The Sailing Club, Inc.

Newport To Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard August 5 – 12, 2011

Light houses, whale ships, lobsters, and spectacular sailing conditions make Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, and Block Island this summer’s must-see destination. With a day to explore Block Island and a visit to Martha’s Vineyard’s western village of Menemsha, this trip fills in the "missing pieces" of our 2008 New England cruise. We begin our adventure in Newport, Rhode Island, arriving on Friday, August 5. Get to town early and visit some of the gilded age “cottages” or museums, including the Herreshoff Marine Museum or the Museum of Yachting. We’ll take possession of our three luxury keel-boats late in the afternoon. Once we’re settled, crews will meet for a welcome dinner in one of Newport’s many restaurants, and even find some live music or shopping. First thing Saturday we’ll depart for Block Island, twenty-five nautical miles away. The Nature Conservancy has designated Block Island as "One of the twelve last great places in the Western Hemisphere." This is the island’s 350th year of settlement, and is being celebrated with cultural events and historical celebrations all year. In New Harbor in the Great Salt Pond we can take slips– depending on how busy it is. We may be side tied to other boats, so we’ll make some new friends. Or, we may take moorings or anchor. The marina makes a great base of operations to explore the island. For boats that opt for a slip, there’s a full-facility marina with swimming pool, tennis courts, restaurant and bar, bicycle and moped rental, and even a movie theatre. Seven miles long and three miles wide, encompassing seven thousand acres, Block Island is a perfect size to explore on Sunday. Call a taxi, rent a bicycle, or walk to the island’s two historic light houses. Visit as many of the island’s 365 fresh water ponds as you can. Hike some of the thirty-two miles of trails, or find a café or bar in New Shoreham – the island’s only town – and enjoy the local scene. In the evening we’ll gather at the marina’s picnic area for a barbeque, where we’ll share our stories of the day’s exploration. Monday, August 8 it’s off to Menemsha on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a rollicking forty nautical mile cruise across water that’s open to the Atlantic Ocean on the south. Depending on wind and sea conditions, this could be a wild ride or a screaming reach. One thing is certain, it won’t be a dull motor! At the end of the day we’ll anchor, or if we’re lucky we’ll be able to find moorings or slips (they only take reservations the day of arrival). There’s time Tuesday morning to visit Chillmark, the fishing village on the shore of Menemsha Pond. Speaking of the pond, we do not expect any shark attacks there during our visit to this location for the filming of that classic sea drama, "Jaws". But you can go walk on the beach and gaze out at those fictionally shark-infested waters. Or perhaps a visit to Aquinnah Cliffs (formerly Gay Head) is more appealing – the colorful, one hundred fifty foot cliffs are both beautiful and geologically fascinating. Your visit can include the Aquinnah Cliffs lighthouse – one of five on the island. We’ll depart Menemsha at mid-day to sail to the eastern end of the island and Vineyard Haven. Boats can take moorings or slips, or anchor in this large, secure harbor. Use your dinghy, or call the water taxi to go ashore and discover all that Martha’s Vineyard has to offer. Stroll along Tisbury’s shopping streets, visit the Black Dog, or catch a local bus to Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, or even Chappaquiddick. We’re on the move again on Wednesday with a twenty-five nautical mile sail to Cuttyhunk in the Elizabethan Islands. We’ll need to arrive in the early afternoon to have a chance at a mooring in this busy crossroads between Buzzard’s Bay and the islands. You can’t beat the lobster and shellfish available at the fish market on the dock, unless you call over the floating raw bar to deliver your oysters and clams right to the stern of your boat! Sick of seafood? (is that possible?) The island boasts a pizza parlor, too. On Thursday we return to Newport with a twenty-five nautical mile sail, or as many as each crew wants: sail northeast into Buzzard’s Bay, or southwest into the Atlantic, or spend more time on Cuttyhunk and make a straight run west to Newport. Your only deadline is sunset, by which you need to be secured on your mooring in Brenton Cove. Make the final night a "must go" dinner, or have that final celebratory dinner ashore in Newport. Friday morning we’ll fuel, pump out, and move off the boats. Then head for home and a relaxing weekend, or make plans on your own to stay in the Newport area and enjoy the beach and historical sites. As we depart the parking lot at Brenton Point State Park we’ll look out across Newport Harbor with fond memories of a week of challenging sailing, beautiful locations, and, best of all, great companionship. The cost of the trip is $1050.00 per person (Skipper - $545.00). This price covers charter fees and insurance. Food, fuel, slip or mooring fees, and other incidental expenses are additional and will be handled by each boat's crew. A $200 deposit is required to hold your position. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation form to Mia McCroskey at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning on April 8, 2011 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first-served basis. A second payment of $425.00 will be due on May 15, 2011, and final payment of $425.00 will be due on June 22, 2011. We look forward to seeing you on another exciting sailing trip. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mia. Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.

Trip Leader	Assistance Trip Leader
Mia McCroskey 19 Manor House Drive, Apt. K12 Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522                 914-693-0074 miamc@aol.com	Anne McCormick 318 Main Street, Suite 8 Madison, NJ 07940 973-769-6262 excelclinical@yahoo.com