A popular sailing destination for boaters from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York is the anchorage at Napatree Point, a sandy spit of land that stretches west about a mile from Watch Hill, Rhode Island, an affluent travel destination. day or weekend for those who want to enjoy exclusive shopping, exceptional dining, picturesque sea views at a slow and leisurely pace, relaxed and informal.
Filling the anchorage behind Napatree Point to the northeast is the Pawcatuck River which empties into Little Narragansett Bay, an estuary of about 320 square miles, running at an average depth of about seven feet; a perfect anchor for boats of most sizes. Some of the less than ten meter boats prefer to back up to shore for easy access to the calm waters on the north side of the bay or the pounding surf on the opposite south shore. And there’s plenty of beach for everyone, even during the busiest boating months.
In 1938, Napatree Point, Rhode Island was separated from Sandy Point, Connecticut in a hurricane that devastated the area, razing houses from their foundations in what is now Anchorage. There are still remnants of that storm at the bottom of the sea, unaffected by salt water or marine life, parts of cast iron stoves, stainless steel refrigerators and metal pipes, hence the nickname “the kitchen”. “.
The Naptree – Watch Hill connection is a boater’s paradise, combining a quiet anchorage, world-class beach and luxury town just a short boat ride away. You can take a casual stroll down Bay Street across from Watch Hill Harbor, stopping to browse any of the small shops, bistros, and specialty boutiques. For breakfast or lunch, there’s St. Claire’s Annex for traditional American-style dining or Bay Street Deli for the best oversized deli sandwiches like Bay Street Reuben, The Mooring or Misquamicut Club. A couple of doors down you’ll find Bruna’s Cafe and a variety of gourmet hot and cold beverages, yogurts, granola, sandwich wraps, salads, smoothies, sorbets and homemade ice cream.
If you’re looking for something a little more formal for lunch or dinner, there’s indoor or outdoor dining at the Olympia Bar and Tea Room and the well-known landmark, the yellow Ocean House on Bluff Avenue, on a hill. overlooking Watch Hill Harbor to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Kids will love the chance to grab the silver ring on the Flying Horse Carousel, the oldest working carousel in the country. For your convenience, there are public restrooms adjacent to the carousel at Flying Horse Beach and you can get ice for your cooler at the Bay Street Deli or Watch Hill Dock. All this and more are within a quarter mile walk.
Napatree Beach is a mile-long stretch of sandy shoreline with the picturesque Watch Hill Light at the eastern end and Fort Mansfield, a Spanish-American War weapons location now covered in thick vegetation, at the western end. Napatree is crescent-shaped with soft sand and a view of Fisher’s Island to the southwest and, on a clear day, Block Island – Rhode Island to the southeast and Montauk Point – Long Island straight ahead.
A dangerous reef stretches from Watch Hill Light to the eastern shore of Fisher’s Island. The safest pass from the east is the one closest to the lighthouse via Watch Hill Passage, between G-1 (gong) and R-21 (flashing red – bell six). From the west, your best route is around the western breakwater at Stonington, CT, past Stonington Point following the buoys north past G-5 (flashing green) around the west end of Sandy Point. Stay in the channel and do not cut south to Napatree Point until you have passed Seal Rock and RN “22” unless you have shallow draft.
If you’re looking for a yachting destination with a world-class beach, quiet anchorage, a place to entertain the kids, great food, and a casual, friendly atmosphere, you’ll find it in Watch Hill, Rhode Island and Napatree Point. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
