Nantucket Harbor

Originally a booming whaling port, Nantucket has been named a National Historic District and has architecturally changed little since the 19th century, as seaside cottages, large Sea Captain homes, and old-fashioned lamps still line its streets. Whaling was a major industry on this island and financially left an enormous stamp, as both Sea Captains and sailors flocked to Nantucket for the highly dangerous but financially lucrative, (for the lucky), hunt for whales. At the end of the 19th century in increase in size of the whaling ships marked the end of Nantucket as the whaling and financial center, as the ships could no longer access the harbor. The industry soon moved to the larger harbor of nearby New Bedford. With the loss of the whaling business, Nantucket slumped into sleepy island life; building stopped and left the island as is in the lost heyday of the 19th century.

At the harbor front, where the great whaling ships set out on their hazardous journeys to return years later - if at all - pleasure boats now find safe harbor in one of the finest docking facilities in the world.


Downtown Nantuckt

Inland on this idyllic "elbow of sand," the wild moors open to the endless sky, as nearly 40 percent of Nantucket is protected conservation land. Several areas and habitats have natural groups of plants and animals that are now rare to this region and even the world. So cruise into Nantucket and to enjoy this natural beauty and protected land where the springtime blossom of daffodils and forsythia give way to summer’s lush flowerings of roses and hydrangea, and wander the historic streets of downtown Nantucket, peeking into secret gardens and down the alleyways of yesteryear.


Downtown Nantucket

Walk the wide sandy beaches, as beautiful as any in the world. Swim in the still, sparkling waters of Nantucket Sound to the north, or brave the mighty Atlantic along the island’s south shore. Let the pounding surf, and clean, salty air restore you. Take in the boutique shops, and explore the art galleries and museums. Celebrate Nantucket's cultural offerings year-round with theatrical performances, music, art, film, and literature. Sign on for a guided tour of the island or pick up a picnic lunch and rent a bike, a good way of discovering Nantucket for yourself.


Nantucket Beaches

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The Elizabeth Islands on the Horizon

Of the eight islands or island groups that make up the Elizabeth Islands, all but two are owned by the Forbes families, which are Cuttyhunk and Penikese. The rest of these Forbes family island holdings are private, except for Weepeckets, which can be visited. And yachtsmen are welcome to anchor in the various anchorages of these islands, even if stepping foot ashore is not encouraged. Following are the islands that make up The Elizabeth Islands.

Naushon Island: owned by the Forbes family trust.

Weepeckets: a series of small islands owned by the Forbes family, but open to the public. These islands were used as targets to practice with bombs, rockets, and machine guns from 1941 to 1957.

Pasque Island: owned by a subset of the Forbes family and covered in poison ivy, so rarely visited.

Nashawena Island: is owned by a different subset of the Forbes family and is used for grazing livestock.

Penikese Island: formerly home to a leper colony; today it houses a reform school.

Nonamesset Island is the island nearest the mainland. In the northern end of the island, is the lovely natural anchorage known as Hadley’s Harbor

Uncatena Island lies just northeast of Naushon Island

Cuttyhunk: is a public island with approximately 80 people living there year around and a natural harbor for visiting by yacht.

On the privately owned islands, several of the owning families have established summer compounds, which are tucked away and unknown, even though the size of these compounds makes this group of islands one of the wealthiest set of resort islands in New England.

With the tide between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound rushing through the gaps of land between islands, navigating in this area requires strong skills, but worth the time and effort to visit on yacht charter, as one of the few visitors per year.

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Martha's Vineyard Houses

Wealthy Boston sea captains and traders formerly built large homes on Martha's Vineyard and today the Vineyard has become one of the country's most prominent summer havens, attracting Presidents, politicians, musicians, artists and actors. This makes people think of the island as glitzy, which is not the case. It is, rather, intentionally rustic with T-shirts and flip flops more the norm. The real charm of the island lies not only as a tourist recreation destination but also as an escape from daily concerns enjoying the laconic summer days at the relaxed pace encouraged as an island lifestyle.


