Here at Captain Ace, we have listed out some of our favorite places to sail in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and even took a deep dive into sailing through Nantucket. In keeping with our theme of sailing locally, we thought we'd provide a high-level overview of Yachting in New England.
1.) Acadia National Park:
Home to one of the highest points on the east coast, Acadia National Park is number one on our list for yachting in New England for good reason. With unparalleled views and abundant wildlife including whales, seals, bears, seabirds, moose and plenty more, Acadia is on many sailors bucket list. Acadia also earns the distinction as being the oldest American National Park east of the Mississippi (although Thousand Islands, Point Peele and Ontario National Parks in Canada are older). If you are looking for some nightlife, Bar Harbor is the place to go. Home to a number of restaurants and cafe's, there are plenty of hiking and site seeing to do on the actual island as well.
2.) Newport Rhode Island:
A seaside city on the Aquidneck Island. Newport is know for their sailing competitions and beautiful houses built decades ago. Newport is also known for their strong maritime connection. Home to the Naval War College, Naval Undersea Warfare Center and one of the Countries largest Navy Training Stations, you can expect to see plenty of other folks out on the water. A major 18th-century port city, Newport now contains among the highest number of surviving colonial buildings of any city in the United States. Newport is located at 41°29′17″N 71°18′45″W with moderate to strong wind.
3.) Portland Maine:
Last but certainly not least on our list of top places for yachting in New England belongs to the always charming Portland Maine. Portland is the largest city in Maine with a population of some 66,000, but often feels like a small town. Make sure you look out for cruise liners as Portland is the second most popular cruise destination in Maine after Bar Harbor. Expect the unexpected when it comes to sailing conditions. Famous for it's constantly changing weather and rough seas, Portland can be a rather difficult sail for those not used to chopping New England water.
Let us know your thoughts. Do you think we missed any of the hot spots for yachting in New England!