Find upcoming events from Maine to Florida, along with detailed destination reviews of major hubs and lesser-known small towns. If you’re looking for the best cruiser resources, you’ve come to the right place. Each month, Southern Boating posts Regional Reports that cover the Atlantic Coast in detail. Chesapeake, Southeast Seaboard, the Carolinas, and down to Miami, Southern Boating keeps you updated on marinas, events and the resources you’ll need to successfully navigate the U.S. Atlantic.
It’s a bittersweet end. The Carolina Boat Shows mark the end of the boat show season.
Enjoy the last in-water boat show in the Southeast as the Carolina boat shows bring the season to a close with two well-established events. The Oriental In-Water Boat Show takes place April 13-15 in Oriental, North Carolina. Oriental is a favorite stop on the ICW and is the Sailing Capital of North Carolina. With exhibitors attending from Virginia to Florida, boaters will have access to a wide variety of boats, accessories, and services. All of the show activities are located in the center of town at the Oriental Village Marina.
The Charleston In-Water Boat Show takes place April 20-22 at Brittlebank Park and Bristol Marina in Charleston, South Carolina. With more than 30 new boat brands plus brokerage
boats, you’ll see the latest fishing and pleasure boats perfectly suited for the Lowcountry waters. Shoreside vendors will also have the most recent fishing and boating accessories.
Get a bayside look at the Blue Angels in Myrtle Beach
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels will lead an amazing group of precision flying demonstrations over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 28-29. Boaters docked at any of Myrtle Beach’s Waterway marinas will be right under the action. In addition to the exciting Blue Angel’s performances, watch the flying skills of the U.S. Marine Corp C-130 Fat Albert, the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team and more.
Enjoy paratroopers landing on the beach with the Para-Commandos from the U.S. Special Operations Command’s premier aerial parachute demonstration team. Not only do attendees get to watch the Blue Angels in Myrtle Beach, but the vintage flying program allows thrill-seeking folks to become part of the action with actual flights in historic planes like the P-51 Mustang or the rare World War II hero, the SBD-5 Dauntless.
This annual tradition in Darien, Georgia, is the largest Blessing of the Fleet on the U.S.
East Coast. Join the fun April 14-15 as this community blesses the shrimp boat captains
with a safe and prosperous season. The Blessing becomes a weekend-long festival
with a marine parade, live music, juried art show, 5K run, children’s events, and some
of the best seafood in the Southeast.
With more than 30,000 attendees expected throughout the weekend, the celebration has become one of Georgia’s largest and most anticipated coastal events. For seasonal cruisers heading north in April, Darien is only seven miles off the ICW with free municipal dockage that includes electric.
Live well and savor a luxury cruising weekend in South Carolina’s Palmetto Bluff.
The region known as the South Carolina Lowcountry designates a certain geographical area in the southeastern part of the state, but the term also conveys the specific culture, history, and traditions indigenous to the area. Many visitors from other parts of the country, including this former Midwesterner, have preconceived ideas about the South. Mine were limited to notions about “southern hospitality,” foods like grits or collard greens, and Spanish moss hanging from oak trees. With the exception of images of southern plantations, my impressions of the South did not include anything related to luxury.
Soon after arriving at Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, however, I got a sense of my lack of understanding about almost anything southern. Travel has a tendency to do that for a person. During three days of southern immersion, my initial suspicion grew to a full realization of my inexperience, and when I finally arrived at the inevitable state of acceptance, my former unfamiliarity was replaced with a warm fondness—dare I say “love”—for the Lowcountry.
Six hotel and resort properties comprise the Montage Collection, an ultraluxury hotel and resort management company founded in 2002 that serves affluent travelers and provides the utmost level of service (montagehotels.com). In addition to the newest location, Montage Palmetto Bluff, the five other properties are in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, California; Park City, Utah; Kapalua, Hawaii and Los Cabos, Mexico. All of the properties
exude a comfortable elegance, yet each is designed to not only reflect the individuality of its surroundings but to protect it. Palmetto Bluff’s setting along the May River between Hilton Head Island and Savannah encompasses 20,000 acres, more than half of which are committed to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy as a nature preserve and will never be
developed. Furthermore, an archaeologist is on staff for the purpose of preserving the property’s botanical and historical integrity.