Edgartown Lighthouse

Edgartown, the most popular town on the island is a 22 nautical mile sail from Nantucket and a 48 nautical mile sail from Newport, Rhode Island, a popular starting location for a summer cruise of the southern New England Islands, or a yacht charter of the same. The Edgartown Yacht Club sits as a welcoming beacon at the opening of the harbor after the Chappaquiddick ferry landing, and hosts a popular sailing regatta every summer. Named after the young son of King James II of England that died in 1671, Edgartown has been in existence since 1642 with historic buildings clustered along cobbled streets many featuring the famous New England architectural feature of the Widow's Walk.


Edgartown Harbor, Katama Bay

The channel entrance by yacht into Edgartown opens into Katama Bay, which is a large bay with mooring balls and some anchorage for visitors. There is very little dockage, and most yachting visitors use a mooring ball, which can be reserved in advance, and either the ship's tender for shore access or the harbor launch or water taxi service. The south end of Katama Bay has a barrier beach that sometimes connects the neighboring island of Chappaquiddick to Martha's Vineyard. In 2007, a storm blew a hole in the barrier beach disconnecting Chappaquiddick Island from Martha's Vineyard, and causing a 3 knot current to now run through the harbor. Only yachts up to a certain size can actually access Katama Bay. Those larger must anchor outside of the channel entrance into the bay.

The Vineyard is a well known African American resort stemming from a history of racial harmony on the island when black families started vacationing there a century ago. Oak Bluffs is the center of the Vineyard's black culture. The Methodist Church sponsored summer meetings in Oak Bluffs starting in the mid 19th century that became so popular that soon permanent little summer houses were built. These little cottages that number in the 100's are now called Gingerbread Cottages due to the ornate trim work and almost doll like size that many feature. A number are still passed down within the original building family.


Oak Bluffs Gingerbread House

As the largest of the southern New England islands, you may want to cruise from harbor to harbor, visiting the three main towns on Martha's Vineyard of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, or tour the island by car or bicycle. Just like the other islands in southern New England, Martha's Vineyard has miles of beaches, blooming wild beach roses and hydrangeas, and for the tourist business, which is very important to the island, many unique and different boutiques offering something for everyone. It is easy to spend several days on or cruising around Martha's Vineyard on a cruise or yacht charter of these southern New England Islands.

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Cuttyhunk Harbor and Dock

English explorers made landfall in Cuttyhunk in 1602, 6 years before Plymouth Plantation was founded on the mainland. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, exploring the area with his men on board "The Concord", built a fort on Cuttyhunk and stayed for a month, before returning to England. Cuttyhunk was in private ownership for several centuries, owned for two hundred years by the Slocum family. In 1858, the Slocum family sold and the town of Gosnold was established and prospered.


Cuttyhunk Heading to Town

South of Cuttyhunk are the treacherous rocks of the Sow and Pigs Reef, which is a hazard to yachtsmen today; the most notable accident the 1992 grounding of the ocean liner "Queen Elizabeth". The residents of Gosnold in the 1800's created a very lucrative business guiding whaling ships in from the Atlantic to New Bedford through these treacherous waters, guiding at the height of this business as many as 11 ships a day.

However these same treacherous rocks are also an excellent striped bass fishing locations. Many world record striped bass have been pulled from these waters, and today this area remains an excellent striped bass fishing location. In the last half of the 19th century a very upscale fishing club was established on Cuttyhunk by powerful and wealthy men from New York City. From here on, island was buzzing with activity into the early 20th century, with a fireworks display every Fourth of July.


Cuttyhunk Main Street

Cuttyhunk is a mile and a half long and half a mile wide. At the eastern end of the island is an excellent natural harbor, which in the summertime offers safe haven for visiting yachts. There are also mooring balls available at the mouth of the harbor. Half of the island today is set apart as a nature preserve, and home to a wide variety of birds. There are around 80 full time residents which swells to about 400 people during the summer.

Shellfish farming takes place on the southern end of the island and striped bass fishing continues to be a large draw, however the real draw is the peace and quiet offered by this small little island with a natural harbor to easily slip into to enjoy the solitude and natural beauty of this little island.

