Newport Rhode Island - Mecca for yachting
by Lisa Mylchreest on 5 Aug 2009
Newport Rhode Island sailing - always a spectacle SW
If there was one place in the world that could justifiably be called the Mecca of Yachting, it would have to be Newport Rhode Island.
Whether you want to see the venue for so many America's Cups, or explore the history of yachting, watch the restoration of wooden boats or just melt into the sailing atmosphere of the trendy foreshore, there's something for everyone.
Still to come this year, over Labor Day weekend, (September 4-6), Newport Harbor will become a panorama of majestic classic yachts when the Museum of Yachting's 30th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta, sponsored by Panerai, comes to town.
There are plenty of other attractions to keep you busy during a visit. The Museum of Yachting and the International Yacht Restoration School, located at opposite edges of Newport Harbor, launched new tours, exhibitions, and attractions both on the water and off.
From watching the restoration of a Gilded Age yacht being revived as a floating 'mansion' to spending a week building your own small wooden boat, the attractions are designed so travelers to Newport can experience the maritime traditions of New England, both past and present.
International Yacht Restoration School:
At the International Yacht Restoration School, located on the downtown waterfront at 449 Thames Street, students learn their boatbuilding trade while restoring historic wooden boats during the school term. Broken and derelict hulls enter the student workshop in the fall and emerge on graduation day, with paint and varnish gleaming. Inside the school's newly restored 1831 Mill building, one of only two mills still standing in Newport, is a new Visitor Center where travelers can learn about the school and connect with a 1pm tour that runs during the summer six days a week (Wednesday to Monday), beginning in mid-May. Unlike many stretches of coastline along Newport's busy harbor, the school docks provide unfettered public access to the waterfront, where beautiful classic yachts are berthed in the summertime.
'Mansion' in the making:
Newport may be known for its stately summer cottages. But there is a 'mansion' of a different sort in the making at the International Yacht Restoration School, where a team of shipwrights are restoring the 133-foot schooner yacht Coronet, a rare survivor of the Gilded Age. Designed with the luxury of a fine home but one that was meant to travel to faraway shores, Coronet was launched in 1885 and completed two circumnavigations, a victory in the 1887 trans-Atlantic race, a passage to Japan as a scientific research vessel, and 90 years of voyaging for a religious organization's evangelical forays around the globe. After touring the restoration, visitors can travel across the harbor to the Museum of Yachting to view an exhibit that has been specially designed around the restoration. The display includes historic photos of Coronet and details of her luxe interior—as well as information on the yacht's colorful owners and her glorious and sometimes checkered past. A water taxi runs from the school docks to the museum, past large luxurious yachts that migrate each summer to Newport.
Visit the Museum of Yachting:
Located at historic Fort Adams State Park, the Museum of Yachting (www.moy.org) opens on May 16 with three new exhibits. In addition to the display on 'Coronet: The Long Life and Revival of an Historic American Schooner Yacht,' the museum is exhibiting 'Imagination in Scale: The Practical Art of Ship and Yacht Models,' where toy-like ship and yacht models will capture the imagination of children and adults alike. The museum's display showcases the artistry, functionality, and painstaking detail of yacht models, which also served as functional tools for yacht designers and builders. The exhibit is coupled with the first public exhibit of the William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection, housed at the International Yacht Restoration School Visitor Center. A third display on 'The America’s Cup – The Newport Years' covers the rich history of the Cup, which has been closely linked with Newport since the race first came to this waterfront city in 1930. The Newport years of this legendary event were marked by innovation and legendary characters—from Harold “Mike” Vanderbilt and Sir Thomas Lipton, to Ted Turner and Dennis Conner. The museum opens on May 16 and closes in mid-October, and is closed on Tuesdays. Call 401.847.1018 for more information.
Become a boat builder for a week:
Visitors who want to experience the art of wooden boatbuilding first-hand can enroll in a Monday-to-Saturday class where students will build a wooden boat of their own. Classes run in June, July, and August at the International Yacht Restoration School and the Museum of Yachting. Kits and instruction are provided by Chesapeake Light Craft, and each course focuses on a different type of craft—from small sailing prams to kayaks, canoes, and model boats. During the week, students will have time to complete the assembly of their boat, which they will sand and finish at home. A special family week is scheduled for July 13-18, where teams of family members can work together to build an 8-foot pram. Pre-registration in the boatbuilding courses is required, and prices run from $1,299 to $3,149 (including building materials and instruction). For more information, call John Freer at 401-848-5777 (ext 203).
Package tours covering the International Yacht Restoration School, the water taxi trip across the harbor, and a tour of the Museum of Yachting are $15 for adults, $5 for children (under 18). Visitors can purchase different parts of the tour a la carte, but the package price includes discounts and is available for purchase through the Newport County Convention & Visitor's Bureau.
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