Lagoon 450

Charter Destinations

Charter Destinations

As a sailing location, New England is hard to beat.

The 700 miles of coastline encompass countless bays, islands and protected anchorages offering tranquil vistas of sandy beaches, salt marshes and dense woodlands.

The region extends from the rocky shoreline of Maine in the north, past historic Boston and Cape Cod, through the Cape Cod Canal and on into Buzzards Bay, with the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to the southeast.

Heading on west past the sailing capital of Newport, Block Island is to the south before entering the extensive and sheltered waters of Long Island Sound, with the Connecticut shoreline to the north and Long Island to the south.

At the west end of Long Island Sound, the skyline of Manhattan will rise over the horizon.

We offer some sample destinations below, clustered into groupings that could form the basis of an comfortable week-long itinerary from a Narragansett Bay base.

We would be delighted to help refine a sailing plan on further discussion, or to offer suggestions for destinations along the Massachusetts and Maine coastlines that could form the basis of trip north of the Cape Cod Canal.

Narragansett Bay and Newport

Narragansett Bay
and Newport

Considered by many to be the sailing capital of the USA, Newport and the surrounding waters of Narragansett Bay have a longstanding maritime history as well as its more recent reputation as favored a destination for recreational sailors.

Newport offers ready access to the Atlantic Ocean and is a natural deepwater harbor with many sheltered anchorages

Narragansett Bay

North of the iconic Newport Bridge, Narragansett Bay forms New England's largest estuary, with secluded anchorages, quaint villages, and comfortable harbors.

In the summer months a reliable breeze fills in every afternoon, even if the morning has been quite still. Come 1300 hours, the ripples start building and it’s time to hoist the sails.

In the summer months a reliable breeze fills in every afternoon, even if the morning has been quite still. Come 1300 hours, the ripples start building and it’s time to hoist the sails.

But nothing is far away, so a short and leisurely sail later, you’re comfortably situated for the night again.

...
Newport

Newport

Newport was once a major center of pirate activity and the whaling industry, but became reputable in the 1900s as a place to escape summer heat with wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts, Astors and Wideners constructing large "cottages" (such as The Breakers) on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Newport was once a major center of pirate activity and also shared in the lucrative whaling industry and manufacture of sperm oil, enjoying a practical monopoly of this trade until the American Revolution.

Newport became more reputable as the preferred location for wealthy southern planters and wealthy local Yankees seeking to escape the summer heat and by the turn of the 20th century many of the nation's wealthiest families were summering here, including the Vanderbilts, Astors and Wideners, who constructed the largest "cottages", such as The Breakers, on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Many Newport mansions continue in private use but plenty are open to visitors and can be seen from the cliff walk running behind them.

Many Newport mansions continue in private use but plenty are open to visitors and can be seen from the cliff walk running behind them.

...
America's Cup Yachts

America's Cup Yachts

The New York Yacht Club chose Newport as the location to host the America's Cup for many years (from 1930-2003).

Today the largest fleet of historic contenders and winners from the America's Cup are based in Newport, offering the opportunity to sail on these classic 12 Meter yachts - click here for details: America's Cup Yachts.

What is perhaps less well known is that the largest fleet of historic contenders and winners from the America's Cup are based in Newport, offering the opportunity to sail on the broad expanse of Narragansett Bay on these classic 12 Meter yachts - click here for details: America's Cup Yachts.

...

The Islands

The Islands

Within reasonable sailing distance from Newport are a number of islands, each with its own very distinctive history and character - Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket being the best known (see further down this page for Block Island).

Less well known, but equally charming as a sailing destination - mentioned first below - are the string of small islands known as the Elizabeth Islands, which form the southern border of Buzzards Bay. All of the Elizabeth Islands except Penikese and Cuttyhunk are owned by the Forbes Family, but access is permitted to the beaches and trails on Naushon Island and to several good anchorages there - Tarpaulin Cove with its lighthouse on the southern shore and the well protected Hadley Harbor at the northeast end.

