Vineyard Open House Blog

ICW Cruise: Fernandina Sunrise, Becky Bad Girl Moves On, Tour of Oyster Bay Harbour

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Mile 717: Oyster Bay Harbour, Fernandina
The next morning I got up at the uncommon hour of 5 am in order to wave off Captain Steve as he continued on toward his final destination of Key West where he was to deliver Becky Bad Girl into a charter fleet.

It turned out to be a perfect sunrise. Marc Footlik motored by me on his way out with friends for some early morning fishing. I could see Fernandina in the distance lit up by the rising sun whose bright rays slowly crept over the marshes, the marina and finally the clubhouse.

The sun rises over 'Becky Bad Girl' prior to departure.

I thanked Captain Steve for all his help and for letting me ride aboard on his trip--a big success that fulfilled all my winter visions of how a trip down the ICW might be.

Then he was on board and slowly took the catamaran out of the marina and made a right turn toward the ICW. Good-by, Becky Bad Girl! It was always fun telling people the name of the boat I was riding. As Capt'n Steve would say with a big smile: "I just drive 'em, I don't name 'em!" Now I was on my own and a long way from the Chesapeake Bay.

Captain Steve makes the turn toward the ICW and points south.

Becky Bad Girl grows smaller in the distance.

A couple comes out from their yacht to give their dogs an early morning walk.

A Monet watercolor of reflected clouds.

The pool and deck look out toward the marsh and marina.

The clubhouse where we had dinner last night and breakfast.

Once finished with breakfast I took a tour of the Yacht Club clubhouse, which features a fitness center, pool, and bar and grille. The community is surrounded by moss-draped ancient oaks, wildlife and spectacular waterviews, all a short drive from Jacksonville.

The club’s fitness center features state-of-the-art equipment, locker rooms and nearby tennis courts. Nature lovers can meander to the fishing pier and take in water and marsh views. Kayaks and canoes will be available for exploring the waterways.

Second floor of the clubhouse, note the louvered shades.

The Yacht Club clubhouse is a short walk from the marina which features floating docks, with 76 boat slips available in lengths of 40 to 65 feet, and will ultimately feature both port or starboard full length fingers. Built with great attention to detail, there is a minimum of six feet of depth at low tide.

The bar is around the corner from the pool.

Every modern convenience is provided, including a harbormaster and dock attendants at the ready. For boaters who want to get their cruise underway promptly, the Intracoastal Waterway lies only a mile away and the Atlantic Ocean just three miles further. Becky Bad Girl had barely warmed up her engines earlier that morning before she had hit the ICW again.

I also enjoyed a tour of homes already built at Oyster Bay Harbour and saw where new ones were going in. Request more information.

Sample home at Oyster Bay Harbour.

A live oak draped with moss.

The real estate offered here is a good value with wooded and lakefront lots from $100,000 to 150,000, marshfront lots from $200,000 to $300,000 and lot and slip package from $199,999. Slips are from $85,000. Request more information.

The new Island Villas neighborhood is an excellent value being close to the Yacht Club and marina and featuring views of the marsh, waterways and boat slips and your purchase includes the initial payment for your Social Membership to the Yacht Club.

Sample home.

Sample home at Oyster Bay Harbour.

A new road leaves a small footprint and is overhung with oaks and moss.

Bulldozers rest during their road-clearing labors.

The gatehouse for Oyster Bay Harbour.

Oyster Bay Harbour entrance.

I usually see the entrance of a community first and the clubhouse and marina last. But since I arrived by water and left by taxi, this time the entrance was the last thing I saw. From Oyster Bay Harbour it was on to Amelia Island Plantation and then a plane ride home.

Next: Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

ICW Cruise: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

After my tour of Windmill Harbour, I hurried back to the Harbor Town Yacht Basin so Captain Steve could meet his deadline of departing by 11 am. However, before we left I exchanged burgees with longtime harbormaster Nancy Cappleman.

Another burgee for the growing WaterViewHome collection.

Then took some final shots of the beautiful boats in the Basin.

This beautiful schooner begged for a few shots.

Cockpit up close.

Sleek lines.

Last look at the famous lighthouse.

Once out in the Sound we passed a parasailer. It reminded me that my then-soon-to-be-90-year-old mother parasailed on Martha's Vineyard just a few years ago. She's now close to 96 and still going strong.

