Labor Day weekend - Newport, RI mooring?

[Cthoops]

We typically try to avoid taking vacation around holiday weekends, but it was unavoidable this year. Has anyone gone to Newport, RI during Labor Day weekend before? We wouldn't be arriving until later in the day on Saturday, and I'm just wondering if it's impossible to get a mooring.

Thanks.

[accomplice]

No responses yet, so I'll weigh in.

We've often been successful in getting a mooring in Newport; however, I suspect if you turn up on Saturday afternoon there may be no transient moorings available. If so, no worries. There's a great anchorage we enjoy at the foot of the Newport Bridge, north of Goat Island. You can take your tender under the goat island bridge to one of the many public dinghy docks in town. I believe that OldPort launch will make trips there too. There's a public pier, usually used by people fishing, nearby at Battery Park which makes a good place to meet the pizza delivery guy, etc. If you anchor there, and it is blowing from the southwest, try to tuck into the lee of the northern tip of Goat Island.

Also, while not in Newport itself, there are usually moorings available nearby --
across east passage at Conanicut Marine in Jamestown, at Dutch Harbor (the other side of Jamestown) and at Middletown's 3rd beach where the town maintains public moorings.

[BozSail]

Last year, when we couldn't get a mooring at Newport, we went to Jamestown for one. We had never been there before, and found it to be a lovely little town. They had a launch and a calm mooring field. We loved it.

[Cthoops]

Originally Posted by accomplice

There's a great anchorage we enjoy at the foot of the Newport Bridge, north of Goat Island. You can take your tender under the goat island bridge to one of the many public dinghy docks in town. I believe that OldPort launch will make trips there too. There's a public pier, usually used by people fishing, nearby at Battery Park which makes a good place to meet the pizza delivery guy, etc. If you anchor there, and it is blowing from the southwest, try to tuck into the lee of the northern tip of Goat Island.

Also, while not in Newport itself, there are usually moorings available nearby --
across east passage at Conanicut Marine in Jamestown, at Dutch Harbor (the other side of Jamestown) and at Middletown's 3rd beach where the town maintains public moorings.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Originally Posted by BozSail

Last year, when we couldn't get a mooring at Newport, we went to Jamestown for one. We had never been there before, and found it to be a lovely little town. They had a launch and a calm mooring field. We loved it.

We spent a weekend a few years back at Dutch Harbor Marina in Jamestown and really enjoyed the area. It's our back up plan this year. Thanks!