Cutty Hunk

Cuttyhunk

Cuttyhunk has with fewer than 100 year-round residents but enjoys a loyal influx of summer visitors looking to share the quiet and relaxation of a small island with no cars.

Farthest southwest in the chain - and the first to be founds when heading east from Newport - is Cuttyhunk, with less than 100 year-round residents and only a few dozen houses but enjoying a loyal influx of summer visitors looking to share the quiet and relaxation of a small island with no cars.

For sailors there is the attraction of a sheltered outer bay for anchoring and totally enclosed inner harbor with a marina and moorings.

For the yachtsman, there is the attraction of a sheltered outer bay for anchoring and totally enclosed inner harbor with a marina and moorings - and freshly-caught seafood deliveries from local skiffs right to your cockpit.

...
Hadley Harbor

Hadley Harbor

At the northern end of the Elizabeth Islands is Hadley Harbor and the cut through to Vineyard Sound, passing the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located on the tip of the mainland.

At the northern end of the Elizabeth Islands is peaceful Hadley Harbor, north of which is the passage through to Vineyard Sound and Martha's Vineyard, with the world-renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located on the tip of the mainland.

This is the largest independent oceanographic research facility in the US, with staff of about 1,000 and with an exhibit center and summer tours available to visitors.

Across Vineyard Sound is Martha's Vineyard, the island used for the filming of "Jaws".

A short distance across Vineyard Sound is Martha's Vineyard, famous as the island used for the filming of the movie "Jaws".

...
Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard offers rather different flavors in its main towns.

Bustling Vineyard Haven is on the northeast corner of the island, neighboring Oak Bluffs quieter and with a residential area of quaint gingerbread cottages built in the late 1800s.

Bustling Vineyard Haven on the northeast corner of the island has ferry services to the mainland.

Neighboring Oak Bluffs is a little quieter and features a residential area of quaint gingerbread cottages built in the late 1800s.

Edgartown on the southeast corner offers a picture-book setting of grand mansions built by successful captains, its inner harbor well sheltered and with an extensive mooring field.

...
Nantucket

Nantucket

From Martha's Vineyard, a southeast reach brings the yachtsman to the entrance channel to Nantucket leading to the harbor behind Brant Point Light, the second lighthouse built in America.

Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world in the decades around 1800, with as many as 150 ships making port there.

Many pre-Civil War buildings remain intact and have been carefully restored, thus retaining all the charm of the old whaling town.

Subsequent depopulation left the island undeveloped and isolated until the mid-20th century, with many pre-Civil War buildings remaining intact and awaiting restoration, thus retaining all the charm of the old whaling town.

The Whaling Museum is a "must see".

...

Eastern Long Island Sound

Eastern Long Island Sound

Most yachtsmen will want to head to eastern Long Island and Long Island Sound via the short 15 mile sail south from Newport to Block Island, named after the Dutch explorer, Adrian Block, who charted the island in 1614.

Compact (3 x 7 miles) and shaped like a pork chop, the center of the island is dominated by Great Salt Pond, a wide body of water protected from all sides, offering 3 marinas, 90 moorings and a 75-acre anchorage which will still fill right up on 4th July weekends.

Block Island

Block Island

Block Island has 17 miles of beaches and offers hiking, horseback riding and bicycle hire.

Block Island offers extensive hiking as well as horseback riding and bicycle or moped hire. The island has 17 miles of beaches, New Shoreham town sells everything from t-shirts to antiques, and there's a full range of culinary delights on offer, from casual to fine dining.

A much-visited spot is the Southeast Lighthouse, moved back from the cliff edge by 360' in 1993 to escape the eroding bluffs.

Block Island Race Week is a major draw for competitive sailors.

The famous Block Island Race Week is a major draw for sailors in the northeast and in addition to the race courses set in Block Island Sound there is the popular Around Island Race that always seems to present challenging weather and tide conditions.