Parasailing.

A fishing boat looked like a giant winged bug.

We went outside the ICW for the second time on the trip and took aim for Fernandina, FL. The end of the trip was getting very close. Hilton Head Island is at Mile 559 and Becky Bad Girl was to straight-line for Fernandina at Mile 717--a 158-mile sprint that she could handle without a sweat.

The first landmarks we saw as we neared Fernandina were the paper mills. If the air is right, you can smell them, too. The locals don't seem to mind at all, understanding that the mills provide jobs, pay taxes and are a big reason the area survives economically.

Paper mill at Fernandina.

Becky Bad Girl was hungry and we filled her up.

A peaceful co-existence--local industry and the boating community.

Barnyard rules: Two socially smug chickens turn their backs on an irrelevant giraffe.

Dockmaster Sean Murphy has come out to lead us into Oyster Bay Harbour.

As we eased into the floating docks at Oyster Bay Harbour, we marveled at the vast marsh and easy sense of peace surrounding the community.

Sean shows the way.

The marsh provides a quiet backdrop.

Sean makes sure we go to the right slip.

A young couple about to be married at the club was there taking pictures. Captain Steve made sure he was invited.

Once at the club we met one of the principals at the club, Marc Footlik. He treated us to dinner at the clubhouse and we made a date to tour the property the next day. It was to be my last night on the boat.

Evening falls on the marsh surrounding Oyster Bay Harbour.

The all-important burgee exchange.

Tomorrow Steve takes off early to make quick work of the rest of his trip to the Florida Keys while after a tour of Oyster Bay, I will head to Amelia Island Plantation.

Next Up: A Tour of Oyster Bay Harbour, Becky Bad Girl Moves On

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

Day 9: Fernandina Sunrise, Becky Bad Girl Moves On, Tour of Oyster Bay Harbour

River Dunes, a New Symbol of the Marina Life in Oriental, NC, Joins WaterViewHome

The Harbor Club watches over the marina at River Dunes, NC.

River Dunes, whose luxury homes and spacious marina beckon sailors up and down the East Coast to its Oriental, NC, location, has joined the WaterViewHome Network.

This new marina community lies on the Intracoastal Waterway at the confluence of the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound, which stretches across 25 miles of open water to the famed Outer Banks. The community offers 14 miles of waterfront and a fully amenitized, world-class harbor.

Marina & Amenities
Boats and vessels of all types can be accommodated by the 400-slip River Dunes marina. Its location offers numerous creeks, marshes and backwaters ideal for canoeing and kayaking. Soft launch sites are also available.

At the marina, enjoy full use of its transient dockage, fine dining, harborside cottages, and of course the winds and waters that provide some of the most enjoyable sailing and motor cruising anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard.

A state-of-the-art exercise facility is located across from the Harbor Club in the Landing. Providing weights, treadmills, and harbor views while you exercise. In addition, trail maps provide the distances for community jogging and biking paths.

New and Emerging, with a Vintage Look: The community’s Harbor Club has a special feel, with wide-plank reclaimed flooring, vintage tobacco warehouse beams, plus indoor and outdoor fireplaces. The Club has casual dining on the pool deck and porches.

Real Estate: River Dunes, Oriental NC

• Three communities now under construction
• The Row
  • Harbor views, screened porches
  • Lock-and-leave service
• Chapel Square
  • Coastal cottages and bungalows from 1,900 to 4,000 square feet
  • Views of harbor, Cedar Creek and Mill Creek
• The Channel Homes
  • Sited along 1,100-foot harbor entrance
  • Double-story porches, authentic architectural details
  • Views of the Harbor and Broad Creek
• Homes from $489,000
• Homesites for Custom Home Construction from $175,000
• Click here for more information about River Dunes!

ICW Cruise: Windmill Harbour, a Premier Sailing Community on Hilton Head Island

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Elegance, beautiful homes, beautiful boats--all within a stunning marina community. That easily sums up Windmill Harbour, the community I spent the morning with on our stay at Hilton Head Island. Its marina is protected by a lock system that keeps the stray visitor out and a calm safe refuge within.

Entrance to Windmill Harbour from Calibogue Sound.

The water level behind the lock and in the marina is above that of the sound.

A boat loaded with a washing machine and furniture enters the lock.