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Newport International Boat Show

A yacht brokerage show is always organized at Newport Shipyard beside the other show docks, with launch service in between both areas. Northrop and Johnson had a presence at both the brokerage show and the Newport International Boat Show, and had brokerage boats in the water at the brokerage show for inspection and consideration. Let's hope that the next boat shows are just as successful this fall in Annapolis and Ft. Lauderdale.


Newport International Boat Show

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What to Do

Beaches: Block Island features 17 miles of unspoiled beaches, protected by lighthouses and spectacular bluffs, and surrounded by rolling roads, winding paths and wild, fragrant beach roses. Many of the beaches encompassing the island are isolated and nearly untouched providing breathtaking views and tranquility.
Two-and-one-half miles of some of New England's finest beachfront can be found at Crescent Beach. Crescent Beach stretches along the island's east coast from Old Harbor (where the ferries dock) to Clay Head, and connects with two other fine beaches, Scotch and Mansion beaches, to the north.

Lighthouses: The Block Island Southeast Lighthouse is a 52 foot brick dwelling located atop the Mohegan Bluffs on the southeastern shore. Originally built in 1875, it was deactivated in 1990 and then relight in 1994. Today it acts both as a visitor destination and as an active navigational aid to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Block Island North Lighthouse (pictured below) is located at Sandy Point, near the north end of Block Island. First erected in 1868, the lighthouse stands 55 feet tall, is made of granite, and also serves today as a navigational aid to the U.S. Coast Guard. Visitors and seamen alike can see the tower's flashing white light every five seconds.

Dining and Shopping: There are numerous restaurants, from casual cafes to fine dining, most of which offer daily caught seafood. Nightlife on the island, like most everything else, is casual. Shopping is offered along the main street in Old Harbor, where you can find books, jewelry and clothing.


Great Salt Pond

Victorian Rose

Victorian Rose, a 63' Burger motor yacht, has been lovingly restored for the last 6 years by the Owner and his father and the work certainly shows. With new woodwork throughout, the yacht is pristine with gleaming varnish and new paint. We like the interior decor with plush furniture on the aft deck for many relaxing hours and meals in this lovely area. We have known the crew for years from other charter yachts and are very pleased that they are on board. At $13,000/week plus expenses and crew gratuity, this is a great yacht to consider for charter this summer in New England.


Muse

As always, Muse, the Palmer Johnson motor yacht is back with a great crew on board. Muse is offering some charter specials this summer that are hard to beat. At 122', Muse has 4 guest staterooms and plenty of comfortable relaxing space on board.


Titan XIV

And we are always happy with Titan XIV, the 114' Valdetarro sailing yacht for 10 guests, with a great crew. Titan XIV has been in New England for several summers now and the Captain knows all of the secret spots.

Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is located right in Newport, so this is our special location. We look forward to helping you with any New England charter this summer.

Seahawk is a beautifully maintained Little Harbor available from Newport to Maine this summer for crewed yacht charter. We welcome Seahawk back in New England after a world tour that included the Marquesas and other South Pacific locations. Captain Robert has been on board this yacht as the Captain for 14 years, and obviously not only knows the yacht well, but is happy to be on board. Robert keeps the varnish inside and out gleaming. The bed linens are beautiful, but what is really an eye catcher are the art works, ships models and other décor, such as Sailor’s Valentines that make this a special yacht. The Sailor’s Valentines were collected in Barbados. Whaling artifacts were collected in Bequia. A wooden statue stands guard over the main salon, found in the Marquesas. A Nautilus Shell found on the beach in Fiji has been framed for display. These items were all gathered from special locations where Seahawk has sailed and fill the yacht is a special personality created by the very sailing history.



Seahawk has 3 guest staterooms with ensuite bathrooms. Each stateroom has a double bed and the Master Stateroom has an additional single. There is a large center cockpit for on deck dining. And a nice comfortable main salon below. Seahawk is a great charter choice for your summer charter in New England.

Available for charter through Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters

Raw Oysters

Raw oysters with their fresh taste evocative of the sea are best eaten right after opened, right on the half shell. And, of course, should be kept cold until opened. An experienced person at opening oysters can open an oyster in less than 10 seconds. Rhode Islanders tend to like to eat their fresh raw oysters with a squeeze of lemon and a bit of horseradish tomato based seafood cocktail sauce, sometimes right out of the shell or slid onto a saltine cracker. If you have flown in from Europe, you will probably like your fresh raw oysters with a little mignonette sauce made generally from flavored vinegar of your choice, chopped shallots, salt and pepper.

