Newport...small boating

[David Geiss]

Hi All:

Planning to spend some time up in Newport sailing my small Fulmar trimaran (folds for trailering). I am familiar with some spots on the Sakonnet River but have not spent time on the Newport/Jamestown side of the Bay.

Wondering of any forum members are aware of decent spots to find a ramp, public beaches or marshes to haul up onto, shallow coves to poke into. Likely I will sail around Beavertail Light, out around First or Second beach, maybe over to Narragansett Beach. I draw very little water (board up maybe a foot with rudder down).

Thanks in advance.

Best,
David

[T.A.R.]

Between Patience and Prudence Islands you can find a beautiful marsh and hiking trails. Zekes' creek in Dutch Habor. There's a couple of places.

[JBreeze]

Here is some vague information, but you may need to verify because it may not apply to your boat, trailer and vehicle....

Jamestown has three ramps.....

1) Downtown at East Ferry, but no trailer parking and limited car parking (the 8 hour parking spaces are limited)

2) At Ft. Getty, there is a ramp usable at most tides, and parking, but there is an admission charge into this town-owned campground/boat ramp.

3) Free ramp and parking at Ft. Wetherill (? spelling) state park, but the ramp is VERY steep.....might be able to launch with 4 wheel drive.

4) If you can trailer and launch from the beach, you might be able to use the access point at URI Bay Campus (Ferry Street(?) in Narragansett near the N. Kingstown city line.

5) There might be a usable public ramp in Narragansett near the town beach.....I think it might be referred to as Monahan's? or State pier #5 ?....

I'm pretty sure that RI DEM or URI maintains a list and description of RI public ramps....there might be possibilities in Middletown and Newport that would work for you....try Google.

[JBreeze]

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/boatlnch.htm#salt

This link will get you fresh and saltwater ramps.

I would 2nd the idea of prudence and patience islands for exploring.

There are some areas for beaching at Dutch Harbor (Zeke's Creek) area in Jamestown.

There is some question regarding access to Dutch Island.....the last directive I've read (from 2000) is that it is off limits per DEM. You might call DEM to verify if you want to explore Dutch Island.

[David Geiss]

Thanks Gents!

Appreciate all of that good information.
Up the bay a bit between Patience and Prudence Islands, given the right day, would it be decent for some serious canoe sailing?
Maybe I will bring the canoe in lieu of the tri and focus on some good gunkholing and staying away from the areas of big fetch.

Maybe even drive over to the Tiverton side and sail Fogland and poke out into the river conditions permitting.

Again, thanks for your insights.

Best,
David

[David Geiss]

Post trip bump.....great info forumites! Thanks.
Great sailing trip! Clear water, fair days and dependable afternoon south/southwesterlies. A lifetime of small boat sailing up there.

Sailed out past Beavertail Light in some great swell; reaching back in I was surfing some good size rollers (reefed in a bit ot be on the safe side).

Up to Wickford, all around Saunderstown, Zeke's, Dutch Harbor and Hope Island.Great monkfish available from the little shop at the head of Zeke's creek.

The gents at Fort Getty were very congenial and sold me a weekly pass for what it would have ordinarily cost for one day......I guess they liked the boat and thought I was a little batty for heading out towards the ocean in it.

Met a gent fishing from an open canoe out off of Wetherill. He was catching Tautog with a spear gun...good eating!

The ramp descriptions were dead on....thanks again!
Next time will head up further north to Patience and Prudence.

David

[JBreeze]

Did we meet at the ramp @ FT. Getty Friday afternoon, around 2pm....you, tall guy w/ swedish car.....me, with homemade Bateau.com white rowboat w/ electric trolling motor?

As I left the ramp, I noticed the folding trimaran, then started wondering..........

Anyway, that thing must fly in the stiff breezes we had:D

One minor correction....I mistakenly referred to the fish/bait shop as Zeke's, and the creek draining the marsh as Zeke's Creek.....in fact, it is Zeek, as in Greg Zeek, the guy who owns the fish/bait shop. Today, for what seems like the hundredth time, one of his daughters won the annual kid's freshwater fishing tournament held at the town reservoir. It is the only morning in the year people are allowed to fish there, and the fish were hungry!

[R.I.Singer30]

For future reference ,if you plan to canoe to Patience and Prudence,try to catch a slack tide .The water running down the Providence river off the Warwick light can be as rough as the ocean at times.I've had to abort sailing(24'Bristol) into Greenwich Bay 2 or 3 times before I made it past the Warwick Light.There is a nice free boat ramp (for the tri) at Oakland beach,a 6 mile ride from I-95.

[David Geiss]

WOW....small world! Yes, that was me. I enjoyed talking with you about the Bateau rowboat you built. A very sharp looking little vessel for plying about the Bay. I looked at the Bateau site....next project a little ways off.

Thanks for the additional information about the tides further up the Bay; I could not, this trip, do all I planned upon but have to remain flexible. With some additional floatation, I may sail next time up your way(August or Sept) in my canoe; will open up some interesting possibilities and easier to haul around.

The Fulmar sailed really nicely up there. People always comment on how fast it must be...my fallback explanation is that with the main hull beamier and longer than the two amas, the Fulmar gives something up in pure speed to a comparable catamaran..but, I will take the predictability and good manners any day over a bit of speed.

Have to say that I love the way the swell builds up as one approaches Point Judith...all the feelings of going to sea but land within easy grasp. Blows the Chesapeake away IMHO, but Barnegat always keeps something for me.

I'll PM you RI Singer and maybe we can get together next time, grab a beverage (non alcoholic in my case) and talk boats some more. Hope your fishing goes well.

Oh, maybe you know a certain boat moored in Dutch Harbor. It's a gaff headed sloop, mostly white hull, about 20' loa, possibly a keel boat. Saw it out there many afternoons and it really caught my eye. I took her on to windward one afternoon but never got close enough alongside to exchange hellos on the breeze that was blowing. Most afternoons were calling for 5-10 knots....except for a little lull Fri aft, I don't think it blew less than 15 knots any afternoon.

Best,
David

PS...Greg is a really decent dude! He was telling me that he was heading to Alaska with his brother for his first summer vacation in 25 years. There is a guy who knows his fish and seems to really love Jamestown.

[CAPNBIL]

If you want to sail in upper Narragansett Bay next time there's an OK free ramp way up in Greenwich Cove. Drive down to the cove in East Greenwich past the Railroad and South along the waterfront. There's probably limited parking on weekends. There's also a ramp in Goddard park but it's extremely shallow, more for kayaks or small boats of real shallow draft.

[SawmillBrook]

I'm partial to the Wickford ramp. Launched there for the first time during the tall ships visit. Son and I went to Newport in our 16' Garvey, then motored to Wickford, tied up and had lunch. Lots of wooden sailers all over the harbor.

The best time to boat in Narr. Bay is in the fall/early winter... lots of seals, no boats, crisp air... great boating.

[David Geiss]

I'm feeling a return coming on.....late Sept, maybe even Columbus Day. Does anyone know about how one might go about seeking to join Saunderstown YC? Seem to have some good racing out of there.

Great thanks again on the ramp opinions.

Best,
David