With both sets of lock doors shut, water begins to pour out of the lock.

The water levels within the lock and the sound are the same, doors open, out comes the boat.

The men in blue: Assist. Harbormaster Paul Coe, left, and Harbormaster Mike Hall keep the locks going & boats coming.

Stately homes overlook the harbor entrance and enjoy wide sound views.



Pink and gray ladies with three stories and more stand shoulder to shoulder on the shore.

Additional privacy within the private grounds of Windmill Harbour.

Lush landscaping, privacy walls and ironwork create an intimate setting.

The club pool.

Homes cluster around the marina.

The wraps come off a classic.

The door handles to the entrance to the South Carolina Yacht Club at Windmill Harbour are a handsome pair of Herreshoff cleats.

The clubhouse is outfitted with ship models and sculpture.

Dramatic painting in the ceiling of the Governors Room.

View of the harbor from the second floor of the clubhouse looking toward the lock.

After touring the clubhouse, I returned to Harbour Town and prepared to leave for our next port of call at Fernandina, FL.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

ICW Cruise: Harbour Town Y.B. with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island, SC

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Mile 559: Harbour Town Yacht Basin, Hilton Head Island Island, SC

The weather is beautiful for April, in the 60s and sunny, so we decide to head south to Hilton Head Island by going outside the ICW. What a change of scene when you 'go outside!' The tight corners, encroaching vegetation and shore debris all fall away as you break out into the open sea and a limitless horizon.

No more worrying about going aground, the depth gauge shows 20, 30, 40, 50 feet and more to the seabed far below. We listen to the chatter on the radio, but instead of cocking our ears for bridge closings, moving shoals and boats aground, we hear about submerged debris that has fallen off of freighters and the approach of supertankers that have a blind spot a quarter-mile long.

The water into Hilton Head Island is very shallow, hence long piers are needed to get to a comfortable boat depth.

Towards day's end we came into Hilton Head Island, arriving by going under the bridge to the island from the mainland. I had been coming to the island every October since 2001 for an industry conference and had always driven over that bridge. Very strange to be coming by boat and slipping by under it.

The bridge over to Hilton Head Island, my first time motoring under it.

We were greeted by kayakers enjoying the inlets and marsh.

We continued on past the bridge and Harbour Town Yacht Basin at Sea Pines Plantation came into view. The Horizon Classic had just ended the week before and vestigates of the tournament were everywhere, a kind of ghost tournament town all set up with no one to cheer.
 

Harbour Town's distinctive lighthouse tell us we are almost there.

Tournament ghost town: everything but the people.

The finishing hole offers not only great golf views, but also water views.

Easing up to the entrance to the basin.

Good-sized yachts save you the trouble of hotel reservations and check-out is whenever you want.

We had made good time into the basin, arriving around 5 o'clock. I had spent most of the day calling area clients to see if they could come over to our boat for cocktails. It was the middle of the week, but fortunately a few could make it. What a pleasure meeting for drinks in the harbor. A great way to spend the evening.

On display: the new GolfCourseHome Magazine and WaterView burgee.

Captain Steve with Tobin Spirer of Spirer Communications.

Guests include Pat Judd, sponsor of Dataw Island, and her husband, and Beverly Serral, sponsor of Sea Pines Plantation.
 

The day ended with an excellent seafood dinner at the dinner located at the base of the Harbour Town lighthouse. On the way the back to the boat, I took the show below, a glimmering reminder of a memorable day.

Time-lapse photography, not quite successful, but evocative of the magical atmosphere of Harbour Town.

Next Installment: A Visit to Windmill Harbour, SC
 

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

 

ICW Cruise: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Charleston: Mile 469: A Visit to Daniel Island.

Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie D. & daughter Sophie

The day started off with a delightful introduction. I was picked up at the marina by Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie Dombrowski, with whom I had been working for five years via phone and email, and who was accompanied by her daughter Sophie.

It was the first time we had met--yet  another face to place with the voice after many years of marketing co-operation. Meeting Sophie was a bonus. She was on her way to school at Daniel Island which was where this photo was taken.

Julie's husband owns Ted's Butcher Block, a local shop offering gourmet meats, cheeses and freshly prepared meals. While I was in Charleston, the crew from one of the mega yachts stopped in and ordered $2,000 worth of meat with one order.

