SBC* Classic Boat Rally

*Savannah – Beaufort – Charleston

 

Shore Crew Program 2008 

A “Shore Crew” is anyone who is supporting a registered participant in the SBC Classic Boat Rally but is not, for the day, either sailing in the event or serving a part of the Race Committee.

 

The Shore Crew Coordinator is Alice Lynch. Alice will have maps and advice, and she can help pool groups with similar interests. A resident of San Antonio (and Atlanta and Beaufort part time) her cell phone is 210-867-4966.

 

Thursday             April 17                  Savannah

 

The boats should be brought to Savannah Yacht Club the day before or as early on this day as is practical. Launching will begin at 9 AM. On arrival, check in with Sam Collins, the Dockmaster, and schedule the launch with Sam. Note: To launch by crane you must have yiour own harness or straps. The alternative is to launch at nearby Hogan's Msrina on Turner Creek. Meet with the organizers of the event to sign in and register. Before departing with the car, please be sure that everything needed for sailing that day has been left with the sailors.

 

If you have not done so the night before, check in at your hotel. Most participants will be staying at the Mulberry Inn, 601 East Bay Street.

 

You can use this day to tour Savannah. Pick up your sailing team at SYC between 5 and 6 PM and head for The Oyster Bar at 444 Johnny Mercer Blvd., a short drive from SYC.

 

Friday                  April 18                 Savannah

 

The sailors need to be at SYC in time to rig their boat and be ready to sail before the Participants’ Meeting  The sailors will need to depart the docks right after the Participants’ Meeting.   

 

Shore crews could use the morning for a visit around Savannah, then getting to  Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous in the novel about Savannah, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The Rally participants will gather on the Wilmington River in front of the cemetery about for the start of the first race, after having sailed for about 1.5 hours.

 

In the afternoon, finish touring points of interest around Savannah and drive to Hilton Head. Alternatively, this is a good time to shuttle the trailers to Beaufort (BYSC). It is about 1.25 hours to Beaufort from Savannah, essentially up US 17, then nearly an hour back to Hilton Head from Beaufort. Check in at the Hilton Garden Inn, on the left just before crossing the bridge to come onto Hilton Head Island. South Carolina Yacht Club is located within Windmill Harbour which is located right off US 278 shortly after crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head. The Marina phone 843-681-9235. Bring a change of clothes to your sailors. Shore crews should target arrival at SCYC around 5 PM.

 

The club has showers, so you probably will want to bring a change of clothes for your sailors so you will not have to go back to the hotel until after dinner. Following dinner you head to your hotel or home. 

 

Saturday   April 19       Hilton Head and Savannah

 

The sailors need to be at SCYC in time for the Participants’ Meeting Departure from the dock will follow the meeting. 

 

Shore crews will find Beaufort a delightful place to tour. The horse-drawn tours of the town, to be found just to the right (south) of the Downtown Marina, last around an hour and start every 20 minutes. Tickets are bought just north of the Marina. Beaufort is rich in ante-bellum history. There is a museum in the armory. Churches that are over 200 years old are worth a visit. Shops and fine restaurants line the main street and the waterfront.  

 

After the fleet arrives and the boats are put to bed, you and your group are free for the evening to walk the town and enjoy dinner on your own, or join the Laser District Championship dinner at BYSC.

 

Sunday                April 20                  Beaufort

 

This is “Classic Boat Day” in Beaufort, in honor of our event. A two-lap race between BYSC and downtown will start at 2 PM and should be completed by 4:30 PM.

 

You could attend Church or the Synagogue of your choice and feel the 200 year-old history.

 

Fleet participants will gather at BYSC at 1:00 for the Concurs d'Elegance judging and then be ready for the Participants' Meeting at 1:30. The race will begin at 2 PM. The club will be open all day to participants and shore crews, and there are a swimming pool and tennis courts for those inclined. 

