Introduction to Sea Kayaking - July 19, 2026

Celebrating a successful assisted rescue

We had a great session for RICKA’s Introduction to Sea Kayaking – 8 participants, just about the right size.

The session was held at Wickford Harbor, which gave us a lot of options to find different conditions. We reviewed the gear you need for sea kayaking, worked on strokes (efficient forward and backward strokes, sweep strokes for turning the boat, draw and pry strokes to move the boat sideways, bow and stern rudders to hold the boat on a line or turn into the wind, edging, bracing and stopping), and rescue techniques (towing, assisted rescues and self-rescues). Everyone did great.

The crew

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A Week on Point Judith Pond

Our annual summer vacation at the beach ended today, so packing up to go home trumped paddling this morning. We had a shorter vacation this year, so I did all my paddling on Point Judith Pond. Fortunately there are lots of places to explore. I’ll be back next week to lead a trip for RICKA.

Snug Harbor – July 17, 2026

Point Judith Marina

I didn’t paddle this morning, but I got out this afternoon for a trip down to Snug Harbor.

Snug Harbor is a small village located on the western shore of Point Judith Pond just across from Galilee. In the early 1900's, Snug Harbor was known for its fishing and lobstering fleet with boats working the waters of Point Judith Pond, Narraganset Bay and the open Atlantic. Today, Snug Harbor remains an active harbor for commercial and recreational vessels.

Snug Harbor Light

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Port of Galilee – July 16, 2026

Fishing boat returning to the harbor

I didn’t paddle in the morning, but I was able to get out in the afternoon for a trip down to Galilee. The wind was blowing from the south and the tide was going out creating choppy waves and a strong current going through the Breachway.

The Port of Galilee was created in 1935 when a harbor was dredged and a dock constructed at the mouth of Point Judith Pond. Connected to the ocean by the Breakaway and the Harbor of Refuge, both completed in 1910, Galilee eventually became the home port for much of Rhode Island's fishing industry. I paddled past the fishing trawlers, lobster boats and charter before heading back to the cottage. There was lots of wildfire smoke from Canada that made the sky look grey.

Back at the cottage

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Bluff Hill Cove – July 15, 2026

Barrier beach at Sand Hill Cove

The wind was blowing again, so I stayed close to the cottage and paddle around Bluff Hill Cove.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Its southern end at Bluff Hill Cove is protected from the ocean by the huge barrier beach at Sand Hill Cove. I paddled out around the cove, getting bounced around by the wind and waves before heading back to the cottage.

View of the cottage form Frank's Neck

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Point Judith Pond Islands - July 14, 2026

Osprey at Plato Island

It was windy when I woke up, so I decided to paddle around the islands in the middle of Point Judith Pond. 

Point Judith Pond has three large islands – Great Island, Harbor Island and Ram Island, and four smaller islands - Jonathan Island, Beach Island, Gardner Island and Plato Island. Ram Island is conservation land. Great Island, Harbor Island, Jonathan Island and Plato Island have houses on them. Gardner Island and Beach Island are empty, and nice places to stop for lunch. I crossed over at Plato Island, and did a big loop around Gardner island, Beach Island and Ram Island to return to the cottage.

Oyster farm at Jonathan Island

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Upper Point Judith Pond - July 13, 2026

Boat ramp at Marina Park

I decided to stay close to the cottage today and paddle around Upper Point Judith Pond. I will be leading a RICKA trip here next week, so I wanted to check out the put-in at Marina Park.

Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea. I paddled up past Jonathan Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows into the Upper Pond, and through the mooring field to Marina Park. Then I paddled back past Harbor Island and Ram Island to return the cottage.

View past Jonathan island to Beach Island

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