Napatree

[Brookelise]

Has anyone noticed that the channel into Napatree has become very shallow in places? Yesterday, about four hours after low tide, we saw some depth readings below 6 feet -- 5.8 for one short stretch several hundred yards from the entrance buoy, and for a second or so 5.2. We were in the channel at all times.

Napatree was mobbed, of course. The powerboats were observing the usual rules for powerboats: Proceed at 20 kts or higher in no-wake areas; roar across channels directly in front of sailboats whenever possible; blow horns at sailboats going less than 10 kts in channels; proceed two or three abreast; tow huge hard dinks 30 feet behind.

 

[Brookelise]

Napatree is the harbor at Watch Hill, RI. There's a long winding channel leading to it, from off Stonington, past the Pawcatuck River, then around to Watch Hill. The channel shouldn't be much shallower than 8 feet, but that no longer seems to be the case in parts.