Sales Home

Charter Home

Become a SailScape member. Save 25% or more on charters and courses. Join special events, see on-line calendar and more...

For more--Use the drop down menus above, or visit links below

New England--From Mystic

New England offers a combination of sailing tradition, quiet anchorages, and lively harbors. 

Cruising here offers a variety of challenges at different times of year, but the rewards of delectable seafood, challenging navigation, and quiet, friendly surroundings are more than worth the effort.

Join us to find out more...

Index...

• Getting here--our recommended base in Mystic

• The Weather

• Itinerary  A separate page on our site. Where to go, what to see, links.

• Other links

Helpful links

Itinerary

Major service in Newport area--Little Harbor Boat Yard

• Newport County Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Visit Newport
• Ocean State Online
• Bed & Breakfast Newport, Ltd
• Newport County Inns and B&Bs Association

Getting here 
Our recommended base in Mystic offers the ideal jumping off point. Not only is there a lot to see and do in Mystic, but from here you've got a variety of cruising grounds to choose from. From a short hop to a quiet cove at Fisher Island, to a leisurely sail to Block Island. Enjoy Newport. The Eastern Islands of CuttyHunk, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Deserted beaches, and quiet anchorages, or tours ashore, Restaurants with names like "The Black Pearl" the "Seaman's Inn", or "Trader Jack's" await you. Or dig for clams on the beaches of Nantucket, barbecue on the rail; hunker down at a little pub just off of main street. The choices are yours.
Our Base in Mystic...
Getting here: Follow the exits to the Mystic Seaport (Don't forget to leave time to visit here, and the Aquarium if you have youngsters along). Turn off of Greenmanville Rd. (27) on Route (1) into downtown Mystic. If you can avoid the intrigue of checking out the quaint shops and restaurants, turn at the first light over the bridge onto Water Street. Fork left onto Noank Rd. and make a left on Scheel back towards the water and onto Essex St. follow the signs into the Marina and Yachting Services of Mystic, our SailScape base.
Your host is Dick Kerr.

Weather

Weather links

Weather 
The season for New England officially runs from Memorial day to Labor day. However, there are delightful, brisk days in May, and most of September is great with the relatively warmer water of summer moderating temperatures in this earlier fall period while the crowds are way down. Memorial day, the Fourth of July and Labor day are crowded everywhere and the boats fill up early--plan ahead.
Ideal sailing occurs once the sea breeze starts filling in, generally in late morning, from the South. This lasts until late afternoon and provides ideal sailing conditions for our, generally East/West passages.
Hurricane season, primarily late June through Sept., doesn't mean that there's any great danger, just that you should be tuned in to the weather during this time as any prudent cruiser would anyway. There's good weather on the VHF, and more and more we find our charter guests bring along a lap top and cell phone with access to up to date weather from the WEB. Our boats are equipped with cigarette lighter plugs at the Nav. station to accommodate this. For under $20.00 you can get a multi plug adapter from any marine supply store (or catalog house) that will allow several pieces of electronics to be plugged in simultaneously.
Here's a great site for comprehensive information:
Weather: Mystic and surrounding area.

Text

What to see and do
For a weekend...
If you arrive to simply overnight, Friday...
Get provisioned. Enjoy Mystic. Leave early Saturday for either Block Island or Newport and return the next day. If you get an early start Friday, you can do both. Of course there's all kinds of alternatives on Long Island Sound if you've already experienced BI and Newport.
Newport...
This is, arguably, the Country's sailing capital (Argue with Annapolis!). In any case, a great town for anyone who loves sailing. Typically you'll find 12 meters racing in the harbor. The grand J boat Shamrock in attendance like a Grande Dame overseeing the activities! Stop in any pub and the talk will be of things nautical. Visit a myriad of shops, restaurants and sights. Don't miss the cliff walk--a great place to run in the morning if you're looking for exercise. Tour the mansions. Sit on the majestic lawns or cliff strewn boulders at Castle Hill. Sit under the awning in the evening with cocktails at the outside bar and watch the Sunset over Narragansett Bay with the comings and goings of fine yachts from every port in the world. Escape within yourself. Get romantic. You're part of it!
Block Island...
All of the excitement of an offshore island awaits you, though the passage is easy.
Sail by sandy beaches and enter the narrow inlet at New Harbor to a panorama of quaint cottages surrounding a large bay populated with boats of every description. Pick up a mooring (More information at our itinerary page.) or pull up to a marina (reservations recommended on weekends). Your Yacht is your base of operations. Water taxis scurry to and fro for those on urgent missions. Picking up a souvenir. Riding a mountain bike on rocky, flower scented trails. Wandering on foot through cranberry bogs. Getting lost. You're never very far from a taxi or watering hole.
Then comes the hard part. Choosing a restaurant for a succulent lobster dinner, or cooking aboard with the grill. The Choices are all good, and all yours as you laze back in the cockpit watching the sun set and the barbecue fires ignite. The tinkle of ice in crystal glasses. (Why not, we're painting an image here--besides, I always bring some fine glasses with me for just such occasions!) Lilting voices across the harbor.
What ever you elect to do, a must stop is breakfast in the morning at the "Oar". This Knotty Pine anarchism right out of the 50's features good, old fashioned breakfasts like you used to enjoy. While you're waiting for your second cup of coffee, wander around reading the messages from previous crews who left them on an oar hanging from the ceiling (get it?).
It's a short sail back, so enjoy the morning. Take a stroll or bike ride. (If you're not up for exercise, rent a mopped.) Get off the beaten path. Enjoy.
Finally, reluctantly, you have to sail back. You'll vow to come again. To spend more time next time. To see the rest of the Islands. Martha's Vineyard. Cuttyhunk. Nantucket. Watch for whales. Want to know more? See our New England Itinerary page. 

Charterers Links to visit...

(Use your back button to return to this page.)

I'm new to chartering and need to understand the basics.

I'm an experienced charter-let me see the information.

I want to see the advantages of membership

How do you get the best value in a cruising vacation?

1. Get the best price, guaranteed! With our SailScape Club you can save 25% or more on your cruising vacation. 

2. A great price on average boats doesn't mean anything. Our boats are new and more luxuriously equipped than others and, we also broker charters anywhere.

3. A program with Great prices and Great boats also needs to have Great service. The entire Club experience is designed to give you superb service from us and our partners. From every aspect, we treat you as though you are a partner in the business! Want to know more?

Or, find out more about investing...

Rates & Boats-Chesapeake

Back to index...

Quick Access to our pages-Click on any link below.

Contact us! Email us immediately

Or use our handy form so we can get you information quickly! Once you register, you will have access to even more information
410-263-2311 or 1-800-YACHT20 (1-800-922-4820)  

Visit our main office, Annapolis site. Directions, maps, links, Sail the Chesapeake-itinerary, Best of Annapolis, America's Sailing Capital--and we're on the harbor.