The list of former owners of the land where Palmetto Bluff is situated is lengthy and includes the Wilsons, whose vision was to build a luxury estate that would offer the very best of living at that time. Unfortunately, their 72-room mansion burned to the ground in 1926. In keeping with the previous owners’ dreams, Palmetto Bluff was designed as a charming southern village that offers the best service imaginable. Indeed, RT’s Market, a general store, will order residents’ favorite items so that they’re available for purchase
during their seasonal stays. The village includes a waterside chapel overlooking the May River, an ideal setting for intimate weddings. Single-story, two-to-five bedroom homes line lantern-lit streets, where the preferred mode of transportation is by bicycle. Home ownership with the Montage Branded Residences includes all the amenities of the 200-guest hotel and club, including concierge service and housekeeping and fulfills just about any request you can think of.
Cruisers would do well to make marina and hotel reservations for a long overdue, long weekend of pampering or more active options; there’s no shortage of ways to fill your time here. Wilson Landing on the May River—a certified South Carolina Clean Marina—offers five docks, dry-dock storage for 80 members’ boats, a boat ramp, and a storage yard. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are also available for rental. For a real treat, leave your boat at the dock and arrange for a leisurely sunset cruise on May River aboard the beautifully restored, resort-owned, antique yacht GRACE.
Built in 2004, the May River Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design. Like the rest of the property, the course has been integrated into the environment to be unobtrusive.
There’s no gaudy signage to muck up the landscape, and old-time wooden rakes are placed at sand traps. The course is so serene and natural that a nesting pair of bald eagles are permanent residents on hole No. 15. The Palmetto Shooting Club is a popular with residents and guests to test their sharp-shooting skill with clay targets, while tennis, bocce and croquet are available at Wilson Lawn and Racquet Club. The Club offers many sitting areas for family and friends so they can be part of the activity sans the skill or sweat. Afterward, satiate your appetite at seven dining options, or retire to your quiet guest room and enjoy private, in-room dining with 24-hour service. Wine director Jesse Rodriguez will even provide wine pairings with your menu selection.
With so many options on property, you’ll be hard-pressed to run out of things to do, but the village of Bluffton and its historic shops on Calhoun Street are worth a look-see. Take
advantage of the town’s bike taxi for a narrated tour, and then get a bite at Farm, a popular eatery for its inventive and ever-changing menu using locally sourced ingredients.
No weekend at Montage Palmetto Bluff would be complete without partaking in at least one of the resort’s traditions. “Porching” in the afternoons is just as it sounds: You sit
on the porch at River House, drink tea or lemonade and enjoy conversation—simple as that, daily at 3:30. Evenings are done right with kids and adults roasting marshmallows
for s’mores from 7 to 9PM. But one of the most popular traditions is enjoyment of Montage Palmetto Bluff’s signature drink, Artillery Punch, which should be imbibed
by adults only. (Beverage manager Ross Hardigan got the recipe from his grandmother.)
No visit to a resort of this caliber is complete without one of the many indigenous treatments or therapies offered in the 13,000-square-foot Spa Montage. Enjoy a Deluxe
Caviar Facial, Lavender Body Treatment or Palmetto Body Bliss Massage for ultra-deep relaxation. No matter what you choose, it’s a perfect way to end a long weekend at
Montage Palmetto Bluff—immersed in luxury and loving the Lowcountry. montagehotels.com/palmettobluff
GRACE
This antique yacht was built in 1913 by the New York Yacht, Launch & Engine Company of Morris Heights, New York, for Joseph B. Cousins. Cousins used it on Long Island Sound and the East and Hudson Rivers with his family. Grace is one of the few remaining gas-powered yachts built before World War I. She was then owned by a number of interesting people, including James Adams, who owned the James Adams Floating Theater. The vessel sunk in 1941 in Thunderbolt, Georgia, but was later recovered and managed well until the late 1970s, when she was abandoned. Palmetto Bluff acquired her in 2004 and named her after the sister of R.T. Wilson, Jr., who purchased Palmetto Bluff in 1902. Grace lived at Palmetto Bluff for a time and married Cornelius “Neely” Vanderbilt III, and she hosted many parties for charity each year in New York and Newport.