My arrival at Daniel island had just missed the conclusion of the Family Circle Cup which features the top women tennis pros in the first outing of the spring clay court season. The Family Circle Cup goes back to the 1970s when I covered the event and it began its tradition of introducing to the international stage soon-to-be famous players such as Pam Shriver and Jennifer Capriati. Request more information.

Part of the pagentry that accompanies the tournament is the fly-over by the Blue Angels, the aerial goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. It is a spectacular week to be on-island.

Daniel Island home under construction.

Since the time available for my visit was short, we drove straight to where the action now is at Daniel Island. We drove by this home under construction to the edge of the community that borders on the Wando River en route to the site of the future Mitchell Wharf neighborhood. Boaters will be interested in the new release of homesites here which come with a permit to install a deepwater dock. Homesite and home packages start in the $600,000s and go up to $1.2 million. Request more information.

Mitchell Wharf will look out on the Wando River.

In addition to the beach shown above, Mitchell Wharf will also have other common areas such as parks, playgrounds and pools.

To the left of Mitchell Wharf are peaceful marsh views.

Quintessential Daniel Island neighborhood--Charleston architecture, tidy streets.

As we rode on through Daniel Island I was impressed how mature the community is--buyers don't have to wait for infrastructure and amenities to be built. Everything is in, no waiting.

Kid's paradise--a tree house with a water view.

Kids are a welcome part of life here, witness the elementary school we dropped Sophie off at, and this tree house, above, will keep any child's imagination filled with visions of pirates and days at sea. The swimming club, below, is also a popular spot. Request more information about Daniel Island.

An easy place to spend the day--the swim club.

Homes look out on the delicate marsh eco-system.

Everywhere you look you are reminded of the delicate ecosystem that surrounds Daniel Island. The homes above look out over march, through which you can see a simple boardwalk which will give you a memorable nature tour.

Boardwalks skirt the marsh.

This home caught my eye with its impressive entrance and gas light.

Close up of the front door.

Gas lamp on front stairway.

We stopped by the 11th green and 12th tee on the Tom Fazio-designed Beresford Creek Course which is neatly tucked into neighborhoods of stately homes. Request more information about Daniel Island

Golf course home overlooking the 11th green, Beresford Creek Course.

Home overlooking the 12th tee, Beresford Creek.

I returned to the marina and we immediately we cast off and headed towards our next destination--Hilton Head Island. As we moved out of the harbor we passed the Coast Guard station. Th passage had special meaning for me. My father, as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, was Captain of the Port of Charleston during World War II, receiving a special commendation from the governor at the war's end. 

Coast Guard on duty at harbor entrance.

As we departed, this sailboat headed downwind along with us.

Next Stop. Hilton Head Island, Harbour Town Yacht Basin and more.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

ICW Cruise: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Charleston: Mile 469. After passing Fort Sumter we eased up to the MegaYacht marina at Charleston. Wow, what an experience! Big boat after big boat enchanted our vision.

The sign at Charleston Marina signals you're in for a visual treat.

The first beauty was the Belle Aventure out of London that was there for major brightwork work. A crew from Quality Boat Work in Newport arrived the next morning to wash down the decks and continue for what was to be months of pain-staking work. (Belle Aventure is an 84′6″ x 17′9″ ketch designed by William Fife III and built by William Fife & Sons, Fairlie, Scotland in 1929.)

Belle being primped for a ball--notice blue tape in prep for varnish.

As we tied up at the dock I heard the sounds of a harmonica and a blues band get closer and closer. I turned toward the water, lo and behold the sounds of a 'blues cruise' got louder and louder. The music sounded great as it eased on by.

Blues cruise: the harp being blown on the stern reminded me of my days with Hat City Blues.

Stern of the Islandia, a 136-foot Jongert 40 T--the largest sailboat in the Holland-based Jongert line-up.

Under a menacing sky we walked on to dinner down the long wharf and passed a number of big boats beginning with, the Islandia, a 136-foot (40 meters) Jongert 40 T. According to Nautica.com, "Islandia" was designed by Tony Castro and Peter Sijm and features a steel hull, aluminum upper works and bulbous 11 ft. keel. With a beam of nearly 26 feet, she packs in a lot of comfort.