...
Three Mile Harbor

Three Mile Harbor

Heading west into Long Island Sound from Block Island, at the southern end of Gardiners Bay is well-protected Three Mile Harbor.

Heading west into Long Island Sound from Block Island - if we resist the temptation to stop at Montauk Point for a little fishing - we can pass north or south of Gardiners Island and on down to the southern end of Gardiners Bay to Three Mile Harbor.

This anchorage has marina accommodation and a town dinghy dock to go ashore for a short taxi ride to East Hampton with its Atlantic beaches, boutiques and restaurants.

Three Mile Harbor is a shallow and protected anchorage (and a great spot for watching 4th July fireworks) at the southern end of which is marina accommodation or the town dinghy dock that will allow you to go ashore for a short taxi ride to East Hampton with its Atlantic beaches, boutiques and restaurants, and where you might even spot one of a number of celebrities out for a visit to their grand mansions in The Hamptons...

...
Sag Habor

Sag Habor

Sag Harbor is a popular cruising destination and often attracts yachts over 100' long.

Sag Harbor was originally a thriving whaling town, which even gets a mention in Moby Dick, and was the first official Port of Entry in New York State, established July 31, 1789, at which time it had more tons of square-rigged vessels engaged in commerce than New York City.

Sag Harbor was originally a thriving whaling town, which even gets a mention in Moby Dick. There's a "broken mast monument" in the cemetery and many of the historic buildings date from the peak of the whaling industry in the early 1800s.

Sag Harbor was the first official Port of Entry in New York State, established on July 31, 1789, one day before the city of New York. At that time, Sag Harbor had more tons of square-rigged vessels engaged in commerce than New York City.

...
Shelter Island

Shelter Island

North of Sag Harbor is peaceful Shelter Island, only accessible via ferry, a third owned by The Nature Conservancy and kept in a wild state.

North of Sag Harbor, nestled between the north and south forks of Long Island, is peaceful Shelter Island, only accessible via ferry and a third of which is owned by The Nature Conservancy and intentionally kept in a wild state.

At the ferry crossing on the north side of Shelter Island is peaceful Dering Harbor, opposite which on the "mainland" is Greenport, the eastern terminus of the Long Island Railroad, with waterfront bars that are packed and boisterous in season.

Circumnavigating clockwise around Shelter Island brings us to the northwest of the island and the ferry crossing point between Greenport on the "mainland" and Dering Harbor on the island.

Greenport is the eastern terminus of the Long Island Railroad and is bustling and touristy, waterfront bars such as Claudio's being packed and boisterous in season...

...in complete contrast to Shelter Island opposite, where the peace of Dering Harbor prevails. Take your pick!

...
Coecles Harbor

Coecles Harbor

On the eastern shore of Shelter Island is Coecles Harbor (pronounced "cockles").

Almost completing our circumnavigation of Shelter Island, on the eastern shore we come to the slightly tricky entrance to Coecles Harbor (pronounced "cockles"). The buoys at the entrance are privately maintained and often move from year to year, but the shifting bottom bottom is only sandy, if your keel does wander.

Inside, Coecles Harbor has a marina at its west end but the natural harbor offers panoramic views and peaceful surroundings, the northern shoreline dotted with beautiful homes, the southern shore completely undeveloped and part of the nature preserve.

Inside, Coecles Harbor has a marina at its west end, with transient slips and moorings, but the natural harbor offers panoramic views and good protection at anchor in peaceful surroundings, the northern shoreline dotted with beautiful homes, the southern shore completely undeveloped and part of the nature preserve.

...
Plum Gut

Plum Gut

In order to get into Long Island Sound from Coecles Harbor, we head north up Gardiners Bay and through Plum Gut.

It's best to time this passage at flood tide in order to catch a good ride on the current going through into the Sound, leaving Orient Point Lighthouse to port.

...

At this point, heading further west down the south shore of Long Island would bring you to Port Jefferson, Northport and Oyster Bay.

