… for the good info. I know what you're saying Jon … We had an Ida Lewis mooring right off the Gazebo on the NYYC lawn during Arthur this past July, well west of Ida Lewis, maybe 75 feet from the rocks. Arrived from the Bahamas at 3AM July 4th under clear skies and perfect breeze. By 8AM that morning the rain bands from Arthur were rolling in. As the Customs Officer left around 10AM, hard rain started. Early afternoon it was ugly and by 5-6 PM downright scary. The launches unexpectedly stopped running late afternoon it was so rough in the harbor, the Ida Lewis launch driver was visibly shaken, he nearly lost his boat on the last trip out. Not ever being in Newport Harbor I was skeptical going in with the predicted N wind, and that thought proved accurate. The next morning (we had spent the night at a friends because we couldn't get back to the boat … and by the looks of things we would not had have wanted to anyhow), I was sure there would be carnage onshore, but miraculously there was none. And we were fine, we had put things to bed somewhat prepared. It was a good thing we were as far back as we were, the front row of boats got clobbered, bouncing all over the place, our boat was surprisingly quiet in that last row, however still didn't look like too much fun to be aboard.

I was surprised … IMO, Newport Harbor NOT the place to be with strong wind in the N quadrant … quite a bit of fetch. I was told 10 boats broke free in Edgartown and 60 in Nantucket Harbors. I like your suggestion for Goat Island, hopefully we find plenty of room mid October to take advantage of the protection that offers.

And thanks for the harbor patrol tip … Ian had an anchor ball hoisted but no running lights on the dingy ? Not even a headlamp ? How cheeky is that ? I don't ever go ashore where there are drinking establishments without a light in the dinghy … you simply never know ! Your story reminds me when we used to get pulled over 40 years ago after one too many and given a ride to our door. The good old days.

Did I see NOMAD in Nantucket end of August ? I have a hard time seeing how folks pay $75 a night for a Nantucket mooring (and many August nights they are sold out) when the anchoring east of the mooring field between land and the shoal is considerably more private, pleasant … and free.

Thanks again you guys, will be taking your notes Jon along for my visit … cheers, John