June 29, 2012 – The Whaling City has a new claim to maritime fame: Yachting magazine has named New Bedford one of the 50 Best Ports in North America.
"If there was ever a town born for the water, it may be New Bedford. Its history is steeped in the commercial fishing industry. … Sailing is not lost on this salty city …," Yachting says in its current issue.
"For the last three years, we've focused on making our port very recreational boating-friendly. The result is a harbor that mixes work and play brilliantly," said Ed Anthes-Washburn, acting executive director of the Port of New Bedford, in a news release. "People love it because it's one of a few authentic, working seaports that actively invites and welcomes boaters to take advantage of our historic downtown."
Later he added "This is a culmination of three years of hard marketing we have been doing."
James Russell, president of the whaling museum, which is mentioned in the Yachting write-up, said that "for centuries, sea captains and their whaling ships sailed out of the great Port of New Bedford. … It's so gratifying to see that the sailing community has rediscovered this seaport, which has always been a welcoming and safe harbor to mariners since the days of Moby Dick."
Jeff E. J. Pontiff, owner of Whaling City Expeditions, which offers services including harbor tours and water taxis, said a lot of work has gone into getting New Bedford's name out to a wider audience.
Read the full article at the New Bedford Standard Times.