LOA: 60′ LWL: 52.5′ Beam: 12.1′ Draft: 3’6″ Capacity: 24 guests, plus crew Engine (Original): 4-cylinder, 50-hp 20th Century gasoline marine engine Engine (Present): Caterpillar 3116, 350-hp diesel marine engine Cruise/Top Speed: 10.1/12.8 knots Year Built: 1913 Rebuilt: 1996 Current Restoration: Commenced in 2004
Cruiser Resources
Wilson Landing Marina
31 Boat House St.
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-2757
Get ready because March winds bring Miami sailors from around the world to Biscayne Bay, FL, for one of the nation’s top sailing events. Miami Sailing Week 2018, March 4-10, anticipates drawing the largest group ever with more than 200 sailors from 23 countries competing for the top cup in seven one-design categories.
Events during Miami Sailing Week 2018 will take place on three different courses laid out on the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay just off Coconut Grove. The week’s activities include a long list of social and community events, gathering sailors, spectators, and the local community. The event is supported by the Coral Reef Yacht Club, the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, the U.S. Sailing Center, Shake a Leg Miami, the City of Miami, the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, and Miami- Dade County.
Now in its 37th year, the Lions Seafood Festival is one of the most anticipated events of
the year. Held at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine, March 16-18, the Festival is
not only a feast for the palate (18 individual restaurants and food trucks will be preparing
seafood specialties) but for all the senses, with live music, an artists village, and activities
for the whole family, including a pirate village, magic shows, and belly dancers.
The 16th annual Savannah Boat Show welcomes all of those boaters to one of the
Southeast’s premier winter boat shows. Located at the Savannah International Trade
and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island, March 2-4, the Show overlooks the
Savannah River and is adjacent to the Westin Harbor Golf Resort Spa and Marina.
With a focus on powerboats, demonstrations, and seminars on fishing, boating electronics and accessories are included as well as local seafood, music and shag dancing competitions.
As one of the largest indoor shows in the Southeast, the weather will not be a factor; rain
or shine, the show will go on. Two-day passes are available at a 50-percent discount off
the one-day rate.
Online Boat Registrations Boat owners in Maryland can now renew their registration online through a service provided by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). While mailed and in-person registration is still available, the new option allows owners the opportunity to quickly renew without waiting in line or paying the price of postage.
Owners need their vessel number, the last four digits of their hull identification number and a payment method to complete the online boat registrations. The online process also assigns you a DNR identification number, if you don’t already have one, to speed up future license purchases and registrations. The bi-annual fee is $24 for boats larger than 16 feet or that have more than 7.5 horsepower.
Registration is still required for small, low horsepower boats, but there is no fee. A printed receipt serves as a 30-day temporary registration until the official registration slip arrives, and boat decals are usually sent within 10 business days. dnr.maryland.gov
NAUTICAL KNOW-HOW
Fawcett Boat Supplies in Annapolis continues it’s interesting, often entertaining, and truly free Winter Learning Seminar Series this month with a variety of topics sure to break the ice. All of the seminars are held in-store (919 Bay Ridge Road) on Tuesdays and Thursdays and start at 7 PM.
