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    • Good Words for Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, AICW Statute Mile 670.5

      Hidden Harbor Yacht Club - Click for Chartview

      Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, which gladly accepts transients, is located on Troup Creek. This body of water intersects the AICW, immediately north of St. Simons Sound, near markers #237 and #238.

      Do yourself a favour and stop at Hidden Harbour Marina. Lovely folk and a Mini Cooper S courtesy car.
      Phil Johnston

      We also stopped at Hidden Harbour Marina in Brunswick. Close to the ICW and very nice folks who run it. Nice docks. We liked it so much we stopped back on the way back south in June.
      R.

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

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    • A Visit to Blackbeard Island, near AICW Statute Mile 634


      Blackbeard Creek - Click for Chartview

      Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge is on the south side of Sapelo Sound and is accessible only by boat. Capt. Reeves offers good advice for visiting this untouched island.

      Turning into Blackbeard Creek that separates Blackbeard Island from Sapelo Island at green 11 off the ICW in Sapelo Sound, we anchor and go to the almost deserted beach of this protected wildlife refuge. Watch your pets and children as we always see alligators and sharks.
      http://www.fws.gov/blackbeardisland/
      To visit Blackbeard we recommend you contact http://www.privateislandexcursions.com/ to tour any of the Georgia coast with an experienced and reliable Captain.
      Limit your visit to the tide line of the beach and take all trash out with you.
      Sonny Reeves

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Blackbeard Creek

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    • Excellent Cruising Advice from Brunswick, GA to Thunderbolt, GA.

      Thanks to our good friend, Captain Jim Healy, for this summary of cruising tips and recommendations covering the long trek north or south on the AICW between Brunswick and Thunderbolt, Georgia. Captain Jim’s excellent article below is reprinted from the AGCLA Forum (http://www.greatloop.org).

      Brunswick (Morningstar’s Golden Isles Marina) to Thunderbolt (Thunderbolt Marina) is 93.9 StM miles, which we do, nominally, in 10-11 hrs, depending on tides. Not too bad in July, with longer hours of daylight. Requires planning in November, with shorter hours of daylight. It would be around 100 StM miles from Brunswick Landing Marina in downtown Brunswick to Thunderbolt.
      This stretch has some of the shallowest water on the entire US East Coast at low tide. The tidal range in the region is 6 – 7 feet. At 4-1/2 ft, you won’t have a problem, but it would be most desirable for you to make the transit with high tide at mid-day. That way, you depart on a rising tide, travel with good water, and arrive before low tide. Said another way, avoid the Little Mud River +/- 2 hours of “neap,” low tide, and +/- 3 hours of “spring” low tide; in English, that’d be +/- 3 hrs around new moon/full moon.
      There are many, many exquisite anchorage options along that route, including the Duplin River, Crescent River and Walburg Island. There are just a few marina choices. Marina reviews are all fair-to-good, but navigation for a larger boat, particularly near low tide, *may* be tricky, so call ahead to whichever on you select if marinas are your thing. Just north of Brunswick is Hidden Harbor on Troup Creek. Across the Ogeechee R. as you come through Hell Gate, northbound, is Delegal Creek with Delegal Marina (pronounced: deli-gal). There is a sandbar at the entrance of Delegal Creek, and Delegal Marina will send a boat out to meet you and guide you in. At approx MM613 is Kilkenny Creek with Kilkenny Creek Marina. Kilkenny has a reputation for being a particularly “quaint” stop in rural outback Georgia. And just 45 min-to-an-hour south of Thunderbolt is Isle of Hope Marina. There are several Marinas in Thunderbolt; we use
      Thunderbolt Marina for easy access, good facilities and daily Crispy Creme donuts delivered to the boat in the morning by 07h00. Both Isle of Hope and Thunderbolt Marina are good places to stop longer for a visit to the City of Savannah. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO IN SAVANNAH. DO NOT SKIP SAVANNAH! My admiral prefers the Thunderbolt locale to the Savannah City docks, which she feels are too public, although I prefer the City Dock for excellent convenience to downtown. (As I said, we stay at Thunderbolt Marina. Admirals outrank Captains except when the ship is under way on the water.)
      Hope this is useful.
      Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Morningstar Golden Isles Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Duplin River Anchorage

