Onne van der Wal
Veronica Brown stood on the dock at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard this past summer and looked up at the masts and hulls around her. After decades working in Newport, she still finds it remarkable how much the waterfront has changed.
“We had a 250-foot boat pull in between two similar-sized vessels,” says Brown, director of experiences at the shipyard. “Twenty years ago a 90-footer was considered enormous. Now boats are often double or triple that length.”
Like many popular cruising destinations along the East Coast, Newport has adapted to the rise of megayachts and superyachts. Docks and services have expanded, and technicians now need advanced skills to maintain increasingly complex onboard systems. The Newport International Boat Show, now in its 55th year, has also grown, offering more boats on display and a richer slate of educational programming than ever before.
Despite that growth, Brown is proud that Newport has preserved its character. While marinas now accommodate much larger vessels, the city’s identity remains rooted in traditional sailing culture: winches, halyards and spinnakers are still central to daily life on the water.
“Newport has evolved while sticking to its roots,” Brown says. “Things change with the times, but it’s still a fantastic place to sail. There’s almost always wind here, which helps make Newport a U.S. sailing capital. Some might argue for Annapolis, but in summer we usually get a bit more breeze.”
The steady wind means Newport’s harbor stays lively with sailboats of every size. Where other cities are defined by landmarks—San Francisco’s bridge, Manhattan’s skyline—Newport’s signature is a panorama of colorful sails and a community that lives for the sea.
“Our main thoroughfare is America’s Cup Avenue, so the history and pedigree are on display every day,” Brown explains. Racing is constant on Narragansett Bay—Wednesday night fleets can number 30 to 40 boats. Sail Newport has added a fleet of J/7s available for experienced sailors to charter, and the New York Yacht Club hosts many regattas that bring visiting boats to the shipyard.
Local clubs also keep competitive sailing in full swing. The Ida Lewis Yacht Club recently introduced a women’s fleet of Herreshoff 12½s that race on Tuesday nights, and the Newport Yacht Club organizes regular regattas. Beyond club racing, charter options include classic schooners like the Madeleine and Adirondack, powerboats such as the Rum Runner, and restored 12-Meter America’s Cup yachts that are available for cruises, corporate events, or match-racing charters.
It’s common to spot renowned sailors strolling Newport’s compact streets or swapping stories at a neighborhood bar after a race or an event at the U.S. Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame on Thames Street.
Onshore attractions are equally compelling. Brown admits she sometimes scrolls through visitors’ social posts to remind herself of the range of boutiques, restaurants, and cultural experiences the city offers. Newport’s mix of maritime life and vibrant downtown makes it easy to combine sailing with dining, shopping, and sightseeing.
Historic tours and cultural sites deepen Newport’s appeal. Mansion tours highlight National Historic Landmarks from the 18th and 19th centuries. Touro Synagogue, built in 1763, is the oldest surviving synagogue in the United States, and St. Mary’s Church, where John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953, remains a notable landmark. Visitors can play on the grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, enjoy the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk with its ocean views, or tour the Blue Garden designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.
Newport also hosts polo matches, respected jazz and folk festivals, and even a kite festival—a lighthearted reminder of the city’s reliably breezy conditions. “You can do all these things on land,” Brown says. “See the church where JFK and Jackie were married, go shopping and dining, and then head out for a sail.”
Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard itself is woven into the fabric of the community. The property hosts the Newport Bermuda Race crew party every other year, the annual Newport Charter Yacht Show each summer, and the Newport Yacht Rendezvous, a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. “We’ve hosted the rendezvous for the last 12 years, and over that time they’ve raised $6 million,” Brown says. “We’re very proud of that.”
Newport’s balance of tradition and progress—maintaining its sailing heritage while accommodating modern yachts and events—keeps the city both timeless and contemporary. “We try to give back and stay part of what makes Newport’s fabric so strong,” Brown says. “It’s a little bit of everything: history, culture, and a deep love of being on the water.”
This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue.