by Stephen Heard / NZL Herald

Newport’s history is tied to the sea. The trading ships are gone; instead from the open-air top deck come spectacular views of spark plug lighthouses, multimillion-dollar yachts and tall ships moored bow-to-bow. We drift beneath the Claiborne Pell suspension bridge which connects the even wealthier Jamestown. Money might be everything here, but sailing comes a close second.

Back on dry land in the centre of Newport, 400 years of sailing history can be discovered at The Sailing Museum. The interactive exhibit allows visitors to design their own boat and compete in hands-on activities like manually winching grinders and flying over the water in an immersive film dome. Just don’t ask why it has been 40 years since the city last hosted the America’s Cup.