Art’s Dune Tours have made the dunes in Provincetown a major tourist attraction in the area. Art Costa began giving tours of the unique landscape in 1946 after returning home from WW2. His passion and love for the nature and ecology of the dunes was passed down to his son Rob.
Rob now runs Art’s Dune Tours and created a new tour, Land and Sail, to showcase the beautiful waters surround Provincetown.
Art’s Dune Tours have arranged for one stop booking for the ultimate Land and Sail experience. The tour combines the popular Dune Tour with one and a half hour sailing trip aboard a 90 year old wooden sail boat, the Hindu or a private charter aboard the sail boat, Moments.
A short walk from Art’s Dune Tours office on Standish Street brings you to MacMillan Pier. Fishing boats have been leaving for centuries, now ferries arrive and fishing charters take tourists out on the water or across to Boston. Here, I boarded The Hindu, a 90 year old sailboat which previously made spice runs between India and the U.S.. Now she splits her time between Provincetown and Key West, Florida.
On board were about 20 other people booked on the sailing charter. It was a nice mix of older and younger people, couples and families, and 2 dogs came along. Everyone was very friendly with one another. The beautiful weather and interesting atmosphere led to good spirits all around.
The crew was knowledgeable, polite and helpful. They explained the ins and outs of the boat including how to use the antique restroom below deck and general safety instructions. We also learned about the stunning history of the boat.
Hindu was built in 1925 by the Hodgdon Brothers in Boothbay, Maine for James W Hall to use as a pleasure yacht. She was originally called Princess Pat, However after changing hands and making a spice run to India, she was dubbed The Hindu. During World War II, Hindu assisted the U.S. Coast Guard Coastal Patrol along the Eastern Seaboard looking for German U-boats. According to her Coast Guard log books, she encountered them on more than one occasion. She then made Provincetown her home, becoming a charter vessel that helped pioneer the whale watching industry in the 1960s.
Sadly she fell into despair and faced demolition in the early 2000’s but was saved when a former crew member, Kevin “Foggy” Foley, rallied enough support to have her rebuilt. In 2012, a Key West architect, William Rowan, purchased Hindu and restored her to her original glory.
The crew allowed those on board to assist in hoisting the sails, something I’ll never forget. The water was beautiful, the wind was perfect, and the views were unparalleled.
If you have a larger group, you can arrange to have a private charter aboard the yacht Moment as part of your Land and Sail tour with Art’s Dune Tours. Moment is a stunning forty seven foot designed yacht that features three staterooms, two heads, and a full galley. Just like Hindu, Moment also has a unique history. She has circumnavigated the world and was the first forty seven foot boat build by Sparkman & Stephens. Guests aboard Moment have the opportunity to learn about sailing and participate; something I can assure you will be a memorable experience. If you’d rather, you can sit back and enjoy the view and the breeze and let the captain do the work. The sail will take around Provincetown Harbor and Long Point
As part of the Land and Sail tour, we capped off our evening with a sunset dune tour. Art’s Dune Tour brings you through a winding path of the untouched beauty of the dunes. Our tour guide explained the history of the dune shacks where artists have been coming for years to gain inspiration from nature. The tradition continues with artists in residence that stay in the dunes each summer. We learned about the ecology: the flora and fauna and the unique ways that plants have adapted to survive in the dunes. Then we drove onto Race Point beach to watch a magnificent sunset .
If you’re planning a trip to Provincetown, don’t miss this unique experience. You can book an afternoon sail with a sunset dune tour or a sunset sail with an afternoon dune tour. To book your Land and Sail adventure with Art’s Dune Tours, call 1-800-894-1951 or stop by the office on Standish Street in downtown Provincetown.
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About Rebecca Romo