Here are Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters; we have become a regular customer.

Main Street Nantucket

Whaling ships eventually became too large to fit into Nantucket Harbor and the whaling industry moved to New Bedford. Taking the main industry away from Nantucket left an island locked in time, and today Nantucket is very reflective of how the island looked at the height of the whaling industry.

The Nantucket Whaling Museum is downtown and well worth visiting. Take time to visit this museum and then wander the streets of Nantucket lined with the homes of the whaling wealthy from the 19th century, many with widow's walks on the roof, used to look for the return of whaling ships into Nantucket Harbor. The town ringing the harbor is still laid out as it was when whaling ruled this island, and cobblestone streets are still evident. Spending time on this island is a look back into history and a unique industry that once centered here on Nantucket.

Camden, Maine Overview

Located at the center of the state's mid-coast region, the quaint town of Camden surrounds the sheltered harbor in Penobscot Bay, and, in turn, the town itself lies protected by steep sloping mountains. In fact, an easy hike up Mount Battie offers amazing views of the bay, Camden Hills and the town. Cruise the bay's landmarks and not only will you spot seals but, the island retreat of John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and the Onassis family. However you may be spending all of your time taking photographs of this town and harbor of classic Maine homes and buildings.

In Rockport, concerts are still performed at its 19th century opera house and the village is also home to The Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Both Camden and Rockport are home to some of the Maine windjammer fleet as well, many of which are National Historical Landmarks. While coming in or out of either harbor, you could be met by these historic sailing ships under sail, as always.


Rockport Harbor, Maine

There are plenty of superb restaurants in each town catering to the most discerning of palates. Or your Chef can create a Maine Seafood Sampler dinner right on board. Fresh native seafood is not just the ubiquitous, must have native Maine lobster. You'll also find local scallops, mussels, clams, oysters, haddock, salmon and swordfish fresh from the ocean to your plate, which is all part of the Maine yacht charter experience.

Alexander Graham Bell discovered the beauty of the Bras d'Or Lake in 1885 and in 1886 he and his wife Mabel Hubbard Bell built a large summer home called Beinn Bhreagh on a point of land jutting into the lake, just outside of Baddeck, Canada. Here Bell also built a laboratory where he conducted many of his experiments. The estate of Beinn Bhreagh is still privately owned by the family, however a very good museum of the life, work and inventions of


Beinn Bhreagh

Alexander Graham Bell is close by in the city of Baddeck along the shores of the Bras d'Or Lake. The Bell family enjoyed the lake waters as well, sailing on their yacht Elsie, which is in commission today and available for day charter.

The Bras d'Or Lake covers over 360 square miles, sitting right in the middle of Cape Breton, and is still as pristine and lovely as it was when Alexander Graham Bell was drawn to these shores. Sometimes referred to as the Bras d'Or Lake(s), this body of water is divided into a northern and southern basin, connected by the Barra Straight. The waters support a large population of salt water fish and shellfish including lobsters and oysters. The surrounding hills are largely unpopulated and have become the home and nesting grounds for Egrets and Bald Eagles.

There is a small northern entrance to the lake from the Atlantic Ocean. However, the best entrance into the Bras d'Or Lake is on the southern end, through the St. Peters Canal, built in 1868. Once inside, a calm oasis of water is found for comfortable cruising. As the lake is relatively shallow, the water temperature warms quickly under the sun resulting in far less fog within the lake region than outside this region on the Atlantic coast. These warmer lake waters also invite swimming and other water sports, at normally unheard of northern latitudes for salt water swimming.


Bras d'Or Lake Sunset

With the indented shoreline of the lake, it is not hard to find a private pristine anchorage, where oysters can be plucked from the bottom and eaten out of hand, and a refreshing swim in calm waters is just a drop over the side. Cruising the warm and tranquil waters of the Bras d'Or Lakes is a jewel hidden in the middle of Nova Scotia waiting to be explored on your next yacht charter.

