Jamestown: A Photographic Tribute by Onne van der Wal

When you boat in the northeastern United States, few destinations are as inviting as Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay. Locals know the island simply as Jamestown. It’s a compact, accessible spot that draws sailors for its reliable anchorages, protected coves, and dramatic shoreline. Sheltered harbors such as Dutch Harbor offer tranquil moorings and postcard sunsets, while the open water near Beavertail Lighthouse presents ever-changing conditions that test and excite skippers. From casual lunches on the hook in Mackerel Cove to short runs across the bay to Newport or longer cruises up the Sakonnet River, Jamestown offers a variety of options for every day on the water.

For 28 years, marine photographer and long-time resident Onne van der Wal has lived in and photographed this island community. He honors the place he calls home in his new coffee-table book, Jamestown, a visual celebration of the island’s landscapes, harbors, and everyday life. With decades of experience photographing on Narragansett Bay, van der Wal brings readers an intimate view of place and season, one image at a time.

Van der Wal’s work is familiar to anyone who follows sailing and boating photography. For more than 35 years his images have appeared in major sailing and boating publications around the world. He first made his name photographing the 1982 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard Flyer, where his striking images captured the power and drama of ocean racing. After five years at sea as a professional sailor, he came ashore in Rhode Island in 1987 and transitioned into a career as a full-time nautical photographer. He and his wife Tenley opened a gallery in Newport, where he continued to produce images that highlight the character and motion of boats, water, and coastal life.

Creating Jamestown allowed van der Wal to document his immediate surroundings with the depth and attention a long-term resident can bring. He says one of the greatest advantages of living on the island was proximity: “I could roll out of bed 20 minutes before sunrise and be on location 10 minutes later. I could return to the same spot multiple times to capture the right light and weather in all four seasons. Mostly, I loved being alone there in the early morning for photo sessions.” Those quiet, early hours translate into photographs that emphasize light, mood, and the subtle rhythms of island life.

The book collects images that range from sweeping seascapes to intimate portraits of shoreline details. Readers will recognize familiar nautical motifs—sails filled with wind, reflections in calm anchorages, and the geometry of hulls against sky—alongside scenes that speak to the lived-in quality of a small coastal community. By photographing across seasons, van der Wal shows how Jamestown’s character shifts from the warm, hazy days of summer to the stark clarity of winter, and how every season offers its own compelling light and atmosphere.

Beyond the photographs themselves, the book functions as a portrait of place: a celebration of island scenery, a record of mooring and shorelines, and a reflection on the pleasures of cruising and coastal living. Boaters and photography enthusiasts alike will find value in the visuals and in the way the images convey the tactile realities of life on the bay—weather, tide, and the daily movement of people and vessels.

Van der Wal’s approach is patient and observant. He often revisits the same locations to wait for the interplay of light and water that makes an image sing. This kind of dedication is evident throughout the book, which balances dramatic, wide-angle scenes with quieter, more personal moments. The result is a cohesive visual narrative that both longtime residents and newcomers can appreciate.

Documenting his home has deepened van der Wal’s appreciation for the island and its community. A project of this scope focused on Jamestown had not been attempted before, he notes, and compiling these photographs offered a fresh perspective on familiar places. For readers and visitors interested in learning more about the photographer’s work, the name vanderwal.com is a good starting point to find additional images and background information.

December 2025