Join us for Our Special America's Cup Charter!

Prepare for one of the biggest summer events at Classic Harbor Line - The America's Cup Regatta on Friday, June 19!

Two old racing yachts, Columbia and Heritage, will race in Narragansett Bay and the Adirondack II is the official spectator boat! This means our Adirondack II will follow the speedy vessels for the entire 12 meters between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.


Above: Heritage is a racing yacht that participated in former America's Cup races.

The Regatta will test the skills of both the crew and the design of the boats, which used to be main competitors in the famed America's Cup races. Though the international race has been held in Newport before, this year it will serve as a place to test the skill of winning vessels of the past.

America's Cup is the most well-known sailboat race there is, and dates back to a race held in 1851 in England! In fact, the rules as of 1857 state that wherever the race is held, boats from around the world must travel to the racing site on the same boat, however unsuitable for the ocean, that they intend to race. It was when this rule was changed, in 1956, that the race was shortened to 12 meters and the participating boats became smaller and more manageable, both physically and financially. This 50s-era model of the race is the one we know today.

Tickets for the America's Cup boats are $68/person and Adirondack II is $40/person. Please call 401.862.8441.

Can't Get Enough of the Water?

Classic Harbor Line kicked off its season this weekend, and our new cruises were a success!

So what are sailing enthusiasts to do when their trip is over? Visit the Museum of Yachting, of course!

This summer, there are three new exhibits at the Museum, including a history of The America's Cup, a boat race to England that - for several years - started from Newport. Our own Adirondack II has ties to the race: In 1851, the first year of the race, a vessel called The America won the first place title, and the race was named after the boat. In 1995, Scarano Boat Building, who built the Adirondack II and operates Classic Harbor Line, crafted a replica of the famous America. Today, that replica is in San Francisco.

A model of the original schooner, America

Not only can you learn about history by visiting Newport's yachting museum, but you can also learn about the science and engineering it takes to make a vessel in the new exhibit on ship and yacht models, which just opened May 16.

Finally, a 133-foot long schooner yacht called the Coronet is currently being restored in Newport (the ship dates back to 1885!), and the Museum offers visitors the chance to get a glimpse of what Victorian era life was like on the yacht. After seeing the exhibit, visitors can take a ferry to watch the Coronet being restored!

We hope you enjoy the Museum of Yachting in Newport, Rhode Island!

Thanks to everyone who helped make our first week back on the water a success!

Get Ready for the Annual Great Chowder Cook - Off!

Our season at Classic Harbor Line officially starts this weekend! Our website has gotten a facelift, and one of the Newport summer traditions - the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off - is right around the corner!

On Saturday, June 6, chefs from around the country will battle it out for the title of Best Clam Chowder. The best part? You can sample all of the entries! (In fact, chefs will cook up more than 3,000 gallons of chowder in just one afternoon.)


The restaurant to beat this year is The Skipper Restaurant of South Yarmouth, MA, which competed against more than 30 other restaurants last year to win the most coveted title.

But other restaurants from last year's competition have reason to be proud. The Blue Mermaid Chowder house of San Francisco, for example, took second place in Most Exotic Chowder category in 2008, and will look to take home a first place award this year. Other categories include Clamcakes Category, Creative Category, Seafood Category, Best Decorated Booth, and Most Spirited. First prize winners for the the clam, seasfood and creative categories receive $1000, and the pretigious title for the entire year.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the lovely Newport Yachting Center, and features live Reggae and other world music bands playing in the courtyard during the afternoon. Tickets to the event are $20/advanced purchase and $17 if you take your chances to get in at the door.

There's plenty more to learn about the 2009 Newport, Rhode Island, Clam Chowder Cook-Off, including profiles of competing chefs! Can't wait to see you there!

Captain Andrew Prepares to Sail from Key West to Newport

On May 10, the Adirondack II will say goodbye to Key West, and Captain Andrew Neuhauser and seven crew members will sail the schooner to Newport, Rhode Island, where it will stay for the summer and fall.

The trip is a long one - it took seven and a half days to sail the schooner down to Key West, and their journey could be significantly longer depending on weather and currents. The crew sails through the night, rotating in three-hour shifts on deck and then taking nine hours off. Captain Andrew says its important to be alert, because even though there are long stretches of little activity, short bursts of very hard work are necessary throughout, as currents can make the trip tough, especially along the North Carolina coast. "It can be a walk in the park or completely difficult," he says.


Another issue is the wind. In Key West, Captain Andrew says he usually deals with wind at 18 to 20 knots, but this year the wind has been at 25 to 30. This made for a more adventurous season, and despite the record low temperatures, Captain Andrew says most guests loved the breezier, more intense sails.

