Any Advice for Newport, Rhode Island?

[Derek]

I'll be sailing up to Newport, RI next summer to attend a year masters program at the Naval War College (I'm pretty excited about it).  Does anyone have any tips, tricks, or advice for how to manage having my Catalina 34 there in the Newport area for a year?  I've never been there before and it seems like most people get a long-term mooring and maybe haul out in the winter, but I truly have no idea.  Any advice would be gratefully welcome!

Good evening everyone and happy holidays!

Derek
SV Tiki

[Analgesic]

First let me say you're in for a great year.  I was stationed in Newport my last four years in the Navy and loved every minute (at least once I learned to take the wind-chill factor seriously from November to April). The Navy has it's own marina and assuming it hasn't changed, there is mix of the recreational rentals(Mercurys, Rhodes 19s, Ensign 22s and Shields) and private boats owned by active duty service members and possibly retirees.  If this hasn't changed, you should have priority getting a mooring or slip as an active duty member.  I now live an hour to the north in Mass. but still get to Newport about every other summer.  It's a bustling harbor in summer  to say the least and I'd be surprised if civilian moorings are easy to come by (unless you could rent one from an owner who is away for the season).  The other nearby options are Jamestown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Bristol but all are crowded.  You might call the harbormasters in each town as a start if the Navy marina is full.   Best wishes going forward.

[mregan]

I'd start calling around for a slip or mooring now.  I doubt you will find anything in Newport itself.  Jamestown is right across the bay.  The Newport side I would think would almost be impossible to find anything.  Opposite side of the island in Dutch Harbor, you may be lucky and snag a mooring.  Other close marinas to Newport would be Wickford (about 2 hr sail to Newport) or Portsmouth (about 1 hr sail).  About 4 years ago, Safe Harbor (out of Texas) came in and bought about 90% of the marinas in RI.

There is a marina at the War College, not sure if its part of the Navy base or independent.  If part of the base, you may get lucky and they might have something.

The mooring waiting list in Newport harbor is about 15 years.  Every year on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace someone is renting out their mooring for the season.  Typically pretty expensive.

There are moorings to rent in Newport Harbor, all owned by the town.  First come/first serve.  I'm sure there is a maximum number of days on the mooring.

There is also a free anchorage in the Newport harbor.  Same first come/first serve.  If you were a liveaboard you could stay there all season.  Met a couple from S Carolina that were doing just that a couple years ago.  Technically you aren't supposed to leave your boat unattended for any length of time but not sure how much they monitor that.