FL, GA, SC - Good place to "base" for the summer?

[flightlead404]

I'm looking for a good place to "base" for the summer.

"Good" for me means:

• Good day sailing within quick reach from marinas (don't want to have to motor for hours to reach somewhere to sail)
• Choice of overnight or over weekend destinations with anchoring
• < 5 hours drive from Atlanta
• Small airstrip within 10 miles or so (I can land on anything bigger than a RC field)

I'm considering:

• St. Simons Island area
• Brunswick, GA
• Charleston, SC

Any comments or insight on any of these or any alternate suggestions?

[AA3JY]

Hilton Head falls within your criteria..
Brunswick…naaa…too many unfortunate surprises..
Jekyll Island if one can acquire an inside slip..not on the bulk head

[dannc]

Little River, SC.

Not sure about the time to Atlanta though and I think you would have to go to NC to anchor, though there is a place people anchor at the inlet.

Later,
Dan

[Chotu]

Just have yourself a hurricane plan.

[conchaway]

GA or SC would be great!

[S/V Reveille]

Have you considered the FL Gulf Coast?
It's right at 5 hours from ATL to Panama City Beach.
Nice beaches, pretty water, active sailing community.

[JebLostInSpace]

I bought my boat in St Simons, and stayed there about a month during refit. I was at Morningstar Marina. Day sailing in St Simons sound is doable but there's not a ton of room, especially with the big wreck there. The inlet is fine, and there are some weekend trips to do from there.

I'm currently basing in Charleston while I work on refilling the cruising kitty. Sailing in the harbor here is lovely, and there's lot's of sailors out every weekend. The inlet is also convenient for weekend trips - I like Georgetown. However, marinas in town are a huge PITA. I'm a bit out of town at St Johns Yacht Harbor, and it's an annoying ~45 min to get out into open water to sail. The marinas right in the harbor are expensive and don't offer great protection. Plus, it's not very easy to get an open slip.

You might actually consider basing in Georgetown, around 50 miles N of Charleston.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I'm looking for a good place to "base" for the summer.

"Good" for me means:

• Good day sailing within quick reach from marinas (don't want to have to motor for hours to reach somewhere to sail)
• Choice of overnight or over weekend destinations with anchoring
• < 5 hours drive from Atlanta
• Small airstrip within 10 miles or so (I can land on anything bigger than a RC field)

I'm considering:

• St. Simons Island area
• Brunswick, GA
• Charleston, SC

Any comments or insight on any of these or any alternate suggestions?

Not sure why you'd want to base anywhere down there with the hurricane season approaching, but Marathon Key has a good municipal airport with good access to marinas though it may be on the outer limit of your driving range (if you're flying, why would you care?)

[bob mundle]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I'm looking for a good place to "base" for the summer.

"Good" for me means:

• Good day sailing within quick reach from marinas (don't want to have to motor for hours to reach somewhere to sail)
• Choice of overnight or over weekend destinations with anchoring
• < 5 hours drive from Atlanta
• Small airstrip within 10 miles or so (I can land on anything bigger than a RC field)

I'm considering:

• St. Simons Island area
• Brunswick, GA
• Charleston, SC

Any comments or insight on any of these or any alternate suggestions?

I am a member of the Florida Yacht Club on the St John’s in Jacksonville. Membership very reasonable for Florida non residents. Very classy place- tell I’m bob sent you

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Mark0808

Have you considered the FL Gulf Coast?
It's right at 5 hours from ATL to Panama City Beach.
Nice beaches, pretty water, active sailing community.

The Gulf Coast is dreadfully hot in Summer.

July and August can get so hot folks tend to stay indoors a lot.

[sailorboy1]

Pensacola, panama city, Gulfport MS, Biloxi MS

Gulfport and Biloxi have fairly inexpensive marina

Brunswick GA by time you leave the marina and get in open it is time almost to turn around

[Hudson Force]

"Dreadfully hot" is very much related to what you are accustomed. As Brer Rabbit once said, "Oh no, do anything, but don't throw me in the briar patch!" My choice would not be South Carolina or Georgia due to all the strong currents that are disappointing for sailing in the bays and lagoons. The Florida panhandle and the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville have better sailing opportunities close to marinas with moderate rates. Of these two, the St. Johns river has better hurricane protection,- 'some good choices with a draft under 5' and excellent choices if you can get under a 45' clearance bridge or arrange for a haul out.

[sophiedaisey]

Would definitely not be in the Panhandle during hurricane season. Why ask for trouble.

[Flatswing]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I'm looking for a good place to "base" for the summer.

"Good" for me means:

• Good day sailing within quick reach from marinas (don't want to have to motor for hours to reach somewhere to sail)
• Choice of overnight or over weekend destinations with anchoring
• < 5 hours drive from Atlanta
• Small airstrip within 10 miles or so (I can land on anything bigger than a RC field)

I'm considering:

• St. Simons Island area
• Brunswick, GA
• Charleston, SC

Any comments or insight on any of these or any alternate suggestions?

A second for Hilton Head. Windmill Harbour- slightly pricier but totally protected for Hurricanes inside lock -sail in Caliboque Sound or continue in Atlantic. HH airport 5 miles. Skull Creek -a little cheaper but more exposed (including to AICW traffic) easy acces to Port Royal Sound & Atlantic. HH airport same distance.
Both have innumerable creeks to anchor in within a few minutes. Or destinations within a day such as Savannah, Bohicket etc.

[flyingfin]

Originally Posted by thomm225

The Gulf Coast is dreadfully hot in Summer.

July and August can get so hot folks tend to stay indoors a lot.

Yeah, and South GA isnt? Ever heard those song lyrics "hotter than South Georgia in July"

I would suggest Fort Walton to Freeport area,,