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Crescent River Anchorage

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Walburg Creek Anchorage

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Brunswick Landing Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hidden Harbor Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Delegal Creek Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Kilkenny Creek Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Thunderbolt Marine

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Savannah City Docks

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    • Report from Walburg Creek Anchorage, off the AICW at Statute Mile 619N or 623.5S

      Walburg Creek - Click for Chartview

      Walburg Creek shapes the east side of Walburg Island and the Waterway lies on the west side. Good depths and great beach combing. While the creek has both a northern and southern entrance from the AICW, we prefer the northern passage, though there is still an unmarked shoal in St. Catherine’s Sound which must be bypassed.

      Walburg Creek is a nice place to anchor between Brunswick and Thunderbolt. We found good holding and plenty of swing room. The only caveat is that it can be a rough ride in heavy wind when the tide and wind are at odds with each other.
      Sharon and Ken Vogel
      M/V Docker’s Inn

      Click Here To View the Georgia Anchorage Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Walburg Creek Anchorage

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Walburg Creek Anchorage

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    • Change in Management, Brunswick Landing Marina, AICW Statute Mile 680

      Brunswick Landing Marina - Click for Chartview

      Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers, actually sits well off the direct path of the AICW, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek, just off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia. I personally visited here in April of 2012, and, as usual, found a bunch of contented cruisers, some of whom who had happily spent the preceding winter at this facility.

      Yard manager referenced in earlier comments is no longer employed by BLM.
      Chris and Janet

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Brunswick Landing Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Brunswick Landing Marina

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    • Good Words for Two Way Fish Camp, off the AICW Statute Mile 660

      Two Way Fish Camp - Click for Chartview

      Two Way Fish Camp is on the South Altamaha River, off the Waterway departing north of marker #218A. Old South charm, well worth the trip!

      My boyfriend and I were there recently in the kingfish tournament and we had a wonderful time. Great people, great food and we will definitely be back.
      Kim

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Two Way Fish Camp

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Two Way Fish Camp

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    • Praise for Morning Star Marina at Golden Isles, AICW near Statute Mile 676

      Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles - Click for Chartview

      Morning Star Golden Isles Marina is located on the Frederica River, between Lanier and St. Simons Islands, south of the charted 9 foot bridge. Depart north from the Waterway south of ICW marker # 247 and Frederica River marker #1. While the Frederica River has good depths north of the marina, access from the Waterway north is not possible because of the fixed 9ft clearance bridge.

      I love Morningstar Marinas. and Golden Isles is no exception. We stayed three nights in late May, as we have done many times before. The staff are great, as is the free delivery of the paper and muffins in the morning. The showers are clean and maintained, and my favorite Catalina Dealer, Dunbar Sales, is on the premises.
      We used the pool and the local restaurant, as well as Jekyll Club and a restaurant in St Simon’s and had a uniformly good experience. St Simon’s and Jekyll Islands are great tourist areas, so rent a car, and have some fun off the boat as well.
      We are Morningstar Gold Members, and as such receive discounts at all their marinas. This program is worth looking at if you like their quality. Golden Isles, St. Simon’s is just a great example of their marinas.
      William Lawrenson

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Golden Isles Marina

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    • More Good Words for Sunbury Crab Company Restaurant and Marina, Medway River off AICW Statute Mile 620

