Update: This company is no longer operating sails.
With so much sweltering heat and humidity still to come this summer, it’s about time to think of something—anything—that will provide temporary respite from boiling sidewalks, still, stale air, and stuffy fourth-floor walkups. Whether you’re of the admirable “we all sweat together” constitution, or the less courageous but understandable “I sweat more than everyone else” crowd, there’s always the feeling that, well, it might be nice to be comfortable for just a little while. Before a dependence on air-conditioning takes hold, head for the crisp, cool breezes and rolling swells of the Atlantic.
Book a cabin on the Arabella, out of Newport, Rhode Island, and you’ll be whisked offshore on a classic, well-equipped windjammer yacht, with access to intimate island life at intriguing ports-of-call along the New England coast.
The 160’ Arabella is part of Atlantic Stars Hotels and Cruises, started over 30 years ago. In addition to hotels in Manhattan, Newport, Miami, and on Martha’s Vineyard, Atlantic Stars owns the Arabella and two other ships—the 72’ Schooner Madeleine and the 58’ Elco motor yacht The RumRunner II—which both run daily excursions out of Newport Harbor. The Arabella has 20 cabins, which are available for single or double occupancy, and also features a hot water spa and shaded cabana seating.
While using wind power to travel to northern points of interest, the crew of the Arabella strives to be ecologically conscious in other ways. During trips to the Caribbean from December to May, the chef utilizes the diverse surroundings to supplement the menu with local fruit and seafood. When the Arabella returns north to the East Coast, he ventures ashore to scour the local farmers’ markets. Additionally, you won’t find case upon case of bottled water stacked inside the cabin—the Arabella produces its own from seawater through the rapid process of reverse osmosis and 11 filters.
Space is still open for the “Star Spangled Cruise” July 2-5, which explores some of the historic and cultural points of the Rhode Island coastline. A five-night cruise in mid-July features stops at the islands of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cuttyhunk, where guests will enjoy a true New England lobster bake. Berths fill quickly, as many of the Arabella previous guests return yearly for another escape along the coast.
How to get there: Take Amtrak from Penn Station to Providence, and the Peter Pan Bus line to Newport. Or take the Peter Pan Bus lines from New York to Newport.
Double occupancy rates start at $2300, single/$1150, all breakfasts, lunches & hors d’oeuvres included, dinners vary per cruise. For more information and details on room rates, visit cruisearabella.com.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram