A Sunset Sail Through Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

One of the best ways to see the sunset in Newport, Rhode Island is to take a sunset sail in the Narragansett Bay. My daughter and I did just that in late May, 2024. We thoroughly enjoyed our 1.5 hour sail.

Newport Classic Cruises

Through Newport Classic Cruises, we sailed on a 48-foot sloop called the Eleanor. I know nothing about boats, but she seemed trim and clean. My daughter and I were pleased to find that her captain and first mate were young women. We learned first hand that they were good sailors, because on this particular cruise, they were being photographed by a photographer on another boat for a social-media advertising campaign. This translated to an exciting ride as the Eleanor, and her sister ship the Madeleine, sailed fast and made close passes for the benefit of the photographer.

Curious Sights

Another nice thing about our cruise was that the first mate always made time to answer our questions about passing landmarks. For instance, we saw the guest house for Hammersmith Farm where Jackie and John F. Kennedy held their wedding reception. The first mate of the Eleanor referred to the guest house as Jackie’s “doll house.”  She said it was built to hold Jackie’s large collection of dolls. It even had an elevator for her dog. I couldn’t verify this on the web, but it was fun to imagine young Jackie playing with her dolls in this adorable little windmill house!

The captain was also nice enough to maneuver the boat next to a buoy so I could see it up close. I had a question about whether there were actual bells on the buoys. (Shops in New England sell these marvelous buoy bells modeled after the ring tones of actual buoys.) The answer is yes, each harbor buoy does have a large bell. Cool! And of course, you can hear the bell ring as the waves rock the buoy.

Mostly, the sunset cruise is about enjoying your time on the water and taking in the view. I saw every passenger smiling or obviously enjoying themselves as we sailed around the bay. And we witnessed a beautiful sunset.

A Dinner Recommendation (from yours truly)

After our evening sail, my daughter and I ate dinner at the Southern Kitchen and Whiskey Bar on Bowen’s Wharf. I had delicious brisket, black-eyed peas, healthy coleslaw (no mayonnaise), and cornbread. My daughter had Frenchie sliders. I topped off my meal with a scrumptious peanut-butter whiskey. The meal was generous and the prices were much better than the surrounding restaurants. This is the second time I’ve eaten here and it won’t be the last.

I would sail again through Newport Classic Cruises located on Bannister’s Wharf and Bowen’s Wharf. They offer other types of cruises such as sightseeing tours, romantic tours, and cocktail tours. I think they offer good value, and it’s a wonderful way to experience a different view of Newport, Rhode Island. For more information, please see their website.