      Sunbury Crab Company Marina - Click for Chartview

       Panoramic View of the Sunbury Harbor Relaxed Laid-Back Atmosphere Fresh Steamed Blue Crabs caught Daily Homemade Crab Cakes and Crab StewRestaurant offers a Full-Service BarSunday Home-Cooking LunchThe Sunbury Crab Company Marina lies off the AICW along the western shores of the Medway River, on the charted Sunbury Channel, north of Dickinson Creek. And they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Stayed at Sunbury May 23, 2013. The dock is great and the restaurant is fantastic (see web site for days open). They are very friendly, kind people.
      I printed the map on their web site and followed it ‘“ be careful not to cut the corner on the entrance to the Sunbury Channel ‘“ otherwise navigation is a cake walk, and never less than 14 ft. or water.
      There are few alternatives in this area, and although it’s a way off the ICW, it is a great place to visit. This is our second visit, and I am sure we will stop there again as we pass through Georgia.
      William Lawrenson

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Sunbury Crab Company

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunbury Crab Company

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    • More Good Words for Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, AICW Statute Mile 670.5

      Hidden Harbor Yacht Club - Click for Chartview

      Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, which gladly accepts transients, is located on Troup Creek. This body of water intersects the AICW, immediately north of St. Simons Sound, near markers #237 and #238.

      Great find. Small, quaint and clean. Lovely little place. There are currently no showers, but, they do have a courtesy car, kitchen and gas grill. Beautiful views. Would stay again!
      Pete and Jorgina Colyn

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

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    • Frederica River Anchorages (Statute Mile 666)

      On 4/26/13, in a supplementary question to our Wish List of 4/22/13, we posed the following question:

      2. Statute Mile 666 – Who has anchored on the Frederica River lately? Did you enter the river from its southern or northern intersections with the Waterway? Did you drop the hook abeam of the Fort Frederica National Monument, and, if so, did you dinghy ashore? Were you impressed with the tour, and/on slide show in the National Monument?

      Responses follow:

      We have dropped the hook in this river three times and have had good experiences each time.
      We have used the spot at the monument twice, both north and southbound. The access point to the monument from the river requires at low tide a slog through about 15 feet of puff mud and then a dubious climb up a rickety wooden ladder to the sea wall top. We chose not to go ashore.
      Entry/exit in both directions is pretty straightforward, but some what shallow compared to the channel in the river itself. Bear in mind the manner in which shoals form in these tidal rivers, filling at points and cutting deeper at the outside of curves.
      Steve Kamp
      S/V Carolina

      We have not anchored there, although friends did a year ago and said it worked fine. But we did take the tour by land. The fort is one of many wonderful Georgia historical treasures and well worth the stop. Very informative, and pleasant and peaceful grounds.
      Jack&Linda Dunnigan
      S/V SILVER GIRL

      We anchored in Frederica River on 1/22/13 and had a comfortable night anchored off the fort. We had no trouble entering the Frederica River at the north end, but were hard aground 100 yards in from the south entrance on our way out the next morning. I strongly recommend sticking to the north entrance to come and go. Good holding and dinghied ashore to walk the grounds of the fort. A nice stop if you avoid the shoal water at south entrance. We draw 4.5 ft.
      Steve Young
      CrossRoads

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of

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    • Two Way Fish Camp (Statute Mile 660)

      On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 660 ‘“ Who has cruised up the South Altamaha River, leaving the AICW north of marker #218A? Did you anchor or pick up a slip at Two Way Fish Camp? If you stayed at the marina, did you dine ashore at Mudcat Charlies? If so, how was the food?

      Responses follow:

      I made the trip up to Two Way Fish Camp. Wonderful side trip. Marina funky but friendly. I hadn’t been eating in restaurants a lot at the time so it seemed very good then. I’m not sure how many stars I would give it but it is certainly at least worth the trip.
      Roger Long
      S/V Strider

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Two Way Fish Camp

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Two Way Fish Camp

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    • New Teakettle Creek Anchorages (Statute Mile 647)

       On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 647 ‘“ who has anchored on New Teakettle Creek, north of AICW marker #273? Did you find this to be a good anchorage? What depths did you find?

