Little Rhody, Big Water
Narragansett Fleet

Power & Sail • Community • Adventure
Organized by American Saudade, Inc. (ASI)

 

A Boating Community Under Development

Little Rhody, Big Water is a developing program bringing together sailboat owners, powerboaters, prospective crew members, and water enthusiasts who share an appreciation for Narragansett Bay and the waters beyond.

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Organized by ASI, the Narragansett Fleet is envisioned as a welcoming community built around shared outings, practical learning, friendship, mutual support, and community service.

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You do not need a particular cultural background, a large vessel, or decades of boating experience to express interest. We welcome people who respect the water, value responsible seamanship, and want to contribute to a positive boating community.

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The program is presently under development. Activities, participation criteria, partnerships, and operating procedures are being established before organized outings begin.

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Different Boats, Shared Waters

The fleet will connect independently owned sailboats and powerboats while respecting their different capabilities, cruising speeds, and operating needs.

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S/V American Saudade is envisioned as ASI’s flagship and a future participant following her refit and readiness assessments. The wider fleet, however, will be a community of participating vessels, each remaining under the command and responsibility of its own skipper.

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Our goal is to create opportunities for boaters to learn from one another, discover destinations, share experience, and enjoy the water together.

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Explore Together

Proposed activities include Narragansett Bay outings, harbor visits, destination gatherings, maritime heritage excursions, and opportunities to connect with waterfront communities.

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As the program develops, appropriately prepared vessels and crews may participate in coastal trips to destinations such as Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

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Shared destinations will allow boats to travel according to their capabilities. Outings will be planned around suitable weather, vessel readiness, crew experience, and practical alternatives.

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Participation will never require a skipper to continue beyond the limits of the vessel, crew, or conditions.

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Learn and Share

Every boater has something to learn, and many have something valuable to teach.

 

The fleet could offer dockside demonstrations, equipment familiarization, navigation workshops, boat-handling instruction, maintenance discussions, and safety training with qualified contributors.

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Members may share experience in marine engineering, engines, electrical systems, rigging, sail handling, communications, anchoring, and passage planning.

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A developing network of boat owners, skilled volunteers, marine professionals, and supporting businesses could help members find practical guidance and appropriate services.

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Crew Connections

ASI intends to explore a voluntary crew connection service for people seeking boating opportunities and vessel owners seeking suitable assistance. Participants could share their experience, training, interests, availability, and expected responsibilities through a controlled directory.

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Introductions would be followed by direct discussions between the skipper and prospective crew member, with vessel orientation and practical assessment where appropriate. A directory listing would not constitute certification of an individual or vessel.

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Crew opportunities aboard privately owned fleet vessels would remain separate from selection for service aboard S/V American Saudade.

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Community on the Waterfront

The Narragansett Fleet could provide a meaningful connection between East Providence, neighboring communities, and the Bay. Potential activities include waterfront stewardship, veterans engagement, educational gatherings, maritime storytelling, and participation in appropriately coordinated community events.

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We also hope to explore a fleet contribution to the hospital’s Good Night Lights tradition, subject to coordination with organizers and waterfront authorities.

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The program will welcome participation throughout Narragansett Bay while encouraging pride in the communities that share its shores.

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Safety and Responsible Participation

Safety will be part of the program’s foundation. Developing participation criteria will address operator qualifications, vessel condition, required equipment, appropriate insurance, communications, emergency preparation, and respectful conduct. Each organized outing will require planning appropriate to its route and conditions. Individual skippers will retain responsibility for their vessels and everyone aboard, including decisions to delay, withdraw, or return to port.

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Applicable boating rules, local requirements, and event permissions will be addressed as activities are developed.

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Partnerships and Alliances

ASI welcomes discussions with yacht clubs, marinas, sailing organizations, community boating programs, marine businesses, educators, and waterfront institutions. Possible cooperation could include safety education, training referrals, technical demonstrations, destination visits, and community projects.

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We intend to explore relationships with organizations such as Sail Newport, Community Boating Center in Providence, and others across the regional boating community. These are prospective relationships; joint activities will depend on mutual agreement and established responsibilities.

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Help Shape the Fleet

We welcome expressions of interest from boat owners, experienced mariners, prospective crew members, instructors, volunteers, and supporting businesses. Tell us about your vessel, your interests, the skills you can share, or the activities you would like to help develop. Boat ownership is not necessary to contribute.

 

Contact ASI to help shape Little Rhody, Big Water as the Narragansett Fleet takes form.

Small State. Shared Waters. Big Possibilities.

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Different Boats, Shared Waters

The Narragansett Fleet is being developed for independently owned sailboats and powerboats 28 to 42 feet long.

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Within this range, participating vessels will have different capabilities, cruising speeds, drafts, and operating needs. Activities will be planned with those differences in mind, with participation determined by the suitability and readiness of each vessel and crew.

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S/V American Saudade, ASI’s 37-foot flagship, is envisioned as a future participant after she completes her refit and readiness assessments. Each participating vessel will remain under the command and responsibility of its own skipper.

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People who do not own a qualifying vessel may still express interest in crewing, training, volunteering, or providing shore support.

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• The Refit

• Great Circle Heritage Voyage — Discover the planned journey and its purpose.

• NAV 360 — Explore maritime science, engineering, and naval history.

• 360-DEEP™ — Examine the broader questions behind maritime decisions.

• Volunteering — Express interest in an appropriate project assignment.

• Partnerships — Discuss technical or institutional collaboration.

• Contact Us — Offer expertise or ask about the project.

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