It looked like the weather was going to be like so many we have recently had here in Rhode Island... dreary, cloudy, gray. Monday morning, I've got the night off and wondering just what I was going to do for fun and entertainment. With these 8 hour shifts (ick) my nights off can be seemingly an eternity in between since I'm so used to working 12's only 3 nights a week. It wasn't raining, but looked like it would come a downpour any second.
I checked my favorite website for weather forecasts (accuweather) and right before my very eyes, it was said that it was NOT going to rain. Looking away from my computer screen and out my patio door, I'm thinking to myself, "they have got to be kidding!"
I was just itching to get out and have some fun but having a hard time deciding how I was going to spend my day. Block Island? Yes, it's awesome, to those of you who have not had the opportunity to visit it. Shopping around Boston? hmmm not really anything I need or want at the moment. Newport is always great this time of year.. nice little shops that you will find nowhere else. Newport.. the sailing capital of the world. As great as BI is, we've been there, done that many times (and I'm sure will go again) but I was yearning for something different. Something we have not done in New England before.
I woke up my children and told them to get dressed and ready to go somewhere. Puzzled, but fairly obediently, they got dressed and ready for a day out. We got in my trusty ride and headed towards Newport. We went downtown to Bannisters Wharf, where the very cool and very large schooner, Madeleine, awaited us. I used to go sailing often when I was younger, but never had my own sailboat.. would go with friends. Let me tell you, this one was a dream... all 75' of her. Beautiful teak deck and lots of room to sprawl out and enjoy. Just as we arrived at the wharf, the clouds parted and the sun begin to shine (thank you accuweather). As they only take on 16 passengers, we checked to see which sailing we might be able to go on, and luckily, due to the earlier clouds, very few people had signed up. I walked the kids around the corner to Ben & Jerry's for some ice cream, then we went back to where the boarding dock was and waited until time to go.
We were greeted by our captain and asked if we were ready to go sailing. The kids, having never been on a sailboat much less one this large were very excited. Much to my delight, we were 3 of only 7 passengers on that sailing. Although the Madeleine had a crew of 4, my children were encouraged to take part in sailing the boat... and actually took charge of the main sail while the crew served drinks and snacks and told them what to do. For such a large boat, it was quick and agile. The captain had a great sense of humor so when my son just had to go to the bathroom, he heeled the boat to port at a good 45 degrees, thereby causing my son to be unable to climb out for a few minutes haha. We've been to Newport many times but this trip allowed us to see it from another view. The summer 'cottages', the cup racing teams practicing, the busy port and all the lovely sailboats moored around the wharfs.
I can already tell from just those few short hours on the water that my kids will enjoy sailing as much as I do. Next time, we are doing a private charter on a smaller boat.. say a 33'. Oh the sun on your face, the wind in your hair. Gliding along so silently. There is absolutely nothing like it. The boat I have in mind will hold 6.. anyone want to join us?
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