      Responses follow:

      Claiborne,
      In response to your request for NE Fl/GA wish list here is New Teakeattle Creek:
      We anchored in New Teakeattle Creek on April 5, 2013 for our fourth vist as we were heading home to VA from Marathon on our 37′ sailing vessel. We typically anchor near the charted “13 foot'” mark, but have been further in or closer to the waterway when other boats are anchored. We find the depths to be effectively as charted, we anchor in the middle and use 75′ of chain in the water. We have been here with two other boats with lots of room. Expect to swing 180 degrees with the significant current. We have been here with a good 25 knots blowing steady and gusts to more. We slept well. A favorite spot.
      Harry Burns
      S/V Two for the Roads

      Yes, early 2013. Good depths and good holding.
      Raymond W. Smith
      “Fire Dog”

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the New Teakettle Creek Anchorages

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the New Teakettle Creek Anchorages

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    • Fort McAllister Marina (Statute Mile 603.5)

      Fort McAllister Marina on Georgia's Ogeechee River></a><a href=On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 603.5 ‘“ who has departed the AICW at marker #98, and cruised upstream on Ogeechee River to Fort McAllister Marina. Did you find the markers on Ogeechee River between the Waterway and marina adequate? Did you dine at the on-site restaurant? Please give us your overall impressions of this facility.

      Responses follow:

      This Marina has been completely redone. Dew docks and bot lift. The boat lift is huge. Being new there is plenty of room to dock overnight. The staff falls all over you to help in any way they can. They have a big open patio and usually have a live band on the weekends. Butch Broom runs the restaurant “Fish Tales” http://www.fishtalesrh.com/ He is a great guy and lots of fun. our local sail club and power squadron have events there. You have to party with the locals as there is not much else to do in the area. You can walk to historic Fort McAllister just down the street.
      Krquinn

      Stayed at Ft McAllister Marina on the evening of 27-28 March 2013. Low tide at Hells Gate and Sea Tow advised not making the transit in our boat due to shallows. Trip up the Ogeechee River was nerve wracking. Hit bottom 4 times as the Marina did not provide the kind of directions that an unfamiliar skipper could follow. Markers were all white so no indication of which side to pass. Simple directions, e.g., stay to the north side of the river and when you see the marina sign on the starboard bank make a 45 degree turn to port and head slowly toward the marina, would have probably made this uneventful. Nice people, low rates and fuel prices, and the resturant at the marina is well worth a visit with ample portions, good food and low prices.
      Tom Callan
      oo/b Great Escape
      53 DeFever POC

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fort McAllister Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort McAllister Marina

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    • Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles (Statute Mile 676)

      On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 676 ‘“ Who patronized Golden Isles Marina this spring? Please tell us what you found and observed. Did you find a good restaurant currently operating at Golden Isles?

      Responses follow:

      We stayed here two weeks ago and had a very pleasant experience. The dockmaster is very adept at helping you with your lines, which is especially important with the tidal flow at this marina. The dock is in good shape and the shoreside facilities were clean. The marina also owns the pool, so if you like that, it is a great place to have a cocktail in the afternoon. We did eat at the on-site restaurant with another tramsient boater, and the food was excellent. All in all it was a very nice marina and experience, and reasonably
      priced with a Boat US discount.
      One other added feature that was nice, we discovered a couple of days later in Savannah. We stayed at another Morningstar marina in Thunderbolt, called the Bahia Blue Marina. Once I told the dockmaster there that we had just stayed at Golden Isle, we received a .30 cent per ft. discount on our stay at Bahia Blue.
      Marc and Shelley Colby
      M/V Rock Chalk
      Endeavour 44 Trawlercat

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles

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    • Walburg Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 619)

      On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, I posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 619 ‘“ anyone anchored on Walburg Creek south of St. Catherines Sound? How did you enter this stream? Did you find the anchorage as nice as we remember it to be?

