August
The soaring temps of August make it the ideal time to get out on—and around—the water.
For Northeast boaters, there’s little doubt the heat is on at this point in the season. Still, by the end of the month, it’s likely we’ll all be noticing that days are already growing just a little bit shorter. With that in mind, now is the time to pack your schedule full of fun on the water, coastal events and, perhaps, even a few learning opportunities. No doubt some of us have already filled out our calendars for August, but if you still have a little room and an explorer’s spirit, here’s a few more possibilities and fresh ideas to consider.
Looking for a fun and relaxing sail? Consider exploring the village of Mystic and its surrounding islands from
the spacious wooden deck of the sailing ship, Argia. Relax as you sail by scenic coastlines and lighthouses, take in the rich maritime history of the area, or help the crew hoist and trim the sails aboard this elegant schooner. Bring your own beverages and picnic basket (no hard liquor allowed), or purchase snacks when booking that will be delivered to you on board. Visit argiamystic.com.
The 44th Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival is set to welcome visitors August 16-17. Set against the stunning backdrop of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts, the event is held at Stage Fort Park, easily accessible by boat, and features more than 200 booths of American-made arts, crafts, specialty foods, and live music. Admission is free. Saturday hours are 9AM to 6PM while Sunday hours are 9AM until 5PM. Boaters can find nearby transient docking at Cape Ann Marina (capeannmarina.com). Reserve a slip in advance through DOCKWA. Visit castleberryfairs.com.
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If you haven’t visited the Connecticut River Museum, you’ve been missing out. The museum works to preserve the history and tell the story of the Connecticut River and its people through exhibits, educational programing, preservation of manuscripts, books, art, and artifacts of regional significance. It also has a beautiful waterfront park which is used as a venue for museum functions, community events, and quiet reflection. The museum’s Conquer the Current event, a fun race/regatta open to all non-motorized, safe, and seaworthy paddle craft including but not limited to canoes, kayaks, stand-up/ prone paddleboards, rowboats, surf skis, shells, curraches, and more, kicks off August 16th. Registration is $60 per solo vessel or $80 for multi-person vessels. Visit ctrivermuseum.org.
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly thrives beneath the waves of Narragansett Bay, Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium is certainly worth investigating. At this one-of-a-kind 7,500-square-foot destination, you’ll come face-to-face with the critters and species that inhabit these waters while building personal connections to the issues that challenge the health of this beautiful natural resource.
Save The Bay is a 100 percent member-supported nonprofit organization with a mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and a vision of a bay that is fully fishable, swimmable, and accessible to all. Its Hamilton Family Aquarium supports the organization’s educational goals, plus school and public programming, with the idea that the more you learn about the Bay, the more you’ll care about the Bay. Visit savebay.org.
Got a hot tip on some monster-sized Long Island Sound bluefish? Then it might be worth entering the WICC x The Surfside Hotel Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth. Yes, that’s the unabashed name of this big-money inshore event—and it fits. Slated for August 23- 24, the heaviest catch wins $25,000, but there are chances to win additional cash and prizes totaling more than $40,000. The event pays out prizes to the top 20 places, $100 for the heaviest bluefish checked in at each weigh-in station, plus $1,000 for the heaviest blue caught by an angler younger than age 18. Visit bluefishtournament.com.
-by Tom Schlichter
