For 27 years John Hirschler, owner of Sightsailing of Newport, has introduced tourists, residents and the curious to the beauty of Newport from the water.
“We’re the City by the Sea, renowned as the sailing capital of the world,” he said of Newport, where he grew up sailing.
He said the “fabulous harbor and legendary history” the city has with sailing were the “premises” for starting the company, adding: “I couldn’t have [built] this in a ... place with oil tanks” in the water.
Hirschler was inspired to open his sailing company in 1990 after working summers while attending Boston University at a similar business off Goat Island. Leaving a job in Providence, he simultaneously began buying boats and started classes at the University of Rhode Island toward a master’s degree in business administration.
He credits a lot of the company’s success to its location on Bowen’s Wharf. In 1990, he said, his was the first company to offer public sailing tours and now Bowen’s Wharf is “[the nexus for] tourism in Newport.”
The operating season lasts from May to October, with the busiest months being late June through early September – typical of most seasonal businesses.
With his three-boat fleet – an 80-foot, 49-person schooner, a 46-foot, 13-person boat and a 34-foot, 6-person yacht – Hirschler said a good season can average 700 to 800 sails. That means 14 departure times each day and cruises lasting between an hour and 40 minutes and three to four hours.
Types of sails offered by Sightsailing of Newport include daytime and sunset departures. The boats are available for private charters, and Hirschler said he’s hosted birthday parties, retirement parties, corporate outings, family outings and bachelorette parties.
While the boats are not handicapped-accessible, he said his clientele ranges in age from 6 to 95. “Providing people can walk down a somewhat wobbly dock and take five steps up with a handrail to the boat” they can be a passenger, he said.
After 27 years in business, Hirschler knows he’s no longer the only public sailing tour company in Newport, but likened the added interest to London’s Theatre District.
“The fact that there’s a whole bunch of theaters makes it a popular thing to do,” he said. “If there were only one, it wouldn’t be the theater district,” draw crowds or be world-renowned.
But there are challenges. Even after more than a quarter-century, Hirschler said the company still struggles to “attract, train and retain key staff.” He said he pays some employees year-round, even though the business doesn’t generate income November through April.
Moving forward, Hirschler said one goal is to attract more corporate business. Currently, most of the companies booking corporate outings reach out to him, but he would like to raise awareness of the service through marketing. Given the small size of Rhode Island, he said, “It’s not like you’re trying to market a cruise to the state of Texas.”
OWNER: John Hirschler
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Sailing, cruise and charter
LOCATION: 32 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport
EMPLOYEES: 15 full-time seasonal; three off-season
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1990
ANNUAL SALES: WND
