September 7-12                               Wickford, Rhode Island

Wednesday was sunny with little wind and we finally were able to depart from Newport.  Wickford is opposite the western side of Conanicut Island and a short one hour cruise past lovely scenery and homes.  Almost immediately after passing the island, we encountered Wickford Shipyard, the first of a number of marinas in the wide channel leading to Wickford.

Wickford Shipyard is a large facility which remains privately-owned by an 88 year old who comes to the office daily.  Everything is pristine and orderly.  The marina held almost 200 boats and the owners we encountered raved about the people who worked there. We were delighted to be in such a lovely place and felt confident they would take care of our boat.

That evening, our friend from Maine, Miller Dupuis and his precious little son, Miller, Jr. came to the boat and transported us to their home in Warwick, Rhode Island.  We again reunited with Ava, his wife and met other members of the family.  Miller cooked fresh lobster from Maine and steaks we had brought from Texas.  We had a feast and a great visit in their lovely home.

The following day, we took the dinghy across the channel to Wickford, a small village with many 18^th and 19^th century homes.  The shops and restaurants were charming and people were very friendly.  We had only a brief visit but look forward to returning to see more in the spring.  This is a beautiful area with considerable historical interest and we will rent a car to do some exploring.

After cleaning the boat and making preparation for our departure, we packed bags to leave.  We were fortunate to have the help of Miller.  He came as promised, carried the luggage to his vehicle, and then transported us twenty miles to the airport near Providence. Leaving our boat is always a bittersweet event.  We were eager to return home but we treasured the memories of months of happy times and great experiences.  We were grateful we had not done any damage to ourselves or to our boat.  It had been a good summer!

September 1-6                            Newport, Rhode Island

Our crossing from Sag Harbor to Newport took approximately five hours.  The scenery was lovely and the water was smooth.  The holiday weekend had begun and boats of all sizes and types were evident as we approached Newport. An active party scene greeted us as we entered the harbor.  We always marvel at the large home built on a huge rock near the harbor entrance.  It now rents for $17,000 a week .  We were treated to a magnificent sunset!

Our marina, West Winds, was the first on our starboard side after passing the massive hulk of Fort Adams.  West Winds was not our first choice, or our second, third, fourth, or fifth choice.  Waiting to be certain we had favorable winds for crossing, I had delayed making reservations in Newport and found our favorites were filled.   We were docked on the lower end of Thames Street. We liked very much the area as it was somewhat removed from the hordes clogging the streets and shops near Bannister Wharf. 

.  The sun continued for several days after our arrival and we took a long trolley ride to see the wonderful sights of Newport, including the many mansions, the church where JFK and Jackie married, and the lovely yellow Victorian home where Ike stayed as president when he came to play golf.  The Newport Country Club looks like a miniature Versailles on an isolated plain.  Newport’s ten mile Ocean Drive rivals and probably exceeds the charm and beauty of California’s Seven Mile Beach drive. 

Unfortunately, we had three active clubs with live music surrounding us.  Music (actually noise played and sung by little talented performers) continued until 1:00 AM.   On Labor Day, the noise began at l:00 PM and continued unabated until 1:00 AM.  We tried ear plugs but they were of no help.  It was the MARINA FROM HELL!!!!  With all the other marinas filled and Tropical Storm Hermine bringing rain and winds, we could not leave. The Baylor, TCU, and Texas football games brought us hours of great entertainment despite the weather outside and the noise from the clubs.

On Labor Day, the winds were so great that David chose to remain onboard.  I went seeking a book on Newport and planned a visit to the Armory and its antique collections.  It was filled with nautical treasures, books, chandeliers, and glassware.  Later, at The Mansions Shop, I found the same lovely hat Hilary Clinton was photographed wearing at the Southampton event on Sag Harbor.  Of course, I bought it.

We had planned to leave for Wickford on Tuesday but the storm continued to bring wind and rain.  None of the boats around us were moving.  Dock help came to double our lines.  There was no music on the docks and all the furniture from the bars had been moved inside.  At one time, the wind was almost 40 knots.  We were fearful our new bridge canvas would be blown away but it remained in place.

August 30-September 1      Sag Harbor, New York

Sag Harbor is renowned for its quaint New England architecture and its popularity with the rich and famous.  In the summer, its population swells with escaping New Yorkers who come there for the cool weather and the casual upscale ambiance.  Only a few miles from Southampton, another enclave of the socially prominent, wealthy, and/or entertainment megastars, Sag Harbor is a favorite docking place for those who wish to arrive in their yachts.  Although we had not been invited to any parties, we wanted to go there and experience the scene,

  After a lovely hour and a half cruise from Greenpoint, past the many beautiful homes and scenery of Shelter Island, we turned at the long breakwater into the crowded harbor.  Sag Harbor Yacht Club is a well-maintained, lovely marina with excellent dock help and located near the Main Street of the town.  Megayachts surrounded us.  It was similar to the boat show in Florida.  Some were even moored at the edge of the harbor.  We had never before seen huge yachts on mooring balls but apparently the demand was greater than the supply for adequate dockage.  The crowded marina was evidence that other boaters, like us, had swallowed hard and paid the exceptionally expensive rate (the most we had ever paid) to stay there.

As Labor Day was approaching, we were told numerous parties and events were planned to celebrate the last weekend of summer.  A Hilary Clinton fundraiser was scheduled in Southampton.  We should have had Stephanie and Amanda with us to help identify possible celebrities.  As avid People Magazine readers, they are more knowledgeable about this than we are and could have added excitement to the visit.

As a National Historic Site, the town of Sag Harbor has maintained its authenticity as a prosperous whaling and shipbuilding center during the nineteenth century.  The buildings have been transformed into modern enterprises but manage to retain much of their original exterior charm.  We spent hours perusing the many upscale shops and stores.  Small children, dogs, and very thin, tanned women in Lily Pulitzer sheath dresses were everywhere.  

 We enjoyed visiting the excellent bookstores and food shops.  We were well-stocked on the boat and did not go to any of the many restaurants (probably a mistake!).  On our final evening in Sag Harbor, we stopped at the historic American Hotel for a drink.  Our bar companion was a delightful young woman who teaches photography at the Ross School, a local prep school.  Later some of her other friends on the faculty joined us and we had a delightful conversation about the school and its students.  As a day and boarding school, Ross has a liberal arts-based curriculum but also offers sailing, equestrian activities, multi-media digital studies, and extensive overseas programs.  Tuition for these fortunate students ranges from $35,000 to $80,000 a year.  Recent fundraisers included concerts by Prince and Billy Joel. 

We were reluctant to leave Sag Harbor but Tropical Storm Hermine was threatening to bring high winds and waves to the area.  We wanted to cross Block Island Sound to Newport before the weather turned nasty.