PORTSMOUTH – Boaters will gather this upcoming Saturday for Aquapalooza – an approximate 15-year celebration of summer held the last weekend of July along Prudence Island.
Meanwhile, law enforcement will be on patrol to make sure everyone is safe.
Allison O’Connor, communication office for Portsmouth Police, said that the department will rely on mutual aid from the United States Coast Guard, state police and the Department of Environmental Management, as well as Bristol, Warwick and Providence police forces to safeguard all boaters and revelers.
"Our main priority is to make sure everyone is safe,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor said in 2023 the weather was bad but boaters still gathered for the event. She said there were two boating under the influence citations, but the day went smoothly otherwise.
The massive floating celebration typically draws hundreds of boats from all corners of Narragansett Bay filling Potter's Cove with all forms of watercraft including jet skis, inflatable rafts, kayaks, paddleboards and dinghies. Larger vessels are also known to tie up side-by-side so that partiers can easily hop from one deck to another.
According to some counts, the event has attracted at times more than 1,000 boaters and two years ago was host to a bachelorette party.
According to preliminary weather reports, Portsmouth next weekend will be sunny and in the mid-80s from Friday through Sunday; chances of rain will be less than 40% on Saturday.
In addition to Aquapalooza and regular summer boating, Saturday is also the second day of the Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams, the Blessing of the Fleet in Narragansett and a regatta will be taking place off Coaster's Island, making for a potentially busy day on Rhode Island waters. With that in mind O’Connor said that the Coast Guard will also be busy patrolling Newport waters during the Folk Festival.
More: Despite drawing 1,000 vessels this year, here's why Aquapalooza doesn't require a permit.
Aquapalooza was first organized by Warwick-based boat dealer Derek Leigh over a decade ago and now draws hundreds of yachts, rafts, jet skis and other vessels not only from around Rhode Island but also from as far away as Long Island, New York. The organization of the annual bash is now decentralized, taking place in a private Facebook group every year which law enforcement agencies have previously said makes it difficult to pinpoint any individual or organization as being responsible for event management and safety.
Despite the concerns, O'Connor still expressed confidence that her police force, along with mutual aid from other departments, would keep everyone in check.
“We will be strict with our enforcement,” she said, adding that Portsmouth police will patrol waters with two boats during the event.
Emily Lynch, chief program developer of DEM, said that her agency is also ready to protect public safety and health, as well as the natural resources in the water.
"Similar to last year, DEM is planning a precautionary shellfish closure for the north shore of Prudence Island in the vicinity of the Aquapalooza activity,” Lynch said. “Federal guidance does not allow shellfish harvest in areas with high concentrations of boaters because there is an increased risk of accidental or illicit discharge of sewage from marine toilets on the vessels.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Law enforcement prepare for busy day on Narragansett Bay as Aquapalooza returns
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