Welcome to Westport Harbor

Hi, I’m Derek—and truthfully, I never set out to start a business.

What I always set out to do was follow my heart. A way of life. A love for the coast and the creative pulse that’s always been part of me. Westport Harbor didn’t begin as a business plan—it began as a mindset. A place in my heart that I wanted to share with others who feel that same connection to New England’s rugged charm and quiet strength.

I've spent all of my life immersed in music—writing, performing, and producing. These days, my musical focus is with New England Sound. Creativity is how I process the world. But what I love most extends far beyond a single outlet. It’s family. Close friends. Dogs. Coffee. And last but not least, the unmistakable rhythm of New England life—from salty air to changing tides, lighthouses to backroad country drives.

Growing up near the water, the coast became more than scenery—it definitely became part of who I'll always be. One memory that’s never left me was back in the fall of 1996, when my friend George Yeomans asked me to help haul in his old sailboat for the season. At just 16, he handed me the helm and trusted me to guide it solo through Westport Harbor. I’ll never forget that feeling, or the natural beauty of Westport Harbor—autumn leaves blazing, sea breeze. Outside of my experiences with immediate family, that moment was my first real sense of trust, purpose, and calm.

That moment, like so many others, helped shape what Westport Harbor would mean to me.

I created this space not to sell a product, but to share a way of thinking—of being. A reminder that you don’t have to live on the coast to carry it with you. The spirit of the ocean—its power, calm, unpredictability, and wisdom—is something we can all tap into no matter where we are. It’s about resilience. Simplicity. Depth. — The true definition of the Lifestyle Beyond Location philosophy.

I've been fortunate to work in the judiciary for about 25 years, during which I've built many meaningful relationships—one of the more memorable being with Grammy Award winner Ralph Tavares of the group Tavares. Listen to their music here! We connected through a shared respect for law enforcement and a deep love of music. It’s those unexpected, authentic connections that remind me how life—like the tides—is always changing. People may come and go, but the memories remain. The Upcoming True Hero collection is dedicated to those who serve selflessly, to those we remember, and to those still with us who give everything they have. This is dedicated to all First Responders, Mentors, Police, good Teachers, Firefighters, Military; you are the inspiration behind this very special collection.

The same goes for dogs. I’ve truly loved dogs all my life, but during some of my darkest hours, they were more than pets—they were lifelines. That love gave birth to PAWDORABLES, a fun and playful way to honor that unbreakable bond between people and their furry companions. If you love dogs then you'll also love New England Paws!

And then there’s my lifelong fascination with history and an unsolved or unexplained New England Mystery. Growing up just blocks from the Borden House in Fall River planted this seed in my mind as a young boy. Years later, Ms. Harle Tinney—former owner of Belcourt Castle in Newport—nurtured that seed into a deep interest in legends, unsolved mysteries, and New England’s curious past. It’s that same curiosity that still drives me to wander through antique shops in Mystic, hike forest trails in New Hampshire, or stand in awe beneath a lighthouse guiding sailors home—just like it has for generations.

I’m in love with this region—from Ogunquit and Kennebunkport, to Vermont’s syrup farms, to Rhode Island’s Newport Mansions and the bustle of Federal Hill to the Historic Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. From Boston’s energy to the Cape’s calm, every stretch of New England has its own type of spirit, but the same soul. It’s Westport Harbor and all it represents that anchors mine.

Westport Harbor isn’t just a place or a name—it’s a perspective. It’s for anyone who knows that home is more than a street address. It’s a sense of belonging, not a temporary stop. A rhythm. A mindset. One that finds beauty in simplicity, meaning in nature, and peace in the everyday.

So wherever life finds you—by the water, in the woods, or somewhere in between—I hope this space brings you closer to that feeling we share. The one that says: This is who I am. This is where I’m meant to be. Right now!

Welcome to Westport Harbor.

With gratitude,

Derek Picard
Founder, Westport Harbor