Cruising — September 2002
By Capt. Ken Kreisler

Point Judith Pond, Rhode Island

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As the story goes, sometime near the end of the 19th century Nova Scotia fisherman Tom Mann set up a camp to the west of Point Judith, Rhode Island. So taken was he by the beauty of the place and the bounty of its waters, Mann christened his bivouac Galilee after the town where the disciples angled. Later, when another fisherman asked what the name of the land across the breachway to Point Judith Pond was, Mann replied that if this was Galilee, that must be Jerusalem. The names stuck, and it's been that way ever since.

The towns of Galilee and Jerusalem mark the entrance to Point Judith Pond, and together with nearby Snug Harbor and Narragansett, offer the visiting mariner a welcome respite from busy ports like Newport and Block Island. Here you'll find peace, tranquility, and plenty of reasons to just kick back, not least of which are some of the prettiest sunsets anywhere.

HOW TO GET THERE
Behind the breakwater at Point Judith is an area known as the Harbor of Refuge, an artificial basin bound by a V-shape jetty with openings to the east and west and land to the northeast. Average depth is about 20 feet, but there are shoals close to the wall. Check the latest charts, as many buoys heading into the Pond have been renumbered. If you're in doubt, call the harbormaster (401-423-4613), Point Judith Coast Guard (401-789-3021), or the harbor police (401-783-3321). All monitor VHF Channel 16. You'll need the following NOAA charts: 12305, 13215, 13217, and 13219.

DOCKING FACILITIES
Point Judith Pond offers the adventurous boater plenty of opportunities amongst its islands and along its shoreline for safe anchoring, especially south of Gardner and Beach Islands and in Smelt Brook Cove. Follow your chart carefully, and remember to leave sufficient swing room. However, if a dock space is more to your liking, there are plenty of marinas nearby. Here are a few. And remember all the waters of Rhode Island are no-discharge zones.

• Ram Point (401-783-4535) has a laundry, bathrooms, emergency hauling, and free pumpout service.
• Silver Spring (401-783-0783) has a fiberglass repair shop, ship's store, and a clubhouse.
• Located in the upper reaches of the Pond, Billington Cove (401-783-1266) and Long Cove (401-783-4902) offer quiet and solitude.
• Point View Marina (401-789-7660) is one nautical mile from the Harbor of Refuge and offers haul-out services and both fiberglass and mechanical repairs.

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