Where is Wentworth Cove?

[Bizer]

I thinks this thread will be along the lines of Saunders/Sanders debate.

Wentworth Cove is between Governors Island and the mainland. Some people are telling me that Wentworth Cove is northwest (NW) of the Governors Island Bridge (GIB), and others are telling me that it is southeast (SE) of the GIB.

Wentworth Cove Road runs from GIB almost to light #69 so that would indicate that Wentworth Cove is NW of GIB.

The No-Rafting regulations point to the no-rafting zone, "running from light 43 on the north to the black top buoy located off Wentworth Cove Estates on the south." This indicates that Wentworth Cove is SE of GIB.

Maybe it's both????

Hey, McDude, what's the history, here????

[upthesaukee]

Per Section 270:43 regarding rafting on Winnipesaukee, here's what is said about Wentworth Cove:

(iii) Wentworth cove, southwest of Governor's island bridge in the town of Gilford; and


So we have NE, SW and SE.

(full RSA: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...270/270-43.htm )

As a kid spending summers in Glendale, I thought that Wentworth Cove was that section of the lake running from G.I. Bridge going towards Saunders Bay. Sorry, not much help, but neither is the state.

[Bizer]

From upthesaukee:

Wentworth cove, southwest of Governor's island bridge in the town of Gilford;

Well this makes it more confusing. The Laconia/Gilford town line runs through the Governors Island Bridge (GIB). The area southwest (SW) of GIB is dry land that in Laconia, not water in Gilford.

[mcdude]

Does this shed any light?

[SIKSUKR]

I always thought that Wentworth Cove was the first cove on the Weirs side (NW) of Governors Island bridge,starting right after the bridge. SS

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Per Section 270:43 regarding rafting on Winnipesaukee, here's what is said about Wentworth Cove:

(iii) Wentworth cove, southwest of Governor's island bridge in the town of Gilford; and


So we have NE, SW and SE.

(full RSA: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...270/270-43.htm )

As a kid spending summers in Glendale, I thought that Wentworth Cove was that section of the lake running from G.I. Bridge going toward Saunders Bay. Sorry, not much help, but neither is the state.

I'm with Up on this. I have always heard the area southwest of Governor's Island Bridge called Wentworth Cove. That is the Sander's Bay side.

Hope we can get a definitive answer. Thanks Bizer, keep up the great work.

[Mashugana]

Originally Posted by Bizer

The No-Rafting regulations point to the no-rafting zone, "running from light 43 on the north to the black top buoy located off Wentworth Cove Estates on the south." This indicates that Wentworth Cove is SE of GIB.

I thought the NRZ under discussion was southwest of Governors Island not southeast.
Where are Wentworth Cove Estates? I can not find a reference to the estates anywhere other than the quoted statute.

This is a wonderful forum but this name thing is crazy! Maybe it is like Loon Island. I hear that there are 3 of them on the lake and more than one Smith's Cove. Do you thinhk the Native Americans were smoking their peace pipes too much and recycled some of the same names? Or maybe something change in the translations?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

I’m one of those that like to know the name of various points, coves, bays and other areas. I think that Wentworth Cove is the area southwest of the Governor’s Island Bridge (the Sander’s Bay side). I’ve called that area Wentworth Cove for as long as I can remember. Here’s some supporting information and brief discussion on other comments.

As stated earlier, the No Rafting Zones (NRZ) include a PORTION of Wentworth Cove:
From: http://www.nh.gov/safety/ss/bodies.html

Originally Posted by NH Dept of Safety

SAF-C 407.03 - Rafting as defined in RSA 2760:42 V shall be prohibited in the following areas of Lake Winnipesaukee unless covered by one of the exceptions specified in RSA 270:45
(3) Wentworth Cove, southwest of Governors Island Bridge west of an imaginary north-south line, running from light 43 on the north to the black top buoy located off Wentworth Cove Estates on the south.

I don’t recall Wentworth Cove Estates but my 1998-1999 Duncan Press Chart shows it southwest of the GI Bridge (see attached). Light 43 is obviously on the South side of the bridge and drawing an imaginary line to the South there is only ONE side of the bridge it can be on – the Sander’s Bay side.

But Wentworth Cove Road runs along the bay northwest of the Bridge so the cove must be North of the GI Bridge. A possible explanation is that the road STARTS near the area of Wentworth Cove or the Wentworth Cove Estates. Just like Weirs Road (part of route 11B) starts at the area of the Weirs Arrow Sign and runs to Sawyers Dairy Bar (it does NOT run past Weirs boardwalk). There is no convention with regard to road names and we can find examples of both naming schemes.

Regarding NRZs: Wentworth Cove “in the Town of Gilford” comes from an enforcement section and may deal more with empowering agencies to enforce certain rules:
From: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...270/270-43.htm

Originally Posted by NH Gen Court

270:43 Rules; Enforcement. – [snip]
(iii) Wentworth cove, southwest of Governor's island bridge in the town of Gilford; and
(2) Such other locations and times as the commissioner of safety shall prescribe.
II. The provisions of this subdivision and the rules adopted under this section shall be enforced by any law enforcement officer having jurisdiction in the area in which any violation of such provisions or rules occurs or by the commissioner of safety and his duly authorized agents, who shall have all the powers of a peace officer in any county of the state regarding such enforcement.
Source. 1983, 314:2. 1987, 124:6, I(c), eff. July 1, 1987.

How can the Wentworth Cove NRZ be in Gilford when the land both northwest and southwest of the GI Bridge is in Laconia? Well, I believe that the NRZ is primarily in Laconia BUT that Wentworth Cove is primarily in Gilford. Let me try this explanation. I believe the DEMARCATION points in the NRZ definition are both in Gilford. The imaginary line goes between Light 43 (in Gilford) and the Black Top (probably in Gilford - see attached Topographic map for town border). Although the area designated Wentworth Cove No Rafting Zone appears to be primarily in Laconia, most of what I assume is Wentworth Cove is not included in the NRZ and, therefore, most of Wentworth Cove is indeed in Gilford. Whatever the name is for the cove south of the GI bridge it is primarily in the town of Gilford and that may be why they reference it that way in the above enforcement section.

I am assuming here that the definition of the No Rafting Zone is accurate. Your input is encouraged.

Lastly, if Wentworth Cove is the area North West of the GI Bridge, then where is the Wentworth Cove NRZ? If I am on the southwest side of the GI Bridge and MP gives me a ticket for rafting in Wentworth Cove and I’m not in Wentworth Cove….. Oh Skip, where are you with your knowledge of all these confusing RSA’s…

If you extend that imaginary line from Light 43 through the black top you’ll hit land near a facility called Timber Bay (a condo or resort). It is the former OxBow Motel. I don’t know where they got the name Timber Bay but I don’t think it’s the name of the bay. I would hate to see more name confusion – newcomers may call the alleged Wentworth Cove by the Timber Bay name. Like the Saunders Bay Motel in Sanders Bay years ago – everyone saw the Saunders Bay Motel sign and assumed the Bay was called Saunders. In any case, I hope more forum readers can shed light on this topic. Regardless of what we ultimately call it, I will abide by Bizer’s conclusion as to the name of the area.

Here are the Bizer chart showing the NRZ, the Duncan Chart showing Wentworth Cove Estates and the Topographic map with the town line.

[Joe Kerr]

I call the area north of the bridge the Governors Island Channel. Wish I could be of more help on the location of Wentworth Cove.

Maybe a compromise is in order. Call north of the bridge Went Cove and south of the bridge Worth Cove.

Where are the history buffs on this one?