Schooner Pride sails into the moonlight July 19-20 on Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. The classic 84-foot tall ship sails for an hour and a half with live acoustic music on board. Guests may hoist and trim sails or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Beautiful views of the Ravenel Bridge, the Battery’s historic residences and pelicans are highlights along the ride, and it’s common to see dolphins playing and racing along the bow throughout the sail. schoonerpride.com
New name, same waters
Off the ICW just north of the Surf City Bridge, the dormant Beach House Marina came to life as Topsail Island Marina this spring. An 8-foot-deep channel leads to the protected facility’s floating docks with depths of the same range. Two dozen restaurants, a marine store, retail shops, an IGA grocery store, and the beach are only two blocks from the family-owned and operated business. Pets are welcome and Topsail highlights its superfast Wi-Fi. Ten transient berths handle boats up to 100 feet at $2 per foot. topsailislandmarina.com
Sail Away
The South Carolina Maritime Museum holds youth sailing camp sessions throughout the summer to prepare your little ones for life on the water. Sessions last half a day (morning and afternoon sessions) and are offered Monday through Friday, July 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, and 25-29. Each session has 6-10 campers and takes place aboard the Optimist Prams, a sailboat designed with kids under 16 years of age in mind—simple enough for an 8-year-old yet challenging enough for a 15-year-old, and a certified instructor evaluates the sailing knowledge and experience of each camper to place them in the most appropriate group before beginning each session. While in sessions, campers learn the basics and essentials of sailing as well as boat safety. Registration fees come with a U.S. Sailing Course book, a skills logbook and a T-shirt. Visit the museum’s website to register. scmaritimemuseum.org
Morningstar Marinas upgrades
Increased shore power and enhanced Wi-Fi greet visiting cruisers at Golden Isles’ Morningstar Marinas, St. Simons, Georgia. General manager Chris Ferguson says, “The new 100-amp shore power will allow the marina to cater to vessels ranging from 25 feet to more than 100 feet on a daily basis.” Also, the vast marina now has onSpot Wi-Fi. “OnSpot is the foremost expert in marine Wi-Fi…[it is] fast, reliable and secure…throughout the entire marina,” adds Ferguson. morningstarmarinas.com/golden-isles
West Palm Beach channel closures
Due to ongoing bridge construction in South Florida, the channel in the Flagler Memorial Bridge area will be completely closed July 5-13. Half-channel closures are set for July 14th to August 1st. flaglerbridge.com
Salty coast
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, Florida, provides the opportunity for youth ages 8-17 to experience hands-on saltwater fishing to develop their skills through a series of workshops. The workshop costs $20 per person and runs for three hours (9AM-12PM) each Friday from July 8-29. In addition to learning standard fishing techniques, participants are educated on the importance of conservation and safety practices. All necessary supplies are provided by the park. Call (386) 446-6783 for details. floridastateparks.org
By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016