Rhode Island Coastal Vibes

[Prairie Schooner]

Perhaps this will not be of interest to everyone, but I’ve enjoyed when others here post pictures from where you sail and interesting boats. Immediately to mind are PNW shots of mountains towering past your sailing grounds or the vast waterfront facilities from the LA area. Bepi’s report on the Amerigo Vespucci was fun.

These are some recent postcards from RI/New England.



This massive vessel has been anchored outside Newport Harbor for a week or two. Formerly Mirabella, now M5. I still can’t get over the float plane on the aft deck.
More info is in this article: https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/sailing-yacht-m5


There is an active fleet of Herreshoff S-Boats in RI and a number of them participate in a weekly race out of Newport. Number 5 is ‘Surprise’, owned by a friend. A recent race was cancelled due to fog so Fred did a couple laps around the harbor for fun.


And, sunset cocktails in our home harbor on the west side of Conanicut Island. Dutch Island and the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in the distance.

Cheers,
Jeff (& Donna)

 

[bsangs]

Great pics Jeff. Still hoping to meet you and Donna when we reach Dutch Harbor in August.

 

[Christian Williams]

M5, Ron Holland, was off Marina del REy two years ago.

Largest Sloop Megayacht by Ron Holland

M5, (ex Mirabella 5 ) anchored yesterday in Santa Monica Bay. The plane is a Carbon Cub, 180 hp, which can carry two people who have won the lottery. As megayachts go, kinda good looking I think. 230 feet, more or less. Said to be the largest sloop ever. Won't fit in the marina. But then...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[Prairie Schooner]

This past Saturday we attended the 46th annual Fools Rules Regatta in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Beach-built boats of non-marine material sail a (usually) downwind course. It’s a lot of fun to watch.

Fools Rules Regatta | Jamestown Yacht Club

jyc.org

The wind is almost always a southerly, blowing parallel to the beach so boats are typically rigged for DDW. This year it was east-southeast pushing boats into the beach. The designs that could reach a bit faired better. Most of the rudders were useless. I was kind of paying attention to engineering because I’d like to do this event some day. But, it was a hoot to just be a spectator. In the two-person category an older man and his grandson came in second on their shark boat. What a fun memory to make with your grandkids.


This proa design with a sort of main and spinnaker handily won their class.





The Viking boat in Unlimited Class was, naturally, of special interest to us.

 

[Christian Williams]

Inspiration !.

I contemplate digging a boat-shaped hole in the sand and filling it with expanding foam.

My drop cloths would make an artistic sail.

Rudder? No, a long sweep on the stern.

I feel have already won, and am clearing the fireplace mantel for the trophy.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

I guess I'm too easily impressed by BIG stuff.
Throughout the summer we've seen the 179' s/y Adele anchored out in the Bay between Newport and Jamestown. It's a whole 'nother thing to see it on land. This photo was taken at Newport Shipyard (now Safe Harbor of course). Interestingly, the keel is hollow. We could see inside where they were working on something.


This beast can be had at the local marine consignment shop. They're moving to a bigger store with a smaller consignment area so they are no longer going to take big gear in. Folks with boats big enough for this aren't bothering to shop at consignment stores.

 

[AdventurousAnton]

Perhaps this will not be of interest to everyone, but I’ve enjoyed when others here post pictures from where you sail and interesting boats. Immediately to mind are PNW shots of mountains towering past your sailing grounds or the vast waterfront facilities from the LA area. Bepi’s report on the Amerigo Vespucci was fun.

These are some recent postcards from RI/New England.

This massive vessel has been anchored outside Newport Harbor for a week or two. Formerly Mirabella, now M5. I still can’t get over the float plane on the aft deck.
More info is in this article: https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/sailing-yacht-m5

Cheers,
Jeff (& Donna)

I absolutely love Newport and Providence, and my in-laws live up near the Brown campus since Martin (FIL) is a recently retired professor of theoretical mathematics there. I used to travel to Providence quite a bit with my auto publishing career in the 90s (Howes Lubricator was based on Federal Hill, and I was buds with the owner) and I frequented Newport for sailing and the Jazz Fest (I'm a sax player).

The Herreshoff museum there...small, but so awesome!

Love the photos!

 

[southofvictor]

Excellent pics of the Rhode Island scene. Looks like a ton of fun. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Prairie Schooner]

had problems with video link, couldn't delete this post so I'm making this note and will update with working link.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

I'm always fascinated with seeing what boat life is like in your part of the world. This is a little snippet of downtime in bleak mid-winter, visiting Kismet to pump the bilge and do a little work on the coolant/exhaust system rehab. January 2, 2025. Kudos to my production staff for arranging the seagulls to compliment the tugboat. - Cheers

 

[sdwnav]

I recognize that spot! I’m a bit further south in the yard. Glad to know that I am not the only one working on winter projects; it usually seems pretty abandoned when I’ve been there.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

I recognize that spot! I’m a bit further south in the yard. Glad to know that I am not the only one working on winter projects; it usually seems pretty abandoned when I’ve been there.

Hi Steve,
I saw your boat there a couple months ago! She looks good. We're right behind that boat with the yellow bottom. We have a gray canvas cover. There's a lot to do before launch so I hope we get a chance to meet at some point.
Jeff

 

[mjsouleman]

Jeff/Donna, You two are great! We have got to get a raft up going this summer.

Mark