.

Trains, buses and flights to Providence's T.F. Green Airport are also available to shorten travel time to and from Newport. The main airport lies 25 miles to the north and the train station is located 20 miles west in Kingston, RI at the University of Rhode Island main campus. Smaller private/charter planes have access to Newport State Airport located just a few miles outside the city.

Best Buys

Yacht charter visitors to New England may want to pick up the ubiquitous maple syrup samples. Quaint and unique shops and boutiques are found throughout Newport, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and other favorite charter destinations. There are many antique shops as well. Favorite items include Nantucket Baskets, Black Dog hats and t-shirts, and scrimshaw.

"Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, The Elizabeth Islands and Block Island were much better than expected.  We really enjoyed our charter out of Newport.  And how else, except by charter can you see these lovely islands?" 
--Mr. and Mrs. J