Newport Gets a Grand Banks Marina at Spring Wharf

America’s sailing capital now has a Grand Banks marina. mcdonojj/stock.adobe.com

When longtime ocean racer and current CEO of Grand Banks Yachts Mark Richards announced that his company had purchased Casey’s Marina at Spring Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, he spoke in an almost reverent way about the location. “This will be a home for our owners in this iconic harbor where sailing heritage runs so deep, it’s a thrilling next chapter,” Richards said. “Newport has been a defining part of my sailing and boatbuilding career for almost 40 years.”

Indeed, a lot of boaters feel that way about Newport, whose storied history includes being home to America’s Cup races, a New York Yacht Club outpost, the Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame, and a seemingly endless parade of local regattas, cruising classes and the like. Newport is a destination that’s not only synonymous with boating, but that also has continued to evolve along with boats and the desires of people who love them.

In that context, the marina acquisition seems like a natural next step. It’s certainly unusual for a boatbuilder to purchase a marina of this nature, let alone for a builder of long-range cruising powerboats to buy one in the heart of America’s sailing capital, but it’s a sign of the powerboating times, with the location being reimagined as the Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts Marina. The facility will have reserved berths, haul outs, a private lounge and on-site service. The purchase also includes the adjacent 10,000-square-foot Waites Wharf.

According to the Grand Banks team, the acquisition signals a long-term commitment to delivering world-class service and an elevated owner experience.

Bill Casey, a Newport native and the former owner of Casey’s Marina—which he founded in 1986 at an old fish dock that he purchased from Tallman & Mack Fish & Trap Co.—also noted how important it is that the facility is transitioning to a team that acknowledges the past as much as the future. “This marina has been part of Newport’s waterfront for generations,” Casey said, “and it means a lot to see it in the hands of a team that truly understands and respects its legacy.”

Boat Show

This year’s Newport International Boat Show will run September 17-20 at Newport Yachting Center. The show spans more than 17 acres with six connecting sites in Newport’s historic downtown. Expect to see new sailboats and powerboats, including some making their US debuts. Show organizers say they’re also planning educational classroom opportunities and in-water boating courses, and are bringing back the popular Windward VIP lounge experience for showgoers who want a place to relax away from the crowds. Show tickets are on sale as of June 1 at the site NewportBoatShow.com.

Hall of Fame

The 2026 Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place October 7 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court. This year’s inductees are Eleanor Prentiss Creesy, one of just a few women who went to sea in the 1850s; Gino Joseph Morelli, co-founder of the design firm Morelli and Melvin; Herman Frasch Whiton, a two-time Olympic gold medalist; Judson Andrew Smith, a longtime sailmaker with Doyle Sails and a noted one-design sailor; Lorna Whittelsey Hibberd, a female skipper from the 1930s; and Mary Male Savage, a rules expert and longtime judge.

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