All the interiors are in mahogany wood, matched with beige colour upholstery and furnishings. The large living room, at the centre of the boat, extremely bright thanks to the numerous glass surfaces, offers a spacious area with TV and dining table able to accommodate 10 persons. 

In-mast and in-boom furling make getting under way a snap.

Astern of this room are the three guest staterooms, each with its own bathroom, and the boat owner's stateroom. This latter stateroom is a true suite, with two large twin beds and a smaller bed, a lounge with an L-shaped sofa, a desk and a wardrobe. Its bathroom has a separate shower compartment.

Islandia is impressive from every angle.

At the bow there is a large on-board galley, almost professionally equipped, the crew dining area and their cabins, each with separate shower and bathroom. Next along the line was a smart looking Grand Banks trawler, usually the recipient of many admiring looks, but here she is outshone by debutantes of international stature.

Grand Banks trawler sitting with the big boys.

We continued on our way down this walk of fame and encountered Themis. At 156 ft. she was 10 feet longer than Islandia and sitting pretty with an aluminum hull and superstructure, she is clearly designed to go places and quickly.

She weighs in at 215 tons and can cruise at 1,500 miles going 20 knots. The distance jumps to 6,800 nautical miles when you drop the cruising speed in half to 10 knots. She has five staterooms, each with its own bath. And as a nice touch, the flybridge features a six-person hot tub, plus bar with sink, refrigerator and ice maker. Care to invite a few friends over?

Themis has plenty of room for lounging around.

I had seen this boat before, in my home port of Vineyard Haven.

Themis comes from the drafting boards at Trinity Yachts, Inc.

Here's another beauty, complete with a center cockpit.

Tamsen, from Perini Navi, now out of George Town.

The biggest girl on the dock, however, was Tamsen, a 171 ft luxury yacht that was completed by Perini Navi in 2007. The steel-hulled super yacht takes 12 guests on board along with a crew of five. With twin Catepillar engines, she cruises at 12 knots with a range of 3,400 miles.

You won't get lost on Tamsen.

Ready for boarding.

Double rings.

Tamsen's reflective glory.

Be prepared to walk softly on the Tamsen decks.

Marina restaurant.

We continued on to the marina restaurant which offered fresh caught seafood. Our waitress and her husband live on a boat, as does Captain Steve, Captain John who steered Avanti and me to Martha's Vineyard two years ago and many others whom I have met on this trip. It gets me thinking maybe I should give it a try.

The next morning I am to meet Julie Dombrowski who will take me to Daniel Island. As I prepare to leave our boat I see a familiar boat out in the harbor, the When and If, which makes its home in Vineyard Haven.

When and If: built for General George Patton for him to sail 'when and if' World War II ended. The war ended, but Patton never sailed her, dying just weeks after the conclusion of hostilities.

On my down the dock I also spy a crew working on Belle Aventure.

Swabbing the deck with Cascade.

I notice they are sprinkling Cascade, the dish washing soap, into a bucket and swabbing the deck with it. I asked why and was told it was perfect for making the wood swell and lifting out the dirt.

The men look at what will be months of work.

I am happy to be going to a golf community to look at new homes and the golf course and leaving the men and their work behind. My morning is definitely going to be more fun.

Next Entry: Daniel Island and a new neighborhood.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

ICW Cruise: St. James Plantation Busy with New Home & New Clubhouse Construction

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

DAY 5 - Early AM at St. James Plantation

I awoke early the next morning on board Becky Bad Girl--should go in the boat name Hall of Fame (shame?)--to head up to Tommy Thompson's grille and to send off the day's newsletter.

What fun to wake up in the morning surrounded by boats.

Stopped in to see Dock Master Jon Helms who was kind enough to participate in a time-honored tradition of exchanging burgees. Except that the St. James Marina doesn't have one yet. Gave him the scoop on where I got mine.

St. James Marina Dock Master Jon Helms shows off his new WaterViewHome burgee.

Meanwhile, down on the dock four residents, who were decked out in blue jumpsuits and orange life jackets, were preparing an outing in their role as Auxiliary Coast Guard. The organization is one way residents can stay close to the water and volunteer to help their fellow boaters. Later that morning we passed them out on the ICW coming back from their rounds.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol getting ship-shape.