The crew takes enough food for ten days, and keeps it healthy. Captain Andrew says he'll pack salad, meat and bread, but he tries to eat as little as possible because the temptation to binge can get so great.

Four of the crew members are from Newport, and are flying down to Key West to help out. With more than 100 years experience between them, the crew is ready for their journey, whether it be six days or twenty. Back in Newport, the crew will undergo orientation and training refreshers, and begin their season Memorial Day weekend.

Classic Harbor Newport Season Begins May 24!

We're excited to announce that the Adirondack II will soon make the trip from Key West to Newport and arrive at Bowen's Wharf on May 20! After a few days of re-orienting the crew and spiffing up the schooner, we'll host a special two-hour Welcome Back Sail on May 24th at 4pm!

Our special sail is $35/person, includes light hors d'ouevers, and the first chance to sail on the schooner that's been raking in sailing wins in the monthly Key West Racer's Cup event. At the end of each month, our very own Captain Andrew Neusauer has gone up against four other schooners in a race to a large reef off Key West Bight, where cargo ships would get stuck and looted in the 19th Century. The "wreckers" who would arrive the scene first got to keep the wrecked ship's cargo, and the legend of the "Wrecker's Reef" was born. In 2009, the Adirondack II is consistently the fastest "wrecker," making it to the reef in about an hour and a half.

While the Adirondack II has been staying in shape in the warm weather, we've been preparing for its return by redesigning our website (our new site is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks!) and allowing our customers to finally buy Classic Harbor Line merchandise online!

Many of our guests ask us about purchasing apparel, and we're proud to announce the following list of affordable Classic Harbor merchandise:

Classic Harbor T-Shirts in Green and White - $15

Classic Harbor Hats in Green and Khaki - $15

Classic Harbor Sweatshirt in Green - $30

Classic Harbor Golf Shirts in Green and White - $25

Classic Harbor Jersey Polos in Green and White - $20

We hope you can join us on the Adirondack II in Newport for our Welcome Back Cruise!

Join Us on the Adirondack II for Your Corporate Event!

You don't have to be a boating enthusiast or a seasoned sailor to enjoy a trip on the Adirondack II. In fact, some of our best reviews come from people who joined us unexpectedly - for a birthday or work event!

"Following a busy all-day meeting, it was great to unwind with coworkers aboard the Adirondack II. We had a small group of 6, but it was clear this would be a great outing for a couple, a family, or work associates. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable, and I would definitely book another trip for this type of work outing."
-a review from our unedited ticketing website, zerve.com.


Taking out the schooner for a private charter is the perfect way to thank your staff for their hard work without all the fuss of dressing up for a fancy dinner and renting a banquet hall. When you charter the Adirondack II, we cater to specifically to your needs and are happy to serve dinner and drinks on the sail!

A ride on the schooner is both exciting and relaxing, and offers the perfect, elegant but low-key experience that so many businesses look for in a corporate event. Some of our previous charters include:

Snapple

American Express

Microsoft

Columbia University

NBC

Saks 5th Avenue

and more!

To host your corporate event on the Adirondack II, send us a message on zerve, or call our Newport office at 401-862-8441.

The Newport Summer Sailing Schedule is Here!

This season, the Adirondack II in Newport will have five daily sails, and host many classic favorites with some notable new twists! We're also excited to introduce two special sails this season, a Father's Day Sail and a 4th of July Sail. Plan ahead and get tickets now for our new sails and special events!


DAILY SAILS

The Mimosa Sail: Is there anything better than our popular post-breakfast 11 a.m. sail? Of course there is! Our popular post-breakfast 11 a.m. sail... with endless, complementary mimosas!

Classic Afternoon Sails: Our 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. sails are back! As always, beer, wine, soda and water are all just a $1.

Dark and Stormy Schooner Sail: No, we don't mean the weather! Join us for a 5 p.m. sail that fits right into that nook of time when you just wants to relax, but you don't want to waste the day's last hours of sunshine. While you're at it, try a Dark and Stormy, the national drink of Bermuda! The delicious concoction of dark rum and beer will leave you wanting more... so treat yourself, our Dark and Stormy drinks are complimentary! Also complimentary are our shrimp cocktails, the perfect appetizer for this pre-dinner sail.

Sunset Sail: Adirondack II veterans know this sail well. Our 7 p.m. sunset sail catches Newport at its most elegant and romantic!

SPECIAL SAILS

Father's Day Sail: Fathers sail free on the 1 p.m. sail June 21st! Take dad out for a sail and a picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit and cookies to celebrate!

4th of July Sail: Two hours of the best view of the Newport fireworks display, plus complimentary hors d'ouvers and beverages make this sail one of the biggest hits of the season. Reserve you spot for the 4th of July Sail now before it's too late!