When my girlfriend suggested sailing lessons as an activity on our vacation, I was a bit apprehensive. It wasn't being on water that bothered me, it was learning to sail a boat surrounded by billion dollar yachts. We decided to give it a shot at Sail Newport. When we arrived there weren't too many signs pointing to the sailing center. And it only seems as if one person was actually working there. Luckily we got checked in rather quickly and we met our instructor Peter. After picking out some life vests we went down to the dock and got into our boat. After Peter took the boat out onto some open water, he gave steering to my girlfriend and rope duty to me. All I really had to on rope duty was pull them tight whenever the sail switched direction. After a few minutes of sailing, my girlfriend and I switched. Steering was a bit more complicated but I got the hang of it eventually. Peter was a great instructor, we didn't feel nervous at all despite it being our first time sailing. Honestly this was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Newport! You can't visit the sailing capital of the east coast and not give it a try. read more

When in the sailing capital of the world Newport, why not learn to sail. Sail Newport is located over by historic Fort Adam's. There you can rent a boat, after you pass a sailing test. Or you can learn what it's like to be command of your own boat. Everyone there is very nice and extremely helpful. They have years of experience being on the water. You will have the most memorable time. When people ask, what did you do in Newport. You can proudly say you learned how to sail. read more

Went out on an hr sail with Captain Jack today -- really fun experience. My husband & I wanted to get our 1 yr old twins out sailing and all the stars allowed for such today. It poured an inch of rain this morning, then cleared and out came the sun; the wind came in as well, but just the right amount. Jacks in town for the summer from Ireland and is quite the skilled sailor-- definitely recommend him and Sail Newport! Staff in general are really kind; I believe it was Dimitri who helped with the life vests for our babies. read more

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We took the 2:20 sail, today, on the Adirondack II and enjoyed every minute. I cannot remember the name of our captain but my husband & I both agree that she did an awesome job. The sail was smooth & comfortable & the crew attended to every need & answered every question asked by the passengers. Beverages were offered during the sail and some interesting information about the Newport coastline was also included. read more

Excellent way to introduce kids to sailing. They use J22's which are 22.5 foot sail boats. The boat was in excellent condition and easily fit the instructor, myself, my husband and my 14 yo son. Definitely a try on a visit to Newport as sailing is the theme of the city and a major part of its background. Instructor was good, and while it wasn't super windy on the day we sailed, it was breezy enough to have a nice sail through the Harbor out to Narraganset Bay. We received some light instruction on working the sails and tiller, and info on weather considerations and the basic rules of the waterways related to sailing and we had a go at handling the main and jib for the duration of the sail which was a lot of fun. The instructor was friendly and happy to answer any of our questions. Very economical cost wise and lots of fun. read more

Jack took us sailing. He was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We felt very safe and had an excellent time

The staff is fantastic! This is a great way to experience sailing as a beginner or as an experienced sailor!!

My friend and I had a great "Try Sailing" experience here, with Caroline as our instructor. So much fun!!

We did the "Try Sailing" experience which was basically sitting on a boat while the guide sailed. The guide was nice but not very informative. We had to ask a lot of questions to receive information. I thought this was going to be more hands on, but we weren't allowed to steer or do anything except sit for an hour. Really disappointing. It should be renamed "Watch Someone Else Sail" because there was definitely no trying involved. read more

I have rented from Sail Newport three times and each time was a great experience. The staff is helpful, easy going and friendly.The boats, J 22's are very well maintained with sails, hardware and running rigging in good condition. The boats are responsive, fast , easy and fun to sail. The venue of the Southern East Passage of Narragansett Bay provides a beautiful landscape and the multitude of classic sailboats on the bay adds to the ambience. I became a "member" this year which provided me with significant savings and I am happy to support this wonderful world class community resource. I am a R.I. native, no longer living here, but Sail Newport draws me back each year. read more

I had stopped in at SailNewport during the off season just to pick up some information for a birthday gift for Gster. My first impression was very helpful, and my lasting impression was 5 thumbs up (if that is possible)! Mid July, we booked a 2 hour private lesson, which for an additional $15, you can add a second person. What a deal! We were taken out by a fun Irish man, and were taught all the basics of sailing. The instructors were friendly, knowledgeable, and very experienced. It honestly felt like we were out sailing with friends, rather than paying for a lesson. Being an experienced sailor, I felt that he made us comfortable, and taught us enough about the boat and the sailing techniques to satisfy a first lesson. My hopes of making Gster a sailor are slow, but hopeful! I would highly recommend using SailNewport for a fun day out on the water (You can rent the boats if you know how to sail) or for a lesson! read more

