Hi folks,
I am interested in planning a sailing trip from Charleston, SC to Hilton Head this coming spring and wanted to see if anyone had any good suggestions for me on this first endeavor.
I have done 3 coastal trips before (just a couple miles off shore, nothing huge) from Beaufort, NC to Cape Lookout (8 miles one way) so I am not a total newbie to taking my CD 25 on blue water.
What I am interested in learning;
1) has anyone ever made that trip
2) Do you have any recommendations of where to stay in HH?
3) How long do you think it would take, point to point?
I plan on doing the trip in late March of 2014 with my son when he's on break from college (to divert him from going to Daytona Beach, don't tell him about my evil plan please....) so I think weather wise I am clear of nasty weather and the temps should be just about perfect for sleeping on a boat with no AC.
If there are other destinations besides Hilton Head that you would recommend, that's great as well, I am not married to HH as as goal, I would rather go somewhere that is accomodating to sailors if there is a better option.
Thank you!
Bill Migirditch
Planning a small journey
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Re: Planning a small journey
Hi Bill -
It is a couple of hours up the river, but if you are going to Hilton Head / Port Royal Sound, you might want to check out Beaufort, SC. beautiful little town, nice anchorage right by the town docks (where I believe you can buy showers etc). Enjoy!
Matt
It is a couple of hours up the river, but if you are going to Hilton Head / Port Royal Sound, you might want to check out Beaufort, SC. beautiful little town, nice anchorage right by the town docks (where I believe you can buy showers etc). Enjoy!
Matt
Re: Planning a small journey
I am with Matt. Beaufort has a nice Marina with showers. When I was there in early March they were in the planing stages of putting a small mooring field in for transits off the town dock.They also have loaner car for shopping.Great town lots of places to eat.
Pete
Pete
Re: Planning a small journey
thank you for the recommendation. I looked at it on Google maps and that would be a nice little run!
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svreleaseme
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Jun 29th, '11, 13:10
- Location: S/V Twig, 1974 typhoon #812
Re: Planning a small journey
Hi Bill,
That is going to be a very cool trip. I agree completely that Beaufort, S.C. would be the spot. I personally luv to stop at Skull Creek marina on HH. It is at the north end of HH. It is Very quite and secluded with a beautiful view. Exactly what a university man would not be looking for I would imagine. There are two other spots on HH, Palmetto Bay marina about half way down on the back side of the island. Not a bad place. A place you would consider for protection from a bad storm. But further to travel for no good reason. On the south end of the island there is Harbour Town Marina which I must admit is just not my scene, Others may like it. Its crowed with tourist and hub-bub etc. plus its a long way down for not a good pay off unless you like being gawked at like your animal in a zoo. On the other hand Beaufort has a very nice mix of a good city marina, a main street right at the marina with lots of restaurants and bars that will find both old and young partaking and of course it is a very picturesque location. I will make one observation however. If you and your son are familiar with Charleston then arriving at Beaufort would be like arriving at a suburb of Charleston. Sort of the same look and feel. Just on a small scale. However if you did go to Skull Creek on HH you would really feel like you went some where else. Its seclusion and natural beauty is really nice and different. PLus there would be a heck of a dinner waiting for you at the Old Fort Pub within walking distance of the marina. Everything else would be a taxi ride but very doable. Where as Beaufort has everything right there.
As far as how long, well its about 55 miles I think, sea buoy to sea buoy plus about another 20 miles up Port Royal Sound to Beaufort, Skull Creek HH would be a little closer, plus however far you are up into Charleston harbor, say another 10 miles or so. Thats 85 miles give or take so I would think 24 hours minimum with favorable wind. If I remember right SW is prevailing in this area, I may be wrong but something to research. I would Strongly suggest that you time your arrival at Port Royal Sound with the tide. If you get to come in with the current your arrival at Beaufort or Skull Creek will be joyful. If you try to come in against the current, not so much. Good luck, it will be a blast, just take some extra cans of tunafish just in case.
Randy
That is going to be a very cool trip. I agree completely that Beaufort, S.C. would be the spot. I personally luv to stop at Skull Creek marina on HH. It is at the north end of HH. It is Very quite and secluded with a beautiful view. Exactly what a university man would not be looking for I would imagine. There are two other spots on HH, Palmetto Bay marina about half way down on the back side of the island. Not a bad place. A place you would consider for protection from a bad storm. But further to travel for no good reason. On the south end of the island there is Harbour Town Marina which I must admit is just not my scene, Others may like it. Its crowed with tourist and hub-bub etc. plus its a long way down for not a good pay off unless you like being gawked at like your animal in a zoo. On the other hand Beaufort has a very nice mix of a good city marina, a main street right at the marina with lots of restaurants and bars that will find both old and young partaking and of course it is a very picturesque location. I will make one observation however. If you and your son are familiar with Charleston then arriving at Beaufort would be like arriving at a suburb of Charleston. Sort of the same look and feel. Just on a small scale. However if you did go to Skull Creek on HH you would really feel like you went some where else. Its seclusion and natural beauty is really nice and different. PLus there would be a heck of a dinner waiting for you at the Old Fort Pub within walking distance of the marina. Everything else would be a taxi ride but very doable. Where as Beaufort has everything right there.
As far as how long, well its about 55 miles I think, sea buoy to sea buoy plus about another 20 miles up Port Royal Sound to Beaufort, Skull Creek HH would be a little closer, plus however far you are up into Charleston harbor, say another 10 miles or so. Thats 85 miles give or take so I would think 24 hours minimum with favorable wind. If I remember right SW is prevailing in this area, I may be wrong but something to research. I would Strongly suggest that you time your arrival at Port Royal Sound with the tide. If you get to come in with the current your arrival at Beaufort or Skull Creek will be joyful. If you try to come in against the current, not so much. Good luck, it will be a blast, just take some extra cans of tunafish just in case.
Randy