I had met one of the Auxiliary members the night before. He had been wearing a Red Sox jacket. After I had given him a 'Go, 'Sox!' cheer, he stopped to chat. He was from Connecticut and noted how there was a large contingent from there and had their own Nutmeg group. There's no reason to get homesick when you have a lot of company from your home state right there with you. Request more information about St. James Plantation.

Marina view from Tommy Thompson's grill.

The view above is similar to the one that the St. James Plantation Artisans' Gallery will have when it opens soon. Its windows will overlook the marina and harbor and will sell resident artwork. The gallery is further evidence that If you have an interest at St. James Plantation, there will be a way you can pursue it there.

I was met at Tommy Thompson's by St. James Plantation Marketing Director Julie Campbell with whom I have been working for many years, but had never met. It was a pleasure meeting her and finally putting a face with her name. We got into her car for a tour of what was new at St. James Plantation. Request more information.

New home by Crane builders, from the low-$500,000s.

We looked at three new homes going up in the area near the outdoor amphitheater where the community comes for outdoor concerts. A gentle hillock surrounded by water, plantings and benches, it is an ideal place for not only concerts, but fireworks and other community gatherings.

The outdoor amphitheater, home to concerts and community gatherings.

New home by Geoff Weatherwax, from the low-$500,000s.

Julie told me that activity is heating up at St. James Plantation and as an example, 50 couples were coming in the next weekend and on the weekend of April 9-11 45 couples had come to the community. 

We've moved on to The Reserve course, which was crafted by the Nicklaus Design team, and paused at the the 13th hole, a par 3.

The par-3 No. 13 hole on the Nicklaus-Design-created The Reserve.

St. James Plantation Marketing Director Katie Campbell.

Not far away, we stopped at the construction site for the new Reserve Clubhouse which will be completed in April 2011, the 20th anniversary of the St. James Plantation. I stood still for a moment to listen to the skill saws buzzing and hammers hammering as the work progressed. With the worst of the recession behind us, it was good to hear the sounds of construction coming from the building industry. Request more information about St. James Plantation.

The Reserve Clubhouse is on track to be complete by 2011.

Katie drove me back to the marina and Captain Steve was there waiting to hit the road again. We left via the entrance from the ICW and headed south towards Charleston.

Leaving St. James Plantation's marina behind.

The sign says it all: boats are welcome here and you'll find the facilities and amenities you'll need.

Homes often enjoyed elaborate docks complete with screened gazebos.

Today we had to make up time that had been lost due to the engine problem. Fortunately, Captain Steve had found the answer to the 'malfunctioning' engine problem that two mechanics in Delaware couldn't find. It was a simple as finding the right switch to flip. Thus, with the engines both being fully available, today we were to go 'outside,' that is, we were to forgo the ICW and go out about 25 miles into the Atlantic and make a straight shot for Charleston.

On our way to the 'outside' we passed the famous lighthouse on Bald Head Island called Old Baldy. Built in 1817, it is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina.

Looking towards the bow from the sky seat on the Lagoon PowerCat, this is how the day looked all day long.

And this is how the day appeared, when looking astern. No land to see, and fortunately, small seas and not much wind.

As the day came to an end and we neared Charleston Harbor, we passed Ft. Sumter, where the first shots were fired in the Civil War.

Ft. Sumter at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, still a haunting reminder 149 years after the firing started.

ICW Miles Traveled: 469. Next Entry: The MegaYachts of Charleston.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

ICW Cruise: Tip-toeing Past Firing Lines from North River Club to Brunswick Forest

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read other posts by clicking on the list of headlines at the end of this entry.

On to Beaufort & North River Club
After leaving Oriental and River Dunes, we quickly made the 23 miles to Beaufort where an emerging golf community, North River Club, was my next stop.

As we entered Beaufort (pronounced BOE-fert), the distinctive building below caught my eye. It is the Harvey W. Smith Center for Watercraft, located just across the street from the NC Maritime Museum, whose purpose is to honor the history of wooden boats.

The Harvey W. Smith Center for Watercraft in Beaufort, NC.

The center provides demonstrations of traditional boat-building techniques, along with time-honored methods of repairing and renovating boats. The facility offers a build-a-boat-in-a-week class and a build-a-boat-in-a-day class.

The Watercraft Center is also the centerpiece of the annual Wooden Boat Show in April, April 25 - May 1, 2010, when wooden boats are displayed and visitors face off in the National Boat-Building Challenge. More of same returns to this huge, cavernous building during Maritime Week in September.