At this point, heading further west down the south shore of Long Island would bring you to Port Jefferson, Northport and Oyster Bay.

Crossing over to the north side of Long Island Sound to the Connecticut shoreline opens up another long list of destinations, starting with The Connecticut River, the largest and longest river in New England at over 400 miles long.

Crossing over to the north side of Long Island Sound to the Connecticut shoreline opens up another long list of destinations, starting with The Connecticut River, the largest and longest river in New England at over 400 miles long.

Connecticut River and Essex

Connecticut River and Essex

Upstream on the Connecticut River is Essex, a famous shipbuilding center (Connecticut's first warship, 'Oliver Cromwell', being built there).

The first significant settlement upstream on the Connecticut River is the town of Essex, tucked into an idyllic spot on a bend in the river.

Essex was a famous shipbuilding center (Connecticut's first warship, 'Oliver Cromwell', being built there) and this was the reason for the British attack on the town during the War of 1812 when they destroyed 28 vessels that were ready or nearly ready for sail.

Essex retains historic appeal in the buildings lining Main Street, at the bottom of which is The Griswold Inn (known locally as "The Griz"), the oldest continuously-run tavern in the US.

The town retains much of its historic appeal in the buildings lining Main Street, including The Griswold Inn (known locally as "The Griz"), the oldest continuously-run tavern in the US.

...
New London

New London

East along the Connecticut shoreline is New London, historically both a major whaling port and naval base and today home port to USCG cutter Chinook and USCG tall ship Eagle.

Back on Long Island Sound a few miles further east is the major port of New London, sitting at the mouth of the Thames River.

New London historically was both a major whaling port and naval base and today is home to the US Coast Guard Academy and home port to USCG cutter Chinook and USCG tall ship Eagle.

On the east side of the river is Groton with its US Navy submarine base and the Submarine Force Museum with the submarine Nautilus on display. Launched in 1954, Nautilus was the world's first nuclear powered vessel.

On the east side of the river is Groton with its US Navy submarine base and also the Submarine Force Museum with the submarine Nautilus on display. Launched in 1954, Nautilus was the world's first nuclear powered vessel.

The 4th July weekend firework display at New London is quite unmatched, especially when viewed from the ringside seat offered by an anchored yacht.

...
Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport

Five miles further east lies the renowned Mystic Seaport, the nation's largest maritime museum, displaying most notably the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden sailing whaler.

Five miles further to the east and a short run up Mystic River lies the renowned Mystic Seaport, housing the nation's largest maritime museum.

Mystic Seaport has preserved, and displays afloat, a number of sailing ships most notably the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden sailing whaler.

The seaport is made up of more than 60 original buildings fully restored, and laid out to reconstruct a 19th century seafaring village.

The seaport itself is made up of a collection of more than 60 original buildings fully restored to working order and laid out to reconstruct a 19th century seafaring village. Craftsmen work on site using traditional tools and techniques to show how a seaport such as this would have operated 150 years ago.

...
Watch Hill

Watch Hill

On the north shore of Fisher's Island Sound, Watch Hill is like a miniature Newport, with a listed historic district and expensive mansions on the bluff overlooking Block Island Sound.

On the north shore of Fisher's Island Sound is a destination that attracts many visiting and local yachtsmen - Watch Hill.

Just off the town is the snug enclosure of Watch Hill Cove with a wider natural harbor beyond, bordered on the south by the length of sandy Napatree Spit.

Watch Hill is in some respects a miniature version of Newport, with a listed historic district and expensive mansions on the bluff overlooking Block Island Sound.

Watch Hill also has the Flying Horse Carousel, claimed to be the oldest in the US, which has no wooden platform to support the horses but rather they are suspended from chains and so seem to "fly" as the ride increases speed.

Watch Hill also has the Flying Horse Carousel, claimed to be the oldest in the US. Unlike most carousels, there is no wooden platform with the horses suspended from chains and so seeming to "fly" as the ride increases speed. Each horse has a tail and mane of real horsehair and a leather saddle.

...