North Kingstown, Rhode Island · Narragansett Bay · 41°34.3′N 71°26.6′W · VHF Ch 16
Wickford is the anchorage cruisers rave about after the fact — a snug, wooded harbor fronting one of the prettiest colonial villages on the bay, and one of the best-protected spots in all of Narragansett Bay.
Follow the marked channel in carefully; it's narrow and shallow at the edges. The outer harbor gives good anchoring in 8–12 ft of mud with protection from every direction thanks to the surrounding land and islands — this is a genuine all-round hole. Inside, moorings and marinas line a village of clapboard houses, chandleries and cafés straight out of the 1700s.
Provision at the village market, walk the historic streets, and enjoy one of the flattest, quietest nights on the bay.
Hazards & cautions. The entrance channel is narrow and shoals to the sides — hold the marked buoys, especially near low water with a 3.8 ft range. The inner harbor is thin; deeper-draft boats should stay in the outer harbor.
Coast Pilot notes Wickford's narrow, well-marked entrance and snug, all-round protected inner harbor with limited depth for deeper-draft vessels.
No cruiser reports yet. If you've anchored here, be the first — your note helps the next boat in.
Augusto ratings and editorial are our own synthesis of public-domain sources and cruiser reports. Always verify against current charts and local knowledge before you rely on them.