10 great places for sailors to take a brand-new tack
— -- Summertime invites boaters to sail away, but you don't have to be regatta-ready to enjoy the wind at your back. Chris Santella, author of Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die, shares favorite spots to raise the sails.
AnnapolisMaryland Citizens of Newport have been known to dispute Annapolis' moniker as "America's Sailing Capital," Santella says, but the city is undeniably the hub of the mid-Atlantic sailing community. "While it is home for some high-profile races — and the U.S. Naval Academy — a favorite nautical amusement for many Annapolites are the Wednesday night races, sponsored by the Annapolis Yacht Club, where 150 boats or more may compete," he says. 888-302-2852; visitannapolis.org
MarbleheadMassachusetts"Quaint Marblehead is custom-made for sailing, with water on three sides and a deep natural harbor," Santella says. "Historically, it was where Bostonians came to moor or race their sailboats." The port is a popular spot for starts and finishes of numerous races. "If there's one week to soak in the ambience of Marblehead, it would be the Marblehead Race Week, held each year at the end of July," he says. 781-631-2868, visitmarblehead.com
NewportRhode Island Home to America's Cup races, this historic vacation spot for the well-heeled is a sailor's mecca. "Newport has it all: a deep-water harbor, a large navigable bay, easy access to the ocean and a great funneling sea breeze," Santella says. "Making landfall in Newport via the East Passage with the wind behind you is one of sailing's great moments." 800-976-5122, gonewport.com
Biscayne BayFlorida "Biscayne Bay boasts beautiful turquoise waters, extending some 35 miles south from Miami to Key Largo," Santella says. "One highlight of the racing season is the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, an Olympic qualifying event that draws 600 of the most talented sailors in the world." Santella suggests heading to Biscayne National Park, where "the 40 islands give a sense of what Florida was once like." 305-230-7275, nps.gov/bisc
