August 24th, 2018
BREAKERS
The second summer cottage that we visited was Breakers which made up for its ugly exterior with an opulent, some might say vulgar, interior. Whatever you feel they are breathtaking and it was interesting to see the degree of cutting edge innovation that was folded into the design.
One of features of ones time in Newport was to throw lavish parties that got more and more out of hand as time ticked on. One lady threw a party for a hundred dogs who were dressed up and sat at a huge table. Another planted a big orange grove in the garden and had two full orchestra performing!!!
August 24th, 2018
KITES
Just had to add these kites for they were amazing thanks to colour, scale and the fact that the swimmers legs went up and down as they swam.
August 24th, 2018
The Elms
Newport Rhode Island has a lot to offer on many fronts but for me its the summer cottages that stand out. It was here that the great and the good congregated for the summer and demonstrated their wealth. The British would call it a pissing contest and these guys could piss like a race horse.
There are lots of them remaining thanks to a restoration trust that was set up after twenty-two had been demolished, one for a car park. We visited two and our favorite was The Elms, what's extraordinary is that they were only used for eight to twelve weeks a year.
August 16th, 2018
NY Yacht Club
One of the absolute highlights of Newport was being invited to the NY Yacht Club for an evening meal on the terrace overlooking the harbour. We met Chris, Kara and their lovely family in the Bahamas and promised to catch up with them in their home port. We felt like royalty as the club launch picked us up with a uniformed cox. Chris and Kara could not have been more gracious and the club is just amazing. Sunset saw us all stand for the canon as the Stars and Stripes were lowered. I just love how patriotic the Americas are.
August 16th, 2018
Limes Disease
There is a big problem here abouts with ticks and Lyme disease and so it was good to see the local community in Cuttyhunk pulling together with an elegant solution. This is toilet tubes stuffed with cottonwool with a few drops of Permethrin. It doesn't affect the mice as they pinch it for making winter nests but it does knock off ticks that would normally reside with them.
August 16th, 2018
Newport
This is as we enter Newport Rhode Island where we are having a great time.
For a start its a trip down memory lane for I have finished three transatlantic races here. We also celebrated our first wedding anniversary in the town.
Its a lovely place and we will spend a few days here exploring the town, museums etc etc
August 16th, 2018
Cuttyhunk
From Nantucket we had a lovely sail to Cuttyhunk which is a stunning little Island that reminds us of the Scilly Islands for its charm and lack of cars. The community is small, very welcoming and so it was nice to have the time to soak it up. As you can see we are now heading west having decided to save Maine for next year. The decision was made by circumstance in that we lost two and a half weeks to a Volvo recall and another two weeks to a big job in Europe. This meant that we would have been very rushed and thats not what this trip is about. We will do Maine properly next year and explore our way back to the Annapolis Boat show with time to linger in places we like. It feels like a weight has lifted. Time, its always about time isn't it? If you Google Earth Cuttyhunk we are anchored in the inner pond.
August 16th, 2018
LYNX
This is a replica of one of the US ships that gave the Royal Navy such a spanking. You don't need to sail her to know that she is fast, elegant and will run rings round a cumbersome warship.