      Responses follow:

      Spent night of 4/16/13. Chicken to enter from the south and entered from 14′ depth across the middle ground. Anchored at 16′ depth in calm weather. Loved this anchorage, gave it 4 stars.
      s/v Skye

      Claiborne,
      Sanctuary and crew spent the night at Walberg Creek on 4/23/2013. We entered from the south. A very helpful find was that the south entrance, although an unmarked channel, does have a dredged channel that carries better than 12′. Northbound, draw a rhumb line from Red ICW marker “124A” to the 19′ sounding inside the charted shoal path at the mouth of the south entrance of Walberg Creek. That line will carry across a shoal sounding of 3.9′. It re-joins the dashed magenta line of the alternate ICW at that 19′ sounding. We followed that path and found 12′ or better on that rhumb line.
      Here is a screen shot or our track, in case my description is so poor you can’t understand it:

      The anchorage is excellent. Choose a place that protects you from prevailing winds. Some anchorage areas are shallow (7′ – 9′ at low tide), and some are deep (30′ at high tide). But, the creek is wide, there is little local boating traffic, Verizon WWAN is reliable, if slow, and there is plenty of swing room for 150′ of chain. The place is quiet, beautiful and remote. Magnificent!
      Jim
      Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of

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    • South Altamaha River Anchorages (Statute Mile 660)

      On 4/22/12, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 660 ‘“ Who has cruised up the South Altamaha River, leaving the AICW north of marker #218A? Did you anchor or pick up a slip at Two Way Fish Camp? If you stayed at the marina, did you dine ashore at Mudcat Charlies? If so, how was the food?

      Responses follow:

      Spent the night of 4/15/13 in South Altamaha River. Anchored just before first red day mark in fair weather. Good anchorage, gave it five stars. Had a scare when a tug/barge came north on ICW and appeared to be entering the creek at 2200 due to direction of the ICW. Will use this anchorage again.
      s/v/Skye

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the South Altamaha River Anchorages

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the South Altamaha River Anchorages

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    • Darien, GA and Darien City Docks (Statute Mile 651.5)

      On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

      29. Statute Mile 651.5 ‘“ anyone cruised up the Darien River to the community of the same name? If so, what depths did you find? Did you tie up to the free city dock? How did you find them? How about some shoreside dining recommendations in Darien?

      Responses follow:

      Did it about a month ago and this is a must side trip. Town is really neat, great places to eat,free dock is neat (with a couple of sports having electrical, including twin 30 amps for those who need 220 volts). Easy navigation. If you do not take the time to see this place, you are not cruising, you are traveling. If you stay at the south dock (before the bridge) then walk up hill to town office to let them know you are there. If you call on radio at channel 16, a volunteer may hear you and visit you at boat to welcome you. Most likely, you will get welcomed anyway. Provisions are a long walk, but bike gets you there just fine.
      John Winter

      We draw 5 feet and managed to hit the Darien River at near full low tide. Not having been through there before we were careful to watch markers and depth. There was only one area where a second river diverts off of the Darien that we saw depths that were of most concern;5 – 7 feet. At that junction, you turn sharp to port staying just off the bank for only about 20 yards then back to starboard. There did not seem to be a well defined channel in this area. It is about 8 miles off the ICW to Darien and when you get there, currents are swift. The dock that accomodates the larger boats is just before you get to the bridge. It will only accomodate about three trawlers and if it is full, there are no other options unless you can convince the shrimpers to let you tie up there.
      The people in Darien are great, food convenient and good and there is a wonderful little hardware store that stocks a lot of marine hardware to accomodate the substantial shrimping business based there. Certainly worth the trip. I wish there was a way to find out if there was dock space before you make the trip as we had to squeeze in between two boats already there and I emphasize again, the currents there are swift.
      Rod Busbee

      We spent four night in Darien and had a great time. There are so many good places to eat within walking distance. Skippers just under the bridge (west). I don’t remember the name of the little rest. that is in the end of the 7-11 across the road from the marina great food there. If you like shrimp, about 1/2 mile north on US 17 is “J& B or B&J rest. Great Sea Food there. Altamaha River Cruises will let you rent or have a guided Kayak cruise through the old rice fields. Fort King George is a short bike ride or you can walk there if you like walking. The Darien Rive is well marked. I went up the river at low tide, no problem. If you can reach David Bulter at 912-223-8855 or 912-222-8855. He was a lot of help. He is the unoffical dock master. The town of Darien is a great place to walk around.
      Tim

