28 June Newport, Rhode Island

welcome party on the lawn

busy afternoon

Pell bridge in the background

Fort Adam protecting the entrance

We cruised into Newport harbour at 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon meeting a cruise ship on it's way out, fishing boats returning to port, every sailing club in the area out for a sunset sail, day trippers. It was a grand entrance. On the east cliffs there were crowds of smart people having sundowners on the lawns of big hotels and on the grass in front of the large Fort Adam. Ahead the mighty Pell Suspension bridge spanned the river.

Apart from the many boats there were strategically placed lobster pot floats waiting to snag a propeller if you strayed too close to the shore.

We knew to expect large mooring fields inside the harbour, but they were far larger and wider than we had imagined. I'd thought Brenton Cove looked a fine place to drop the anchor – it was a mooring field. Consulting Active Captain in the Navionics programme once more I recognised my error. There is an area for anchoring for those who don't want to pay $1 per foot per night to take a mooring ball. It is north and east of the Ida Lewis yacht club and south of the cable running east-west.

megayachts

one of the mooring fields

relaxing after the passage

We found a really comfortable spot in 5m of water at 41 28.31N 71 19.35W.

It was too late to go ashore for dinner; we like to stay on board for at least two hours after anchoring to ensure we are safe and the anchor dug in. Anyway there was so much to see around us with classic sail boats passing us, megayachts on mooring balls, the low level buildings and trees in summer foliage. All new, all different from what we have been used to in the tropical islands.

Arriving in Newport by 1 July had been a goal for several months and we'd done it. Now I could open our last bottle of sparkling wine (bought in Cartagena at Christmas) to celebrate. As if the authorities knew we were celebrating there was a fly over by a plane leaving smoke trails and after the sun sank below the horizon a magnificent firework display. We had arrived on the 50^th anniversary of the completion of the Pell Bridge. I have a feeling we're going to like New England.

New England sunset