Reporting and quotes adapted from a feature by Grace Trofa, originally published in Newport This Week.

When the 2026 New England yachting season opens at the Newport Charter Yacht Show (June 22–25), one of the most familiar faces on the docks will be Denison Yachting’s own Jennifer Saia. A longtime Newporter and a charter specialist with 37 years in the industry, Jennifer was recently profiled in Newport This Week, and the description fit her perfectly: always in motion, with a phone that never stops ringing.

We’re proud to have her on the Denison team. Here’s a closer look at the specialist behind the bookings, and why she believes New England may be the most underrated cruising ground in the world.

Who is Jennifer Saia?

Jennifer’s path into yachting wasn’t a straight line. She earned a degree in aviation business administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, planning to pursue a master’s in international business and a career in aviation. Then a friend invited her aboard a yacht “just to try it,” and the trajectory changed for good. She spent years crewing a 167-foot Feadship, the celebrated Dutch builder, traveling extensively around the world.

Whenever she came ashore, she worked for The Sacks Group, one of the industry’s most respected charter houses. She started at the front desk and was mentored by some of the best brokers in the business, eventually building and running her own charter company. In 2022, she joined the Denison family of yachting as a charter specialist.

That depth of experience translates into something clients feel immediately: Jennifer knows the yachts, she knows the crews, and she knows exactly how to match the right boat to the right trip.

Why Charter A Yacht in New England?

For Jennifer, the case for chartering closer to home has never been stronger. She has noticed more clients feeling hesitant about traveling overseas, and she’s happy to point them toward the cruising grounds in their own backyard.

“For a couple of charters, I’ve convinced people to explore instead places like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard or Maine, and they fall back in love with New England,” she told Newport This Week. The reaction is almost always the same: why were we traveling the world and not cruising right here?

From the harbors of Newport to the quiet anchorages of coastal Maine, a New England charter delivers world-class cruising (fresh seafood, historic ports, island-hopping, and crisp summer sailing) without a transatlantic flight.

What to Expect from a New England Charter

The New England charter season runs from May through October, when a wide range of crewed yachts (from roughly 75 feet to over 200 feet) base themselves in the region for the summer.

Charter rates vary significantly with the size and caliber of the yacht. As an example Jennifer cites, a 130-foot Westport coming into Newport carries a charter rate in the range of $115,000 per week. On top of the base rate, charterers typically budget an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), generally around 35–40% of the base rate, to cover fuel, food and beverage, dockage, and other consumables. Provisioning a yacht of that size, for instance, can run roughly $40,000 for the week.

A specialist like Jennifer guides clients through all of it: selecting the yacht and crew, planning the itinerary, and setting clear expectations on cost so there are no surprises at the dock.

Giving back: the Newport Yacht Rendezvous

Jennifer’s connection to the community runs as deep as her connection to the water. She spent 20 years involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs in South Florida, and when she relocated to Newport in 2013, she wanted to do the same here.

She brought local board members to South Florida to see how a yacht rendezvous fundraiser was organized, and, as she puts it, “a light bulb went off.” The result, the Newport Yacht Rendezvous, has become a signature event of the season, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. This year’s event takes place June 26 at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, with many of the yachts from the charter show staying in port to help host it.

Asked why she chose this cause, Jennifer’s answer is characteristically direct: “I don’t have any children, so I guess this is my way of giving back to the kids.” Her decades of service were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County.

Charter with Jennifer

After 37 years in yachting, Jennifer has earned a loyal following, and Newport has become home. In her rare free time, she’s out on the water learning to sail her own boat, finally letting the phone go quiet.

The rest of the time, that phone is ringing for a reason. If you’re considering a luxury yacht charter in New England (or anywhere in the world), Jennifer Saia is ready to help you find the right yacht for the trip you have in mind.

Interested in chartering a yacht with Jennifer? Contact her with any questions you may have.