      We stayed here in October, 2012 and again in March 2013. We think it is a great place. our comments following our October visit, sent to SSECN follow:
      On October 25, 2012, we are currently docked at the free Darien docks. This a wonderful place, well worth the trip of about seven miles up the Darien River. We came here on 10/24 at dead low tide. We saw two places with some shallow depths, one at R10 with 5.5 feet and one at R12 with six feet. At both locations depth went back up to 12+ feet very quickly. At low tide, the shoals are very visible, and the channel markers, and chartplotter were accurate. It took us about 1.25 hours to get here after leaving the ICW at R184. It was a pleasant run. We are a trawler, cruising with a sailboat.The town is lovely, with a Piggly Wiggly about a mile from the docks, and a hardware store about two blocks. The Wine Bar, near the hardware store is beautiful.This a wonderful side trip. Do not miss it. There are about 30 large shrimpboats docked just downstream of us. The only reason for four stars rather than five is the lack of restrooms, but it is free, including 30 amp power and water. What more can you ask for two nights free.
      Thanks Claiborne for the suggestion on this one.
      Norman Mason
      Monk 36, Peggy Sue
      Norfolk, VA

      Anyone who would like to see a video of Darien, check out my blog: http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com/2013/04/blessing-of-fleet.html
      Interesting town and SUPER friendly people.
      Wally Moran

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Darien City Docks

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Darien City Docks

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    • Sunbury Crab Company Marina, Statute Mile 620

       Panoramic View of the Sunbury Harbor Relaxed Laid-Back Atmosphere Fresh Steamed Blue Crabs caught Daily Homemade Crab Cakes and Crab StewRestaurant offers a Full-Service BarSunday Home-Cooking LunchOn 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, I posed the following question:

      Statute Mile 620 ‘“ those of you who have cruised up the Medway River to Sunbury Crab Company Marina, please describe what you found, and the depths you observed between the Waterway and the Marina. Did you dine ashore at Sunbury Crab Co.? How was the food?

      Responses follow:

      Another neat run. There is one marker that as you travel from the south, and then have to make a turn to starboard to cross over the river appears to be out of place on an island, but as you get closer, it makes sense. It is an easy navigation, but there are many shallow spots that if you watch your charts, they are plotted correctly. Strong currents, but since you tie to a face dock, it is not big deal. Neat old GA area with nothing there, but if you want to eat, make sure the restaurant is open when you go.
      John Winter

      We have stayed here in the past for several nights. We love it.
      The channel has a few markers, but you can follow your chart for the deep water which meanders from one side of the Medway River to the other as you go west to the marina. We encountered nothing less than 8 ft. on our way up, but most was much deeper.
      If you like fresh Blue Crab, then this is your place. They bring you a big bucket of them and a mallet to open them up. The restaurant
      owners go out each day to harvest their crabs, so you cannot find anything fresher. Delicious.
      The docks are OK, not great. You tie along their long face dock and it is a fair walk to shore. There are really no facilities on shore other than the restaurant.
      There is one reason to go here, and it is the fresh Blue Crabs. So good!!
      Marc and Shelley Colby
      M/V Rock Chalk
      Endeavour 44 Trawlercat

      Cruising up the [Medway River] was easy. It is well marked and has adequate water depths. We draw 3 1/2 ft. Docks at Sunbury Crab are fine and the food there is GREAT. Best fried shrimp we have ever eaten.
      Captain Bren

      I intend never to pass mile 620 again without a visit to the Sunbury Crab Company. The best crabs I have had anywhere, hands down. I saw them in the bottom of the boat a few hours before. They try to catch only what they will serve that night each day. You won’t find fresher without catching your own. The marina and the owners make this a very friendly stop.
      There is also a very interesting anchorage up the river around the bend with vertical bluffs falling into the water. Very deep but you can find shallow water upstream with some protection from the fast current. I sheltered from very strong winds both here and at the marina.
      Lots of history here you would never expect. It was once the major trading port in Georgia.
      My SBO post on Sunbury:
      http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=148218&#post985358
      Roger Long
      S/V Strider

