Single Handed Cruising - Days 223 and 224 - Savannah, GA to Hilton Head, SC

On Thursday morning (5/12), I took Diana to the airport for her 10:40 AM flight (which did not depart until 12:30), returned the rental car, walked the Furry Kid and made preparations for departure.  The plan was for me to cruise north to Hilton Head, Beaufort and Charleston during the five days Diana would be in Chicago.

Kodi and I departed Isle of Hope (Savannah GA) just before noon for the 27 mile run to Harbour Town Marina on Hilton Head.  The weather was partly cloudy with a light southeast breeze.  The run north started out very well and shortly we passed Thunderbolt Marine and some very large yachts.

 

Then things changed.  We were very quickly infested by large flies that are indigenous to the salt marshes.  The little devils were aggressive and it did not help that we were moving north on a south east (read as no) breeze.  Cannot tell you why I did not put in the screen prior to leaving Isle of Hope, perhaps it was laziness or the onset of dementia, but I didn't.  Unfortunately, it's too late once the flies have taken up residence.  It got so bad that I finally use bug spray and that alleviated the biting.  Meanwhile, Kodi was having fun chasing the flies.

The fly infestation lasted from just North of Thunderbolt to just north of the Savannah River.  Much to my relief, the flies turned south and went back to Georgia.  The remainder of the cruise was uneventful.

We arrived at Harbour Town Marina just after 3:00 PM.  The dock hand greeted me from a skiff in the main channel and waved for me follow.  Once docked he presented me with a bottle of wine - a first in 2,900 miles.

Note: The only thing I did differently to run the boat single handed was to leave the lines in place with the fender ties secured to the rail and the fenders on the walk way.  Hence, all that we necessary was to prop the fenders and lay the lines over the rails so that they could be accessed by the dockhand when the boat got close to the dock.  The strategy worked perfectly.

Entering Harbour Town

Harbour Town's marina is off the chart pretty and a first class facility.  The marina sits in an almost perfect circle with cement floating docks.  They have a 8 foot tide in this area but the floating docks make it a non issue.

Guided Discovery at Harbour Town

After securing the boat, Kodi and I explored the marina and ran into Jim and Pam Rudolph of Lucky Star.  You may recall that Fleming used Lucky Star at the Miami Boat Show.  Diana, Ron and Linda and I sea trialed Lucky Star during the boat show.  Diana and I joined Jim and Pam and their friends at Grove Isle Marina (Coconut Grove) for cocktails on Lucky Star three days later.  They were headed to Fleming's Eastern hheadquarters (Burr Yachts) in the Chesapeake.

Jim and Pam Rudolph raising the dingy on Lucky Star

Kodi and I then proceeded to walk along the bike path to South Beach but it turn out to be too far.  So we turned around about a mile short but still got in a good 5 mile walk.

The Sea Pines area of Hilton Head, where Harbour Town is located was spectacular.  The photo below shows the Frazier Lighthouse, the symbol of Hilton Head, which is the focal point of the marina.  A plaque explains how John Fazier privately built the lighthouse in 1969.  The hom
e and businesses were built as a panned community and as a result the setting is picture perfect.  It is clear that the building codes and oversight are strong as everything seems to fit perfectly.  The commercial area surrounding the harbor is set in the trees to blend in.  I am told by my friends that this theme of archeticural supervision is consistent throughout the island.

Lovely home in the Sea Pines area of Hilton Head

Friday, I spend the day engaged in boat maintenance, which included a first class washing of the boat and the dingy.  I also defrosted the refrigerator, which was badly iced after four months.

The evening was spent with Al Theis, his wife Willa and their friends Lee and Cathy.  I met Al and Willa at the Stevens' Anna Maria Island beach house where we shared Christmas and New Years with Brittany, Scott, Jim, Susan and their family.  Al had invited us to join him when we reached Hilton Head.  Luckily, the stars aligned and we were able to connect.  Al had just returned from saiing with Brittany and Scott from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.  (see http://www.windtraveler.blogspot.com/)


Al, Willa, Cathy and Lee with bthe Liberty Tree in the background

Al and all joined me at 6:00 PM on Guided Discovery where we enjoyed two bottles of wine prior to dinner.  Note: We killed the last bottle of Mount Veeder 2005 on board Guided Discovery.  I still have 5 bottles in Chicago and then, regretfully, my supply of 2005 will be at end.  Dinner was spectatular, especially with two bottles of Mount Veeder 2007.  We ended the evening back on Guided Discovery were we finished the 2005.  A lovely evening with charming people.

Written by Les.