Once at the marina, we had a steak dinner at one of the many restaurants dotting the town and turned in for the evening. The next morning, I met Brett Michaud, North River Club's president and jack of all trades, who is the driving force behind the effort to bring the community into being.

North River Club is just five minutes from Beaufort and the waters of the Crystal Coast.

Brett picked me up at the marina in his truck and drove me through the picturesque town of Beaufort which is known for Blue Beard the Pirate (William Teach) and its location on North Carolina's Crystal Coast. The local buzz was all about the pirate, one of whose legendary ships had finally been found.

The golf course offers five sets of tees and measures 7,200 yards from the back tees and plays to a par of 72.

Centered around an 18-hole Bob Moore-designed championship golf course, the 620-acre North River Club is located less than 5 miles from the Beaufort waterfront and is clustered into separate villages with inviting home styles suited to match a variety of coastal lifestyles. In addition to the golf course, on-site amenities will include a Racquet Club, swim center, Club House and village center.

Sample homes include the Lowcountry style of double front porches. Home prices begin in the low-$200,000s.

On to Moorehead City & Camp Lejune
Brett drove me back to the marina, but before saying good-bye, he signed up North River Club to be featured on the GolfCourseHome Network where it will appear in mid-May. Captain Steve quickly took the PowerCat out of the marina and we soon passed through the port of Moorehead City.

Freighter at the dock at Moorehead City.

The marine training facility at Camp Lejune was the next landmark which signaled its presence with the friendly welcome mat below.

We had spoken with other travelers who had been delayed an hour while waiting for the flashing lights to go off. Fortunately, when we came through, the lights were dark.

Though the guns were silent, we saw evidence of past war games rusting in marsh and water.

Not a playground--we moved quickly past.

ICW homes come in all shapes and size. This stretch not far from Topsail Beach showcased attractive homes accompanied by elaborate docks.

We passed a Fleming 55, a luxury, raised-pilothouse motoryacht. Notice the 'ICW mustache' on the bow, proof of having passed many miles on the Intracoastal Waterway.

It's that time of year when the ICW sprouts a continuous line of boats heading north.

Sailors keep a respective distance while maintaining their place in the parade.

Motorsailing is the closest you can get to actual sailing on the ICW. Here we pass a good-looking boat that is clearly far from home.

Mile 283: Brunswick Forest & Cape Fear National
As the day ended we arrived at Mile 283 and Wrightsville Beach. Bridges were closed so Captain Steve eased up to a public dock, I stepped off onto solid ground and Brandy Marshall of Brunswick Forest picked me and we made the short drive to the community.

Located on North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast, Brunswick Forest is a master-planned 4,500-acre community only minutes from historic Wilmington. Ancient woodlands, slow-moving creeks and broad meadows provide the dramatic backdrop for its amenities and the new Cape Fear National® Country Club whose clubhouse and course had just opened only days earlier.

The newly opened Cape Fear National® Country Club.

Designed by Tim Cate, the course features gently undulating terrain that winds through abundant water features, tall trees and marsh. At the club I met Jerry Helms, director of sales, who has already built an impressive resume with his work at St. James Plantation.

Jerry took me on a tour of Brunswick Forest, pointing out all the activity at this growing community. We drove by the medical center that had just opened on campus, a major convenience for residents.

Evangeline Townhomes: 3 BRs/2.5 BAs, stacked stone fireplace, illuminated tray ceilings, double crown molding, garage space for two cars and 2,215 sq. ft.

First stop was the Evangeline neighborhood which is tucked into a private corner of the community and offers luxury townhomes, custom homes and homesites. Designed for low-maintenance living, the neighborhood is a short stroll from the Fitness & Wellness Center and Community Garden Center.

The Community Garden Center at Brunswick Forest is growing literally and figuratively.

The first home to be built on the golf course.

Sold!

A welcome sign: This lot  was sold to the Duffys who hail from Newtown, CT, my hometown. As if on cue, the Duffys drove by as we slowed down to take this picture. I asked them if they had sold their home in Newtown yet and they said 'yes.' How long was it on the market? 60 days. Good news for communities whose buyers first have to sell their homes 'up North' before they can purchase at communities such as Brunswick Forest.