      We stayed there one night in May 2012. We went there for the food and were disappointed to find the restaurant was closed. When we arrived the owner, Elaine, and one of her sons met us at the dock with 2 cold beers in hand, compliments of the house. When we told her how disappointed we were that we couldn’t eat there, she opened up the restaurant for us and had her son prepare a wonderful meal for us. As someone who catches and eats blue crabs every summer on Cape Cod, I wanted to watch how a `professional’ crab picker picked crabs. Her son was only too happy to show me. He brought 3 crabs to the table and picked them all within 3 minutes, then gave me the crab meat as an appetizer. Elaine sat with us during dinner and told us about her family, her business, and the area history. Needless to sat we were thrilled with the stay and will make it a point to stop there whenever we go by.
      Pat and Joe Apicella

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Sunbury Crab Company Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunbury Crab Company Marina

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    • Captain Wally Visits Darien, GA’s Blessing of the Fleet

      Click This Chartlet to Open Chart View Page Centered on Darien, GA

      The text below is copied from fellow nautical writer, Captain Wally Moran’s site, LiveBloggin’ the ICW (http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com/). Be SURE to follow the video link below. This very professional looking visual narrative provides a good account of this festival’s FUN times, as well as a good look at the city of Darien’s dockage facilities! THANKS Captain Wally!

      Last Thursday, I decided to check out Darien GA – it’s about 8 miles off the ICW, so it’s out of the way. My friend James, from St. Simon’s Island, had written a piece about it for Southwinds – it’s not published yet, but I’ll post the link when I have it – and it sounded interesting. Also, there was a nasty storm on its way, so a dock sounded good.
      I arrived in the dark, and was helped to tie up by another sailor docked there. He told me that this was the weekend for the Blessing of the Fleet, the 45th annual shrimp boat festival and blessing. Well, that sounded interesting, and since Darien was providing 48 hours free dockage to encourage visitors – why not?
      To be honest, Darien is a different sort of place….very down to earth people would be the best way of putting it, and you know, when the first tune from the band is an old Merle Haggart standard, you’re going to be hearing a lot of country and very little rap. Not a bad thing, come to think of it, and I’m not a big country fan…
      Darien partied on all weekend, I made some great new friends, and Gypsy Wind had a front row center seat for the festivities – as loud as they were. And on Sunday, the big event – the blessing of the fleet.
      This video gives you an idea of what it was like….

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b59nWMMebho

      Captain Wally Moran

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Darien City Docks

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Darien City Docks

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    • Good Words for Hidden Harbor Yacht Club (Statute Mile 670.5)

      Hidden Harbor Yacht Club, which gladly accepts transients, is located on Troup Creek. This body of water intersects the AICW, immediately north of St. Simons Sound, near markers #237 and #238. The message below is copied from the AGLCA Forum.

      This is a great little marina in the Troup [Creek] [known as Hidden Harbor Yacht Club] about 1 mile off the ICW. Plenty of water on approach and alongside. I figured to report to the forum on it. No fuel here but pump out available and 20/30/50A power with floating dock. The managers, Kev and Judith, could not be more accomodating and the facilities are the cleanest we have seen since Lake Michigan. There is excellent shopping close by and they have a courtesy car – a Mini Cooper S to get you there!
      At $1.50/ft/day plus electric, it is great value for money and I recommend it as a stop to all Loopers.
      Phil Johnston
      Loopy Kiwi

      I too stayed at Hidden Harbor Marina on the Troup Creek on April 8 [2013]. I would definitely recommend this marina. Kev and Judith go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable. They have a nice boater’s lounge, scenery is great, and for a buck donation you can do your laundry. Just off the ICW, so no wakes.
      Ken Westby
      aboard Roundabout

      Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hidden Harbor Yacht Club

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