At the estuary of the Acushnet River in Massachusetts lies New Bedford, a true-to-her-roots fishing port situated 60 miles south of Boston. I imagine that most people sailing these shores land somewhere near here, but not exactly here: Ever-en-vogue Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, and Nantucket probably win the New England cruising destination sweepstakes.
Few towns in America, however, can match the maritime history of New Bedford. Her culturally diverse population has been drawn to the town’s salty spirit since the early days, and by the mid-19th century, tiny New Bedford was one of the wealthiest cities in the country, per capita, largely due to her dealings in whale blubber, oil, and spermaceti. Referred to as “The Whale Town,” New Bedford’s nickname belied the fact that she played host to…
