Harbor of Refuge
- Details
- Category: Anchoring Your Boat with Style
- Published on Monday, 18 April 2011 00:15
- Written by George Boase
- Hits: 479
Location: Chart 13219 - 41 21.580n -071 29.740w. Visible land features are the Point Judith Lighthouse and a prominent water tower. Shoreline is visible from Block Island on a normal clear day.
Getting Ashore: There are no launch services available. Getting to the inner harbor can be difficult and long. The current rips up to 4 knots at flood and ebb through the channel. Heavy commercial fishing and ferry traffic. To starboard of the east entrance there is a small dinghy beach. Good for pet walking but too far from stores on the main drag in town.
Shore Facilities available: There are several marinas in the inner harbor for ice, fuel and minor supplies. No heads or showers offered to anchored yachts. Stay to port channel for all marinas. Starboard is all commercial and ferry services.
Predominant winds are from the Southeast. Easy to anchor under sail with wide entrances east and west leading to a large anchorage area. At high tide the swells can breach the breakwater and cause poor conditions.
The best thing about the Harbor of Refuge in Point Judith is the location. It's a short hop to Newport, Block Island and Montauk Point. Excellent stop over point with good holding and a lot of space to anchor. Seldom a problem finding a spot. That's a significant feature in a normally crowded area.
The mouth of Narragansett Bay can be rather uncomfortable. The harbor affords a break from the weather although it can be rolly and there is significant traffic from a very active fishing port and ferries making runs to Block Island and Montauk Point. The commercial traffic is usually pretty considerate, but the weekend boaters often are not.
Similar to "Deadliest Catch," you may recognize many of the boats here from the reality TV show "Lobster Wars." Watch as they head out to sea from your anchorage. Lobsters are sold (cheap!) right from the boats at dock here and in the many stores on the main street in town. The town is in fact a co-op between restaurants, venders and boats. Affectionately known to locals as the parking lot for Block Island.
If you need supplies, there are plenty of gas docks in the inner harbor. I would not recommend using a dinghy because of the distance, traffic and current. Take the yacht in either before anchorage or when leaving the harbor. Point Judith Marina has plenty of docking assistance, ice, fuel and a small ships store. Skip's Dock has everything you need for fishing supplies in Point Judith. Small breakfast grill opens at dawn. Good food and cheap.
