2 days ago
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- Condé Nast Traveler
Charleston Sailing Charters — Tour Review
Zoom out. What's the big picture here?
Charleston is hemmed in by water: two rivers merge to form the harbor. And while it's great to watch regattas from land, it's surprisingly easy to get out there yourself—no experience necessary. The folks at Charleston Sailing Charters (CSC) have slowly grown their fleet for almost two decades, offering fully crewed excursions on any of their multiple vessels, from a roomy motor yacht that can accommodate larger parties, to sleek and meticulously maintained sailboats with a passenger limit of six (Coast Guard regulation). We booked a two-hour sunset tour on a French-made 43-foot beauty called the 'Fate' (cue the theme-song from Gilligan's Island).
What were your first impressions on arrival?
We parked at the Safe Harbor Marina on Charleston's west side, where our captain awaited with a cart to transport our bags. A short walk through the lattice of floating docks, past impressive mega-yachts, quirky houseboats, and old-school Gatsby-era cruisers, took us to our vessel. Shoes off, and we stepped barefoot (with a polite assist from the captain) on deck. A quick tour of the monohull, with its cozy cabins and comfortable galley, and we were ready to glide.
Tell us about your fellow tourees.
We were all friends—three couples who love a glass of wine and good conversation, and don't mind wind in our hair. You could reserve the entire boat exclusively (lots of marriage proposals here), or if you are an avid sailor, you could be as active a participant as you care to be, but we were there to enjoy the breeze and just be taken care of.
And the level of service?
CSC doesn't cater, but they have established relationships with local caterers, so they've got great recommendations for gourmet markets like Caviar & Bananas who will hand deliver goodies to the boat. In our case, we brought our own wine and charcuterie board courtesy and the crew took it from there, serving and pouring throughout the voyage. One of the owners has an interest in a Yadkin Valley, North Carolina vineyard, and we were all pleasantly surprised by the quality of his Montepulciano (available on board for a price). Best of all, drinks don't spill: they stay magically anchored courtesy of weighted, flexible, silicone drinkware, no matter the pitch of the sailboat.
How were the guides?
Our captains were two: one younger and affable who skillfully manned Gucci-level electric winches while topping off our drinks, the other slightly older and very experienced, with something like 50,000 nautical miles under his cap. The latter, Captain Ryan, is also a history buff, so he was able to teach us about Castle Pinckney's fortifications as we sailed past them, and to share maritime war trivia about Charleston's harbor, from the Revolutionary siege to Civil War bombardments.
Anything you'll be remembering weeks or months or years from now?
Little things, like the moon reflected in the harbor as the shrimp boat lights came on, our smooth-as-silk, slow-motion sail past the flickering lanterns of the Low Battery, and how the captain referred to sea spray as 'Nature's kiss.'
Anything else to keep in mind?
A few hours on the water was dreamy, but CSC offers longer and even overnight sails where you travel 40-60 miles down the coast and back along the intercoastal waterway, dine at the Salty Dog Café at Bohicket Marina, and spend the night in cozy cabins fully equipped with in-room showers.
So bottom line: why should we book?
Because sea spray and dolphins really do cure everything.