March seminars include “Making Water at Sea! How-tos, Installation, Maintenance,” presented by Nate Horton of Horton Marine Services on March 13th, “Communications Alternatives for Cruisers” on March 15th with Dave Skolnick, and Peter Isler will speak about his books Sailing for Dummies and Little Blue Book of Sailing Secrets on March 20th. To end the month, Scott Noyes of Fawcett Boat Supplies will offer tips on “Care of Your Outboard Motor” on March 29th. fawcettboat.com
Donate a boat to support educational programs. Donated, seaworthy boats of all shapes and sizes continue to help fund the many educational displays and programs at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) on the banks of the Miles River in St. Michaels, Maryland. The museum’s well-managed boat donation program offers buyers an opportunity to purchase well-priced vessels donated by former owners who can take advantage of a tax break. Volunteers, along with the three-person team of Todd Taylor, Josh Mills and Karen Walpole, make the process of donating and purchasing a boat as smooth as possible. In most cases, the museum can arrange transportation if you’re donating your boat. Photos of boats available for purchase are online and may be seen at the museum or at an offsite storage location. CBMM accepts and sells all types of craft year-round and also organizes an annual charity boat auction held the Saturday of each Labor Day weekend at the museum. cbmm.org
Chantilly’s the Place
The region’s indoor show season is winding down this month with the National Capital Boat Show at the Dulles Expo Center, March 9–11, in Chantilly, Virginia. The show covers nearly 150,000 square feet of indoor space and features dealers, services and merchants from throughout the Virginia and Maryland markets.
Boat types displayed include runabouts, saltwater fishing boats, bass boats, ski boats,
pontoon boats, deck boats, jet boats, PWCs, and motor yachts. Exhibits include boat lifts,
floating docks, marine electronics, water sports, and safety equipment. Many salty experts will be on hand to answer questions about marinas, financing, insurance, boat maintenance, and safety. Demo a paddle craft on the 26,000-gallon pool, and try your
luck catching a trophy-sized marlin on an offshore fishing simulator. gsevents.com
Tiny, but also potentially menacing, New Zealand mudsnails are now flourishing in the Gunpowder River, a northwest tributary of Chesapeake Bay. The Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the first known presence of the non-native mollusk in Maryland
waters. While the potential ecological impact of the mudsnails invasion remains uncertain, biologists believe the species could displace both native snails and aquatic insects that other native species, like fish, depend on.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the mudsnail, the department is requesting that anyone who comes into contact with the river takes the time to decontaminate their gear. This includes boots, buckets, fishing rods, oars, and boats (motor and trailer).
Destination? Paradise. At least for Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race participants.
The Biannual Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race returns for 2018 on June 8th and registration is open for the 50 slots available to sailors of many racing levels and mindsets. The voyage combines inshore and offshore racing through its route down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulf Stream, and on to Bermuda. The destination is tropical paradise—white sandy beaches and island hospitality—and well worth a few bumps along the way.
The Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race only happens every other year. Don’t miss!
The race covers 753 miles, making it the longest ocean race on the east coast of the U.S. The Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, Maryland, is the host club for the race. The club and its A2B race committee work hard to help new and prospective racers get ready for the trip, offering educational seminars leading up to the race and pre-race social events. The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club in Bermuda hosts the fleet while in Bermuda.
First held in 1979, theA nnapolis Bermuda Ocean Race can be technically challenging, physically taxing, and conversely rollicking and serene. Signups for sailors looking for a boat or for boats looking for crew are available on the yachtscoring.com website. Categories of experience include novice, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and professional.
Last February I mentioned that the Chesapeake Conservancy has virtual tours of entire
rivers now available to view on their website. You can see what a Chesapeake Bay tributary looks like before you actually take a boat there.
Since then, the nonprofit conservancy has added many more tours including the Elk, Northeast, Potomac, Sassafras, and York rivers, and the Werowocomoco archaeological site along the York. Terrain360 creates the tours, which are recorded from a boat equipped with six cameras mounted 10 feet above the water’s surface to capture 360-degree images every 50 feet. The images are then stitched together to create a digital image map of an entire river. chesapeakeconservancy.org
If you are a fan of tournament fishing, plan to be in the Florida Keys this February since four different fishing tournaments throughout the Keys hold something for every type of angler. If you’re going to be fishing Florida in February, you are sure to find the right type of tournament.
