Massachusetts Pilot Notes
by timing their arrival off Newport to coincide coastline. In the East Passage, in particular,
with the appropriate slack water at The Race. both yacht and commercial traffic is very
Winds S of the Cape tend to be stronger dense in the summer months. The West Pas-
than to the N. Prevailing southwesterlies in sage leads to Wickford and Greenwich. The
the summer can stack up choppy waves in Sakonnet River accesses Mount Hope Bay
Buzzards Bay, particularly when blowing and is an alternative route to Bristol.
against an ebb current. Numerous safe har- At Point Judith, on the SE corner of Rhode
bors with excellent facilities are located on Island Sound, is a large breakwatered harbor
both sides of Buzzards Bay. of refuge and an inlet into Point Judith Pond,
Passage from Buzzards Bay to Martha’s a large, shallow river system. From Point
Vineyard and Nantucket are possible be- Judith W to the entrance of Fishers Island
tween the Elizabeth Islands, through Woods Sound the coastline is beaches and shallow
Hole and Quicks Hole. Currents through reefs with no safe havens. Extensive tug and
Woods Hole are extremely dangerous; ap- barge traffic heading to and from Long Island
proach only at slack water in clear visibility. Sound makes its way along this section of the
Nantucket Sound has extensive shallow coastline. Maintain a watch on VHF 13.
shoals that create heavy chop, particularly Newport serves as a centerpoint for yachts
when opposing the E/W tidal currents. Fog is attempting to ride a fair current between the
common and particularly thick in this sound. Race and the Cape Cod Canal.
From Buzzards Bay, Rhode Island extends Block Island is located about 10nm S of
into nearly all of Narragansett Bay and W Point Judith. The primary harbor, Great
to the entrance of Long Island Sound. The Salt Pond, is entered through a very narrow
primary entrance to Narragansett Bay is the cut on the W side of the island. Sand shoals
East Passage, connecting to Newport, Ports- extend more than 0.5nm from the N end of
mouth, Jamestown and Bristol. Brenton Reef island; keep your distance.
extends from Castle Hill at thee side of the Fog is more common in Rhode Island and
entrance to the East Passage and breakers are Block Island Sounds than in Narragansett
common in heavy weather. Bay or Buzzards Bay. Fog can develop thick
Cruise ships, extensive yacht traffic and at the lower end of Narragansett Bay while it
tug and barge traffic throughout the S end of may still be clear at the upper end of the Bay.
Narragansett Bay and along the Rhode Island
Planning
Ports of Entry:
Gloucester • Salem • Boston • Plymouth • New Bedford
NOAA Coastal Charts (1:80,000 scale)
Fall River • Provincetown • Newport • Providence
13218 Martha’s Vineyard To Block Island
U.S. Coast Guard
13237 Nantucket Sound And Approaches
Call for assistance on VHF 16 or 2182 kHz.
13246 Cape Cod Bay
Stations:
13267 Massachusetts Bay
Merrimack River • Gloucester • Boston • Point Allerton
13278 Portsmouth To Cape Ann
Scituate • Cape Cod Canal • Provincetown • Chatham
Woods Hole • Nantuccket • Brant Point • Martha’s Vineyard
Menemsha • Newport • Castle Hill • Point Judith
Block Island • Great Salt Pond (open May 25 to Oct 1)
Cape Ann
Landmarks: Twin lighthouses on Thatcher
Island; natural range on 194°M.
Tides p. 372, Differences p. 521
Waypoints

Currents p. 564, Differences p. 694 Cape Ann light
Pilotage: Rocky shoals and islets extend
42 39.2N, 70 34.5W Fl R 5s 17M
2nm from the E end of Cape Ann; stay NE
2, 3sec horn every 60s. Gray stone tower, 166ft. Emergency
of the Dry Salvages. Beware of Londoner
light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished.
Ledge, E of Thatcher Island.
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