The Blackband family summer was one for the books! Piper's sailing circuit took us all over the East Coast. Watching her compete on big, beautiful lakes and the Atlantic Ocean was a thrill, and getting to explore new cities together was an extra treat. We bounced around from Chicago to New Jersey to New York to Rhode Island back to New York and home in time to see Taylor Swift! All while Cooper enjoyed his post-graduation trip with his mates in Australia. We're grateful for a summer of fun and hope you get the opportunity to check out some of these national treasures too someday!
PORT OF CALL #1 // CHICAGO — THE WINDY CITY
WHERE WE STAYED // THE DRAKE HOTEL
U.S. C420 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS // CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
Piper crewed with her skipper Morgan Pinckney and they finished 3rd out of a fleet of 113 boats.
EXPLORING CHICAGO
Architectural tour by boat, Dave Matthews concert, cold weather rain gear, and a visit to the Art Institute topped off with the best pizza pie at Gino’s East. Flew from Chicago to Philly. Rented a car to drive to New Jersey. Rental broke down and got a lift in the back of a police car from a local sheriff.
PORT OF CALL #2 // LONG BEACH ISLAND, NEW JERSEY
WHERE WE STAYED // HOTEL LBI
U.S. C420 WOMEN'S NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS // BRANT BEACH YACHT CLUB
Piper crewed with her skipper Sophia Devling and they finished 2nd out of a fleet of 47 boats. Big wind, lots of capsized boats. Drove for Jersey to NYC.
PORT OF CALL #3 // NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
WHERE WE STAYED // THE MARLTON
Celebrity sighting of a very famous singer who has won multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award — can you guess who it was?
EXPLORING THE CITY
Met up with Nanny, Poppy and Uncle Mikey (my brother’s first time to NYC!). Piper and I saw Wicked and had tea at the Plaza. The family went on the Circle Line tour and visited the 911 Memorial, Museum and Observatory. After strolling through Central Park met up with Aunt Risa and Brittany at the Ritz and lunched at Sarabeth’s. Visited the Natural History Museum, where I asked Poppy, “Where are the dinosaurs?” and he responded, “The designer stores are on Fifth Avenue.” Visited SOHO, Little Italy, Chinatown and stopped by my mom’s old studio on Church and Chambers. Walked along the High Line and visited the Hauser + Wirth gallery for the Mark Bradford Exhibition, dined at Balthazar and L'Artusi and checked out Times Square and Grand Central Station. From NYC we drove to Newport, Rhode Island.
PORT OF CALL #4 // NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
WHERE WE STAYED // BRENTON HOTEL
U.S. C420 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS // PORT ADAMS
Piper skippered the 1st day and then crewed with her skipper Noah Stapleton. They finished in the top third out of 130 boats.
EXPLORING NEWPORT
Chartered a boat to watch Piper race. Visited the Breakers and Marble House mansions from the Gilded Age. Strolled along the Cliff Walk and lunched at the Castlehill Inn. We drove from Newport to our VRBO in South Kingstown.
PORT OF CALL #4 // SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND
CJ BUCKLEY TEAM RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS // EAST GREENWICH YACHT CLUB
Piper crewed with her skipper Noah Stapleton. Her teammates were Tate + Taylor and Gil + Ashtyn. The team finished 2nd out or 30 teams.
EXPLORING SOUTH KINGSTOWN
Chartered a boat to watch the regattas and the exciting nail biter final race. Danced all night at the EGYC! Oysters + Shrimp cocktail. Left Rhode Island and took the ferry from Connecticut to Long Island, New York.
PORT OF CALL #5 // LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
SOUTH SHORE C420 CHAMPIONSHIPS // SAYVILLE YACHT CLUB
Piper crewed with her skipper Noah Stapleton and finished in the top 10 out of a fleet 88 boats.
EXPLORING LONG ISLAND
Went for a nice drive with Greg. Spent the day in Sag Harbor and lunched at Le Bilboquet.
Final days of a long sailing adventure… five major sailing regattas, 4 top ten finishes, six states, seven hotels, 27 days on the water with Piper sailing over 60 races. A very successful sailing circuit, indeed.
AUSTRALIA
Meanwhile DOWN UNDA! Cooper and his mates.
BACK HOME + OFF TO SCHOOL
Piper made it home in time to see Taylor Swift. We moved Cooper into his dorm at USC (completely jet lagged) and kicked off his first semester with a "house-divided" football game!
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