If
you don't see a menu below, please click on the above logo.
Cape Dory Sailboat Owners
Association
Cape Dory Rendezvous 2003:
Eastbound Rendezvous Flotilla to Bristol
Wednesday, July 30th
Current as of: 2 June 2003
Napatree Beach/
Watch Hill, RI
Click on chart thumbnail
for details.
Napatree Beach/Watch Hill Itinerary:
We will be meeting in the afternoon on Wednesday, July
30th in the anchorage North of Napatree Point and South
of RN"24", and to the West of the port of Watch
Hill Cove, Rhode Island. The holding ground is very good.
Also, you can anchor relatively close to the beach, keep
at least 100 yards off shore so that the tide going out
is not a concern. These areas are indicated on the chart
thumbnail above.
Mean tidal range is 2.6 feet.
Please monitor VHF Channel 16 and switch
to 72 for fleet communications.
The approach to Little Narragansett Bay begins
at R"2" Fl R 4s off Academy Rock at Stonington
Point. Academy Rock is approximately 29.2 nm E of our previous
destination of Clinton Harbor, 3 nm E of GC"7" between
Ram and Mason Islands, and 2.2 nm NE of GC"1" off
East Point on Fishers Island. From Academy Rock, it's another
2.5 nm to the Pawcatuck River and the approach to Watch Hill
Cove.
The entrance into Little Naragansett Bay is
100' wide with a controlling depth of 10'. You will see depths
of 5 feet as you pass between G"7" and G"11",
after that the controlling depth is 8 feet.
When entering Little Narragansett Bay, follow
the channel markers closely. Do NOT try to get into
Napatree by going between the North shore of Napatree Point
and the Southern end of Sandy Point. The water is very shallow
in there and you WILL go soft aground! As you round
the North end of Sandy Point near GC"5", you will
see sand hard to starboard. This is normal, just watch where
you are going and stay in the channel. When you get up to
RN"20", you may see rocks both port and starboard,
again, stay in the channel, no short cuts!
Once you arrive at RN"2", the entrance
to Watch Hill Harbor, turn to starboard and anchor wherever
you feel is appropriate. Again, it would be a good idea to
stay at least 100 yards from the shoreline, as this is a
tidal area.
The Bravermans,
hosted a get-together aboard their RH36 Brave New Wind during
the 2002 CDSOA rendezvous-- Photo by Bruce Halley
Tuesday night yacht club races in the Napatree
Beach anchorage -- Photo by Bruce Halley
About the Area:
Watch Hill got its name during King George's
War, in the 1740's, when a watchtower was built on the hill
to warn against attack. In 1808, the original Watch Hill
Lighthouse was built. It was replaced in 1856 with a white
brick structure and granite tower that remains to this day.
And out on Napatree Point you'll find Fort Mansfield built
to guard Fishers Island Sound during the Spanish American
War.
For those venturing ashore, in Watch Hill
there is a convenience store to the left as you come off
the dingy dock in the Cove; it is at the end of town on the
left. It sells minor groceries, doughnuts, milk, eggs, etc.
Ice can be purchased at some of the local restaurants. The
streets are lined with antique shops and boutiques. And you'll
find a mix of summer cottages and mansions overlooking the
water.
The Olympia Tea Room Restaurant (401-348-8211)
faces the cove and serves American cuisine. One block further
you'll find the Watch
Hill Inn (401-348-6300) which has a deck bar & Grille
offering home-style meals in a casual atmosphere. (This is
where we'll be gatherin Sunday evening for dinner, the awards
ceremony and fun.) Or try the St. Claire's Annex (401-348-8407)
or the Bay Street Deli (401-596-6606) for sandwiches.
Napatree Beach is absolutely beautiful, but
it is a protected area. The natives are very sensitive about
the beach grass and dunes. Dogs are not allowed ashore
at any time!
Points of Interest:
Things to do and places to go:
NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA. Beautiful & unspoiled
1/2 mile long barrier beach. No charge to enter. Entrance
past shops, Yacht Club & private beach club on the
Watch Hill Harbor.
FLYING HORSE CAROUSEL. Bay St.,
Watch Hill. Oldest in America, used prior to 1879. The
horses are not attached to the floor but instead are suspended
from a center frame, swinging out or flying when in motion.
Each horse is hand carved from a single piece of wood and
is embellished with real tails and manes, leather saddles
and agate eyes. OPEN: Jun 15-Labor Day, 1-9 p.m. (children
only)
NINIGRET STATUE. Bay St., Watch
Hill. Sculpted by Enid Yandell in Paris in 1914. Ninigret
was Chief of Rhode Island's branch of the Niantics and
first appeared in Colonial history in 1637. The Indian
model for the statue was with Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Show in Paris.
WATCH HILL LIGHTHOUSE. (1858) 14
Lighthouse Road, Watch Hill. The present white brick structure
with granite tower is situated on the north side of the
east entrance to Fisher's Island Sound. Exterior viewing
only. OPEN: Watch Hill Lighthouse Museum, Tue & Thu,
1-3 p.m., July & August
WATCH HILL BEACH. Family area. Gentle
waves, good sand. Small and often crowded. Located behind
the Flying Horse carousel in the center of Watch Hill.
Where to eat:
We plan on eating onboard our own vessels.
If you want to go to a restaurant, head into Watch Hill Cove
and walk up Bay Street right along the waterfront.
Cape Dory owners are invited to join the flotilla
anywhere along the route. Sail with us the whole way or just
for a couple of days -- whatever suits your schedule.
If you have any questions regarding this event,
please contact Fleet Captain Michael Heintz, 203-838-7599
or at Mzenith@aol.com or Catherine
Monaghan, 732-381-3549 or at catherine_monaghan@merck.com.
Please check this page often as we will include
more information as it becomes available.
Please see the "Events" page
for the current Northeast Fleet Rendezvous agenda.
For information on becoming part of the
NE Fleet see the "Fleet Information."