 

For those needing hardware or repair materials, there is a West Marine store at 1347 Ribaut Road. From the BYSC, turn right on Meridian, right again on Lady’s Island Drive (U.S 21), across the bridge to Ribaut Road, right on Ribaut Road).

 

Low Country Boil dinner (also known locally as “Frogmore Stew”) will be served at BYSC at 6:30 PM. Alternatives of chicken and pork will be available for those who prefer these to shrimp. Beer and wine will be available starting a 6 PM. 

 

Monday              April 21                Beaufort – Edisto

 

The sailors need to be at BYSC and be ready for the Participants’ Meeting. We plan to start the first race right in front of the club following the Participants' Meeting.

 

Shore crews might consider going out Sea Island Parkway in the direction of Fripp Island to St Helena Island for local rural flavor. Author Pat Conroy lives on Fripp, but don’t try to go to Fripp unless you have arranged to meet a resident there or want to be accompanied by a real estate sales agent. On the way, however, there are the village of Frogmore, Penn Center (center of Gullah culture and the first school for African Americans in South Carolina), and Shrimp Shack, a great place to get a crab sandwich for lunch. The Shrimp Shack was written up in Pat Conroy’s cook book, a must-buy in Beaufort.

 

Shore crews should plan to meet the participants at Edisto Marina at 5 PM. Dinner will be at around 6 PM in the Sunset Grille. Edisto Island has no hotel/motel facilities for transients (like us) so we have rented two vacation houses for the participants and team and shore crews.

 

Tuesday        April 22            Edisto – Bohicket  

The sailors need to be at the Edisto Marina dock for the participants’ Meeting. Departure from the dock will follow the Participants' Meeting.

 

Shore crews should spend the day in Charleston, about 50 minutes from Edisto Marina. If you have any interest in history, gardens, and architecture, take a walking tour in the historic district. Charleston is also an antique heaven and a gourmet delight. There are also upscale clothing shops. Arguably one of the best men’s clothing stores in the southeast is Ben Silvers on King Street. Baskets hand-made from sweet grass last a lifetime and are valued souvenirs. There are museums and churches and shops galore. The mansions on East Bay Street witnessed the firing on Fort Sumter marking the beginning of the War Between the States.

 

You’ll want to meet the sailors at Bohicket Marina at around 5 PM. To beat the traffic out of Charleston it is highly recommended that you be on your wayby 4 PM. You are on your own for dinner. Most will want to return to Edisto where there are restaurants overlooking the sunset, or you might want to fix something special in your vacation house there. 

 

Wednesday          April 23                  Charleston (from Bohicket)

 

The sailors need to be at the Participants’ Meeting at Bohicket Marina for the Participants' Meeting. Departure from the dock will follow. 

 

Shore crews that are capable and willing should head down from Bohicket to Beaufort to retrieve the trailers from BYSC. Bring them to Carolina YC, at 50 East Bay Street, and leave them in the transient trailer parking lot (look for the green parking stripes). Figure about 2 to 3 hours round trip.

 

It is recommended that you explore the environs of Charleston, especially the plantations. Middleton Plantation has especially wonderful gardens. In the same area are several other plantations, each with its own personality. Another walking tour in Charleston is not a waste of time. Each walking tour is unique and interesting as each tour guide is allowed wide latitude to take you where he or she is most knowledgeable.

 

Shore crews should be at Carolina Yacht Club (50 East Bay Street) by around 5:00 PM to meet the participants. If there is time to do it, the boats could be taken out of the water by hoist or ramp at that time if the trailers are there. Otherwise, they may be left in the water at the dock over night.  Remember the time: be back, showered and fluffed up, by 7:30 at CYC. The guys need coat and tie. This is our victory celebration at CYC. 

 

Thursday             April 24       Charleston (and departure)

 

Carolina Yacht Club would like for us to be departed by around mid-day. Farewells will be in the CYC parking lot throughout the morning.