The attached spreadsheet shows recommended anchorages in Southern New England. This data was presented to the 2015 & 16 OCC Southern New England Cruise participants but you may find it of use.
These are personal observations - you may not like my taste!!!
edited by bbalme on 1/1/2019

Bill Balme

Hi Bill,
I am glad to hear more positive reports about Newport. As I said, it has been a lot of years since I cruised those parts, almost 2 decades now, and it does sound like things have changed, especially if there are more anchoring spots than just off Ida Lewis. And the town may also have shifted since the period just after the America’s Cup days when it was trying to re-invent itself. I am glad to hear that it is a favorite.
As for the rule proposal: it was always so crowded that I can imagine boats anchoring in (small) holes among the moorings in the morning when there is no wind and then the afternoon breeze builds causing boats to lie differently and start their own version of bumper cars. That would definitely lead to a rule of no anchored boats being unattended, I suspect.
My best, Dick