Town of Bristol is famous for running America’s Oldest Fourth of July festivities. So if you’re looking to come for that weekend, reserve months in advance. The club is across the harbor from downtown, and runs two launches so transients can easily get to Independence Park, short blocks to all restaurants and shops. Club is sail-oriented…one member who grew up in the club skippered the winning boat in the 2023 round-the-world ‘The Ocean Race.’ In-season the club hosts cruises from other clubs all over New England. Sailboat races four weekday nights plus local regattas on weekends.
We've stored our 33-ft sailboat there for the last 7 years and have been very happy with the family-run business. Very responsive and professional. Good motor shop, carpentry section, and rigging crew.
The only channel into Westport Harbor is now blocked by a bar at G"19" to R"18". We draw 4.5 ft. and somehow got in at mid-tide, but with one soft grounding. On attempting to depart at mid-tide the next morning (5:30 am), we turned around after three soft groudings. Back to the club mooring. Tried again to depart on rising tide 2 pm---with loss to our schedule, or course. This time the harbormaster boat intercepted us on the way out and led us outside of the channel's G"21" and G"19". Saved our bacon. Thanks! Word from locals is that a bar has developed across the only channel and that the Army Corps is "working on it" (Summer 2022). Recommendation: if you have any draft to speak of, enter only at high tide (and then perhaps contact the harbormaster). Club was pretty empty on a summer Thursday. Fairly friendly. They had responded promptly to my Dockwa request (and thus got my mooring business more quickly that Tripp). Shower, toilets okay. Couple of block walk across peninsula to Town Beach.
Summer 2022. A sandbar has formed across the channel leading into the harbor, from G"19" to R"18". Our sailboat draws 4.5 ft. and could not get out at mid-tide. Later, on a rising tide, a harbormaster boat intercepted us and led us outside the charted channel, north of G"21", G"19", and G"17" to deeper water. Go for high tide to get in and out.
Not a marina but a boat launch ramp and dinghy dock. Both Bristol Yacht Club and Bristol Marine marina, which are across the harbor, use the dock to drop off visitors to downtown Bristol.
The launch staff did a great job in heavy winds and seas from the NNW. We had a lovely walk to the Village Hearth for a nice breakfast before shoving off.
Fine facility! Okay location. A bit of difficulty establishing initial contact by VHF and/or telephone at 11:00 am on a July Tuesday.
Nice facility with excellent wind and wave protection. Web site, hand-out welcome sheets could both use some updating: they show a Jacuzzi that's been closed for some time; a missing diagram showing location of numbered slips would be helpful; Cornelius Island mis-spelled. Promised weekend-morning donuts didn't show up, WiFi weak, dock hand not terribly helpful in docking/stopping 34-ft boat. Rest rooms, showers nice and clean. I'd come back.
Very good service, clean well-appointed shower rooms, nice access to a variety of restaurants and take-out places. But...the north mooring field has a lot of current running through it, therefore it was a roll-ly overnight, despite a very protected west wind. The occasional party boat late-night arrival and the pre-dawn fishing departures added wake turbulence that increased the roll. And we had Rocker-Stoppers deployed, to little avail.
A bigger, less-weathered number on our floating dock would have made finding it a bit easier. Otherwise, fine.
For mooring reservations, bring your dinghy; there are no launch services anywhere in Wickford harbor. Wickford YC has half a dozen (barrel-shaped) guest moorings available, Just inside of breakwater and to the north of the channel. Very peaceful in a light northwest wind. Chief Steward Chuck was very helpful and courteous. Club facilities (shower, etc.) nice and clean. A few good restaurants/coffee shops near Town Dock, a 10-minute dinghy ride into the south arm of the L-shaped harbor.
Booked two nights in a slip (non-floating dock). After first night, was asked to move to another spot on very short notice, as that numbered slip had been promised to another, part of a group that wanted to be together. Hectic move since new occupant had already arrived and was circling in harbor. Just as well...the 'together' group partied heartily until after midnight on a Friday night. Loudly. Very loudly. Next time I'll take a mooring.