Homesites around the course range from $165,000. Not in a hurry to build? Don't worry, you have 10 years in which to build your dream home.

Plenty of natural hazards make the course a challenging one.

Cottage compete with white picket fence.

Ready for showing.

Jerry points out the finer points of this home about to be the focus of an open house the next day. See below for its cozy breakfast booth.

Breakfast booth.

After we finished our tour, Jerry drove me to St. James Plantation to where Captain Steve had moved on ahead while I was at Brunswick Forest. My final impression of Brunswick Forest was of activity. As we drove through the community I frequently saw bikers, joggers, walking couples, not to mention honking Canadian geese, who all combined to say that this was a community that people enjoyed and were making the most of.

Mile 309 - St. James Plantation, Southport NC
The sun was setting over the marina as we arrived at St. James Plantation. Captain Steve had the boat in a slip and had already eaten. Looming over the marina was a massive boat shed that Jerry proudly pointed out, noting he was responsible for getting it done. An impressive legacy.

Dusk at St. James Plantation Marina.

The St. James Plantation boat shed.

Tommy Thompson's, the St. James Plantation marina grille.

I took this shot early the next morning, but it was bustling in the evening. The grille is a new addition. One young patron at the bar said, "This place is great! Why didn't they build this years ago?" Residents now enjoy it fully, perhaps trying to make up for lost time.

Next stop: St. James Plantation Gets Busy

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

ICW Cruise: At the Oriental Boat Show Residents Make It a Town-wide Celebration

 

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a Lagoon PowerCat 43 from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

DAY 3: The Oriental Boat Is Sailor's Delight

Coming back from visiting the waterfront community of River Dunes I stopped in at the 2010 Oriental Boat Show. Oriental bills itself as the Sailing Capital of North Carolina and for good reason--there are nearly three times as many boats in the town than residents! Several residents recited with obvious pride the numbers--850 residents and 3,200 boats. Now that's a sailing hub.

Boats lined up for the Oriental Boat Show.

The weather was bring and sunny, as it had been for the entire trip so far. Town officials later proudly proclaimed that more than 1,500 visitors came through the gates over the weekend.

The show's purpose was to raise funds for the two charitable groups that sponsored the boat show. More than $11,000 was raised for the groups, the Oriental Rotary Club and Pamlico County Committee Of 100 (a group which promotes economic development).

Vendors' booths at the show.

Vendors included River Dunes, Arlington Place (another master-planned marina community), multiple boat brokers, sailing school, a funky local marine consignment show, hot dog and hamburger grilling tent, Hunter boat dealership and many more. I must have met half the town walking around the show.

What impressed me was the friendliness of the people and how many of them had only recently moved there. A key attraction was that they didn't have to haul their boats for the winter and could sail year-round.

I immediately noticed the River Dunes burgee on the RD launch.

One of the first people I met was Marvin Bullock, a local real estate agent. He heard me speaking to a vendor and stepped right up and introduced himself. I mentioned to a vendor that I'd like to move to a warmer location where I could have my boat in the water even in the winter and that was his entre. I also met Paul, an elderly gentleman who called himself a "garbologist," still trying to figure out what that is.

The boat brokers were very welcoming and I got a chance to shoot some the boats for sale at the show.

Beth Schwartz (standing) from Triton Yachts, Oriental, NC, gave the scoop on her offerings. She is standing on the deck of Podjo (means 'old friend'), a Pacific Seacraft 37. Asking price is $127,500.

Kizmet displayed a comfortable pilot house.

The boats averaged 35 feet or more.

Bow detail.

One of the prettier boats for sale, a Cheoy Lee Offshore 31, was offered by Bob Applegate, broker at Cape Lookout Yacht Sales & Charters.

This 1968 Cheoy Lee Offshore 31 features a fiberglass hull, teak deck & cabin and is offered at $27,900

An attractive interior.

Kitchen/companion way.

A handsome teak deck with fiberglass cabin roof.

The Bean--the popular coffee spot at the edge of the water at Oriental.

The Boat Show ended at 3 pm and I walked back over the bridge to the marina and we shoved off for our next port of call. Before boarding, however, I bought a superb coffee milkshake at The Bean, the popular coffee shop perched right on the edge of the water. It was a sweet way to say good-bye to Oriental, NC, the quintessential boat town.

Next stop: On to North River Club

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC