Newport Maritime Center

Newport is one of those places where despite the millions and billions of dollars spent on yachts they still welcome the average sailor.   A decent anchorage that’s not completely crowded out by moorings, several free dinghy docks spaced throughout town, two centers that offer showers/wifi/lockers/laundry, and a great town for walking cannot be beat.

 

sanding the butterfly

So what do we do in a fabulous place like this?  Scrape, sand and varnish.  Yup – it was time to stop procrastinating and get a coat of varnish on the cap rails, cockpit combing, turtle, and companionway hatch.  It was hot and sticky work, but definitely made easier when done by two.

 

Once that was done we decided to enjoy ourselves.  Our friend Dave was coming in for the day for the Newport International Boat Show, so we headed into town to catch up with him over tuna tartine sandwiches at the Clark Cooke House.

 

Fort Adams

We have a bit of time before we need to get home next week, but we also know the storm Jose will be moving up the coast and bringing heavy winds, rain and big seas with it.  We decided to stay one more day and then move on Saturday, giving us a few days to move down Long Island Sound and hole up in a protected harbor before the storm hits.  Which meant we spent Friday, our 5 year wedding anniversary, in town.

 

We started the day with a tour of Fort Adams.  It’s a fascinating place to explore and the only disappointing fact was that the fort never saw action and had a chance to prove its ability to repel an attack.  If nothing else it’s now a great place to host music festivals and of course can be rented out as a fabulous setting for weddings.

heading in to the boat show

 

We then headed into town to check out the boat show.  I love the boat shows because it’s mostly a chance to talk to vendors of products you already own and confirm that you don’t really need the newest shiniest bangles.  And the boats.  Much as I love Kalyra, she was built in 1986 and it’s always fun to go on board the newest boats to see what $500,000 will get you!

 

Oliver Hazard Perry

One added bonus of attending the boat show was the chance to board the Oliver Hazard Perry.  It’s a magnificent replica of a square rigger that’s now used for Outward Bound- like programs for both kids and adults.  We saw her several times this summer in Maine and it was fun to have a chance to explore.

Newport ‘bling’

 

We’re finishing off the day with an anniversary dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town and then heading back to the boat to clean up and get ready to move on again.