Bowens Wharf

The Revolutionary War brought an end to Newport as a busy commercial port, as the British blockaded this port early during the war and overran Newport, bringing this busy port city to a standstill. Prior to the war, Newport, as the Capital of Rhode Island was in the thick of independence. The Declaration of Independence is said to have been read aloud as a proclamation for the first time from the second floor balcony of the original statehouse, still standing in Newport, and now known as The Colony House. After the Revolutionary War, both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were entertained in this building, which was both a statehouse and a courthouse and sat at the top of a wide boulevard that stretched right down to the docks.

During the Revolutionary War, Providence, Rhode Island blossomed as a commercial port and has stayed in prominence still today. Newport never regained importance as a commercial port and other than a brief flare of life at the turn of the 19th century as a summer location for the very wealthy, Newport continued as a sleepy small port, virtually locked in time, with the colonial built homes and buildings continuing in use still today. Much of the city of Newport surrounding the harbor is now designated as Historic Districts.


Ocean Drive

At the turn of the 19th century, once the wealthy from New York City and further south, including North and South Carolina, discovered Newport as a great summer location due to the constant cooling ocean breezes that blow over the island, Newport came back alive, at least during the summer months. New building started at the top of the hill overlooking the harbor on land plots laid out like large city blocks down a new road called Bellevue Avenue. This area was soon transformed into a summer play land of the wealthy who built large mansions for entertaining.

This same group discovered that late almost every morning in the Atlantic, a thermal wind began to blow up Narragansett Bay and through Newport Harbor. In sailed the massive yachts, all additional playthings of the wealthy summering in Newport. And soon the New York Yacht Club followed holding the America's Cup Races off of the shores of Newport.


America's Cup Race Course

Today, Newport is still a popular yachting location. Those same commercial wharves and docks from colonial times are still in use, but now home to large sailing and power yachts, many available for crewed yacht charter. During the summer months, Newport is the summer port for the largest number of yachts in New England. The deep water harbor and numerous docks are in use again, and full of pleasure and charter yachts for summer fun. And Newport is a perfect starting point for a crewed yacht charter as from Newport it is easy to visit the islands of southern New England such as Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, which are all a short distance away from the mouth of Newport Harbor.

Start a crewed yacht charter out of Newport, but be sure to leave time to see Newport as well, including the old historic colonial areas and the turn of the century mansions built for the comfort of the wealthy on an island that continues to be cooler in summer than the neighboring mainland and where daily thermal daily breezes, excellent for recreational sailing, continue to blow.

One unique aspect of Block Island is the large interior bay or the Great Salt Pond, as it is referred to locally. This body of water was a large salt pond until a channel was dug in 1895 connecting the pond with the ocean. This is the perfect anchorage for visiting yachts with well protected waters. In the Great Salt Pond, there is plenty of space to anchor and several marinas, if docking is your preference. In fact on busy summer days, the Great Salt Pond has been known to accommodate over 2000 boats, of various sizes.


Block Island - The National Hotel

Block Island has few year around residents, but the population swells in the summer with visitors. Downtown New Shoreham, the island township, and where the ferries dock, is a bustling few blocks, anchored by several large summer hotels that used to cater at the turn of the century to summer visitors. The largest original hotel is The National, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Drop by and you will still find rocking chairs on the long front porch of this old hotel, which is a great place to sit and take in the ocean views. There are several blocks of stores and little shops to visit. Rent a bicycle and ride around the rest of the island, which is still fairly uninhabited, and covered with wild roses.


Block Island Southeast Lighthouse

Block Island is one of 12 sites listed on the Nature Conservancy list of "The Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere. Over 20% of the island has been set aside for conservation, and is a great location for bird watchers, as Block Island is one of the natural stopping points for birds along the "Atlantic Flyway".


Block Island Beach

Racing sailors may know of the island and even visited for Block Island Race Week an annual event, for various classes of racing sailing yachts. In odd years Block Island Race Week is held by the Storm Trysail Club, a famous club for serious sailors. On even years, Block Island Race Week is held by the Block Island Race Week Organization, however whichever year it is, Block Island Race Week is a weeklong event with a series of day races for many classes and even a race to circumnavigate the island.