New England
The Atlantic Coastline of North America is a unique remnant of the last ice age,
whose glaciers and outflow gouged out the Bay of Fundy and the ragged Gulf of
St. Lawrence. As the glaciers retreated, they left in their wake a chain of
golden sandy islands and rocky beaches from Long Island to Labrador. Easy to
cruise because of deep water and abundant safe harbors, the Northeast Coast is
rich in seafaring traditions and attractions.
New England makes for one of the most interesting cruising destinations in the
world. Maine’s convoluted coast comprises an astonishing 2,500 miles of
unspoiled shoreline, safe harbors and an abundance of famous lobster. Small
cautions are thick fog and strong tidal currents, but huge plusses are the
incredible destinations of Bar Harbor, Camden Harbor, Rockland, Boothbay and
Portland. Whales, once nearly hunted to extinction, are making a comeback and
their return is a celebrated rite of spring.
Massachusetts is where history buffs
will remind you of this young country’s auspicious beginnings. Visit the
Pilgrim's first landing place in the picturesque harbor of Provincetown at the
tip of Cape Cod. Take a tour of the many historic sites along Boston's Freedom
Trail. Anyone who has read any of Patrick O'Brien's novels will thrill to a
visit of the USS Constitution, the famous "Old Ironsides" at the South
Boston Naval Yard.
Did you say you want to sail to the islands? How about the beautiful Elizabeth
Islands, Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket? Boston’s magnificent seaport might
be a good place to depart, starting you down a remarkable coastline that lays
claim to hundreds of islands, each with a flavor all its own.
The charming shores of Cape Cod encompass village after village of colonial
cottages standing cheek-by-jowl with Federal mansions, once home to adventurous
sea captains. Cape Cod is also the best place to go whale-watching. The best
bets are day-trips out of Provincetown to the fertile nearby Stellwagen Banks.
Right whales and Finbacks are also common off the coast of Chatham at the
southeast corner of Cape Cod.
Renown for its historic significance as a whaling port and one of the most
popular destinations on the summer circuit, Nantucket is a favorite stopover
that guarantees visitors carefree days on the beach and evenings on the town. If
ever there was a place to enjoy the traditional New England Clam Bake, this is
it! If fishing is your passion, Nantucket's summer and early fall runs of
striped bass and bluefish are second to none in the world.
Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline offers everything from quiet rivers such
as the Sakonnet to the active city of Providence; from the sandy beaches of
western Rhode Island to the Bermuda of the north – Block Island – named so
because it is easily reached from any direction. You might easily join your
charter yacht in Newport, a perennial favorite with the yachting crowd. Touring
the historic mansions and taking tea at the croquet club should be on your
itinerary.
Safely within Long Island Sound and
out of the way of most Atlantic waves, the Connecticut shore makes an easy place
to join a yacht. Enjoy the narrow streets and stoic taverns of Mystic and its
fabulous Seaport Museum. Visit the old ship-building village of Essex, the
submarine base in Groton, or the busy, yet peaceful shores from Guilford to
Greenwich. This is a great area from which to mount antiquing expeditions.
Slip into the Big Apple and see it the way the natives rarely do -- from the
deck of a luxury yacht. This is the way to do Manhattan, escaping the madding
crowd at the end of each day by returning to your yacht at North Cove. A cruise
up the Hudson River passing fabulous estates enroute to West Point is an
enchanting departure from the traditional Northeast cruising itinerary.