February 1–3
Cuda Bowl
Shallow water adventure for Barracuda, Stock Island.
cudabowl.com
February 2–3
Swamp Guides Ball
All release event for bonefish, redfish and snook, Islamorada. fkfga.org
February 2-4
Islamorada Women’s Sailfish Tournament
Light-tackle challenge, with proceeds benefiting the Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys, Islamorada. fishnbully@msn.com
February 23-24
Costa Backcountry Fly Championship Series
Snook and redfish on fly-tackle competition, where every inch of fish equals one tournament point, Islamorada. bfctournament.com
New to boating or want to hone your skills? There will be on-water boat handling classes during the Miami International Boat Show.
Fear of handling a boat in close quarters is a common feeling expressed by many boaters. The organizers of this year’s Miami Boat Show would like to help people get past that fear. Offered every day of the show from February 15-19, on-water boat handling classes at MIBS. These training programs will run in one- or three-hour sessions.
The one-hour sessions will cover close-quarters, open-water and anchoring skills in single engine outboards. Skills addressed include steering and maintaining maximum boat control at slow speeds; managing momentum; how to slow and stop quickly, and
turning the boat around in tight spaces.
The three-hour sessions will cover basic, advanced and precision control in twin outboard and sterndrive configurations.
Professionally licensed captains will be teaching effective use of the three most important close quarters handling skills: steering, shifting and throttle control. Participants will also learn techniques for docking the boat confidently in windy conditions and station keeping in the wind as a proactive safety tool. miamiboatshow.com/on-water
The Southeast Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) brings water, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts together.
Water, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts gather in Charleston, South Carolina, over Presidents’ Day weekend February 16-18 for the biggest outdoor sporting event of its kind in the U.S. The Southeast Wildlife Exposition (SEWE), now in its 36th year, promotes the preservation of wildlife and nature conservation. From a modest beginning of 100 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees, the event has grown to over 300 exhibitors and 40,000 attendees. SEWE holds over 70 events across 5 venues, including dock dogs sporting water trials, thrilling birds of prey flight demonstrations, retriever events, and waterfowl decoy auctions. Artists and vendors attend from every state in the U.S. and internationally from seven nations.
SEWE’s Sporting Village hosts exhibitors showing the latest from outdoor outfitters, boats, and equipment. Fishing, hunting, and outdoor guides will have retriever demonstrations,
fly fishing, fly-tying, and cast net tossing instruction by local experts. Attending SEWE also supports their mission to provide educational opportunities and in-school programs that connect children to the power of the outdoors.
Through art, nature, and science outreach programs, SEWE helps children learn about the exciting outdoor world and the importance of protecting and preserving it forever. If all of this isn’t enough reason to attend, attendees have a chance to win a 2018 Scout 195 Sportfish boat donated by Scout Boats and Ducks Unlimited. Raffle tickets for a chance to win the boat are $100, and only 600 tickets will be sold.
The words bargain and boat are rarely used in the same sentence, but they come together at some of the best-stocked nautical flea markets in the Southeast in January. The 28th Annual Pompano Nautical Flea Market will be held January 20-21. Event hours are 8AM to 5PM on Saturday and 8AM to 3PM on Sunday. The flea market takes over the Community Park at 820 NE 18th Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida, which is just north of Fort Lauderdale. Details to register as a vendor or for attendance can be found at nauticalfleamarket.net.
If you find yourself in the Florida Keys in January looking for watery deals, tie up at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce Nautical Flea Market. The market is held Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13 from 8AM to 2PM. All activities will take place at the Chamber grounds at Mile Marker 31, Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key. Nearly 200 vendors will offer everything water related whether it’s boating, fishing or diving. The event includes food and music to make a full day of entertainment.
