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An insider’s sailing guide to yacht charter in Maine & Newport

Sailing in Newport is perfect if you seek stunning sunsets over beautiful yet understated harbours, exhilarating cruising and ultra-friendly locals. And what better way to see it all than on an Oyster Newport Boat Charter? A quintessential American summer destination, Newport is a must-visit spot for New England yacht charters, with a race calendar to entice every level of sailor, from beginners to experienced old hands. The salty air provides the perfect backdrop to explore its eclectic range of monuments, festivals and architecture on a Newport sailboat charter.

Meanwhile, sailing in Maine is ideal for explorers, with 3,500 miles of glorious coastline to discover. Historic lighthouses invite you to the horizon, whilst over 6,000 lakes and ponds mean this is one region you will never tire of cruising on a Maine yacht charter.

CRUISING AREA

Sailing in Maine and Newport on a luxury yacht charter

Those sailing in Maine, Newport and the rest of New England in the US summer season can expect warm and humid weather. In July, nearly 15 hours of daylight will mean endless hours spent out on the boat or soaking up the sun ashore, while temperatures rise to around 24°C/71.6°F and wind speeds reach up to 5 mph. And as the summer continues, so does the good weather, making it a reliable destination that as good as guarantees a good tan and lots of lasting memories.

One of the world’s favourite sailing destinations, the light winds that blow all year round here will give novice sailors on Newport yacht charters and Maine yacht charters a taste of the freedom and exhilaration a sailing charter provides. New England is most popular in July and August, when the seaside towns and cities come alive with culture and all the best lobster bars are open for business. The area is big enough to escape the crowds on your yacht but the crowds make for vibrant and bustling holiday that will have you dreaming of returning the following year.

Sailing New England on an Oyster Yacht

New England is best experienced by sailing yacht, with countless coves and stunning harbours that motorboats simply can’t reach. An Oyster Newport Boat Charter offers an unmatched on-the-water vacation, in comfort and privacy with a knowledgeable crew who will guide you through the area and cater to your every desire. It is the perfect place to enjoy watersports – snorkelling and diving, water skiing and boarding, as well as surfing. Your perfect US yacht charter awaits.

You can sail on Newport yacht charters and Maine yacht charters on one of our Oyster sailing yachts for charter, such as the stunning Oyster 625 Black Lion. The Oyster 625 offers spacious interiors for a sailing yacht, with a generously proportioned galley, a full-beam owner’s suite, two en-suite cabins forward and a fourth guest cabin a guest cabin. Designed for outdoor living, with safe navigation and easy sailing facilitated by a large cockpit, flat aft deck and forward sundeck, it is made for yacht charters.

CRUISING DESTINATIONS

Sailing in Newport 

A Newport sailboat charter offers the chance to discover historic sites hailing back to Newport’s Colonial history, alongside musical and arts festivals that light up the city and incredible beaches for sunbathing and watersports and impressive architecture. All this makes Newport the destination that keeps on giving. Start by taking a walking tour of Newport’s Old Quarter and view the magnificent mansions in the Bellevue Avenue Historic District – it’s not hard to imagine how life was here in the past. If you’re a surfer, you will want to catch some waves at Easton's Beach before enjoying a relaxed BBQ on its golden sands. If you are an art lover, you are in for a treat – Newport is home to over 30 private art galleries offering everything from contemporary artworks to the more traditional. Whatever your taste, there is something for everyone.

No Newport Boat Charter holiday would be complete without a visit to the famous Martha’s Vineyard. This picture perfect island is home to around 16,000 people but the population swells to more than 100,000 people during the summer months. Drink in the brightly-painted seaside cottages and cobblestone streets, and marvel at the pristine beaches at Chappaquiddick Point. After lunch at an elegant dockside bistro, head back to the yacht for some adrenaline-fuelled watersports.

Craving an island escape? Cruise over to Nantucket on your Newport sailboat charter, where the rich and famous go to while away the long hot summer months. Drop anchor and spend the day drinking in its one-of-a-kind history and make sure to stop by the whaling museum where you will discover how hard life used to be in this relaxing and entertaining destination. Designated as a National Historic Landmark District, it is the finest surviving architectural and environmental example of a late 18th- and early 19th-century New England seaport town. When you’ve enjoyed your fill of history, why not take a good book and enjoy some downtime on one of the delightfully uncrowded stretches of sandy beach? And when you’ve recharged your batteries, you’ll be ready for the evening. The island really comes to life at night, with vibrant harbourside nightlife which is perfect for an evening of bar-hopping and enjoying locally-caught seafood. All this gives just a taste of all there is to explore for those onboard New England yacht charters.

On land or on water, the best time to take a Newport Boat Charter is during the months of July and August, when the city bustles with activity and the weather is reliably and gloriously sunny. Don’t miss the Newport Folk Festival in July and Jazz Festival in August, both of which were established in the 1950s and have been a draw to the city ever since. (The Newport Folk Festival is infamous as the event where Bob Dylan famously ‘went electric’, much to the fury of the audience of traditionalist folkies.)

Sailing in Maine

Maine is renowned for its dramatic lighthouses, rugged mountains and enchanting sea life, found just 20 miles from the coast. With a coastline just shy of 3,500 miles, there is a lot to discover. But the joy of the area is that once you are there, you don’t need to waste time on long passages between ports – it is possible to enjoy Maine in bite-sized chunks and cruise at your leisure. The whale-watching season runs from mid-April to September and captivates thousands on crewed sailing yacht charters with the prospect of sighting humpback whales, pilot whales, minke whales and finback whales, as well as rarer visitors like sei whales, sperm whales, orcas and right whales. When you’ve had your fill of wildlife spotting, sail in Maine’s MidCoast and islands. This is a veritable paradise, with its many secluded coves, inviting harbour villages with a view and some of the best lobster you’ll ever taste especially in Swan's Island. Maine is renowned for its seafood restaurants, ranging from the local lobster shacks to five star restaurants. You can discover plenty of great places to eat and drink at in our Maine Insider Sailing Guide. 

Sailing in Maine in July and August guarantees the best weather as temperatures reach up to 25°C/77°F and wildflowers and blueberries shoot out from the bushes, adorning the landscape. These months are typically warm and mild - the perfect climate for outdoor activities and watersports. (Don’t be put off by Maine’s famous fog – it is a truly atmospheric experience that is as much part of any trip as sun-filled days.) You can hike, camp, swim, water ski, cycle, white water raft and kayak the summer away on board a luxury New England yacht charter with Oyster.

GET IN CONTACT

Learn more about how to charter a sailing yacht in New England with Oyster by taking a look at our Maine sailing guide here. Discover Oyster luxury sailing yachts for charter or contact Oyster Charter Manager, Fiona McCarthy to begin planning your trip.