My first experience with Sail Newport was late in the sailing season. It was mid-October, but prime time for sailing. To reserve a boat you call the office and set-up a three hour bloc. Mine was a morning reservation in a Rhodes 19. When I got there little wind was blowing in the bay so the office asked if I could come back in the afternoon. Not convenient but better than canceling. The only requirement for sailing is that you pay (obviously) and that you demonstrate you can rig the boat, jibe, tack and dock. The test takes about 10-15 minutes. One of the instructors asked me to rig the boat (we both had the same sailing instructor, but several years apart) and we went for the test. Very easy sail test headed 100 feet away from the dock - jibe around a buoy, tack back towards the dock and sit your boat against the dock. The instructor got off and I was free to go. After you pass that you are free to take the boat, with whoever you want to wherever you want within the school's boundaries. I loaded up three family members and we sailed from the school to the Newport bridge and back down to a couple lighthouses. It was very nice. I think the cost was manageable something like $90 for three hours. I would recommend to anyone with sailing skills to rent from them. I've also heard great things about their sailing programs, regattas and would love to get in a J boat eventually. read more

Sail Newport is a nonprofit group that provides sailing lessons to kids & adults, sailboat rentals, and a youth 'sailing-camp'. I have taken two sets of lessons from Sail Newport. Both times the instructors were very knowledgeable about all things sailing. You can tell they grew up on sailboats and on the water. The instruction was solid and you spend 95% of the time on the boat (J/22). For both classes there were 3 students plus the instructor. Each student gets equal 'stick' (rudder?) time practicing various maneuvers and learning how to make decisions. Membership programs are available. If you want to take several lessons and rent boats this is by far the way to go. I do not have kids but the youth program sounds like a lot of fun. I wanted to quit my job and sign up this summer! The location near Ft Adams provides a beautiful place to be out on the water. If you are interested in learning how to sail or can 'qualify' to rent a boat this is a great outfit. read more

We went to Sail Newport in late August and had a wonderful time. We weren't there on a windy day, but our instructor Ian still made it a memorable experience. I highly recommend this activity and it is a very reasonable price. read more

I have been a member of Sail Newport for three years. I have an open card, which means I can sail anytime between May1 and Oct 31. At age 76, I am sure I am one of their oldest members. I have sailed for 40 years and had my own boat until I donated it a few years ago. Sail Newport has made it easy for me to continue to enjoy sailing. Their J-22 boats are user friendly and well maintained. The standard three-hour rental times are long enough to enjoy the sailing experience between Newport and Jamestown. Staff members have expert level knowledge in all aspects of sailing and are always available for assistance. Besides the sailing, I also enjoy rigging and de-rigging, but staff is there to help also with that if asked. I have seen how well the staff members interact with sailors of all ages, even children as young as 8 or 9 who are just learning to sail. I don't know about other sailing programs, but I know a good thing when I see it. Sail Newport is an excellent organization. The people who set this up and run it have really paid attention to detail. Whether you want to learn to sail or are experienced and just want to enjoy sailing without the hassle, I can't imagine a better place to do either than Sail Newport. read more

We had weekend guests and wanted to take them on a sail. We arranged to rent a boat from Sail Newport. We picked the 4 - 7 pm block of time. When we arrived everything went smoothly, we were offered life jackets for all sizes (very convenient). There are in-building restrooms and everything was clean. The youngsters that took us out to our boat after our "captain" passed check out was kind, considerate and helped the ladies aboard. The boat was fully equipped and there were no frayed lines or inadequate equipment. We had a fantastic sail - these boats (J22) are nifty and quick, a real pleasure to sail on! The fleet is fairly new and that was impressive too. If you know how to sail and want an enjoyable sail in Newport, we recommend Sail Newport - all thumbs up!! read more

I just took my second sailing excursion with Sail Newport Beach, and I didn't believe the experience could get better than my first outing, but it certainly did. On our first adventure, we spent a bit of time in the harbor looking at the homes of the stars, and also some historical sights which were great - but all along the crew made sure we knew we can basically craft our own tour. On our second journey, we had the same captain - Lucky Us - Captain Dave - who's not only knowledgeable on the Newport Harbor and Coastline, but also taught us everything from wind, directions and boat instruments to waves and speeds, as well as all of the creatures of the ocean that we were seeing on the journey. It was as if Captain Dave turned the entire ocean into his own private zoo. We saw a young Marlin jump from the water; we watched about 50 dolphins play alongside the boat (literally less than a foot away) for over 30 minutes; we watched a whale bob his head above the water several times and the Captain Dave glided our way back in-between boats and harbor lights to make a perfect ending to an amazing afternoon & evening. The boat was in top shape; sleek, clean and all of the ammenities from kitchen to head, to top-line navigational equipment. Captain Dave explained it all to us when we asked. He was the perfect captain and host - interjecting stories when we asked, yet also allowing me and my friends to catch up while he made sure to catch the perfect breeze and swell. Idyllic !! I've sailed in most corners of the world and normally there's an Ok boat trying to be special. This experience was special without even trying, as the company has every aspect down to a science, always remembering to treat the customer as a long lost friend, and a highly prized guest. read more

Drove over an hour, 8$ in bridge toll for a private lesson only to be told that they only had one person on staff, couldn't do the lesson and it was questionable whether they could check me out so I could rent a boat on my own. Wasted my afternoon. read more

Claude was AMAZING! Great service, very friendly and insightful about the Newport area. So easy to get to shore and the boat. My best friend and I had a girls wknd and could not be happier. Highly recommend! read more