day-sailing along the GA coast (home, moving to, bars)

[snoshoewalkr]

My family is dreaming of moving to a warmer state than MI. Years ago, we enjoyed taking a trailerable sailboat to nearby inland and Great Lakes. In MI, there are many boat launch sites. My question is- does anything like this exist along the GA coast, where you can put in from a protected marina and day-sail? I am not familiar with the terrain along the GA coast.

[snoshoewalkr]

No boating enthusiasts out there who could enlighten me? I would appreciate any help!

[royrau]

Trailer sailing is indeed available on the Ga coast as it is one of my favorite passtimes. However be advised it is not something to take lightly, as the current from the river(S), the tide changes, the sandbars and the wind all combine to keep you plenty busy. The biggest problem is the fact that there are few boat ramps anywhere near the actual beach , so that you need to work your way out through one of the many bays (between the barrier islands) usually against a STIFF WIND off the bow, chop, and God forbid you are running against the tide. When you hear people say all you need is a 5hp on a trailer-sailor FORGET THAT!!! You can have an absolute ball off the coast of Ga. but come prepared!! I use a 10hp extra long shaft just to get out through the islands and at that it takes quite a while. I was using a 25 and that worked great but it became unreliable. Here is what you need.

1. A swing Keel boat
2. A galvinized trailer (Remember the ramp has very little verticle drop to it so the rear end of your vehicle may take a salt water bath trying to float off the trailer).
3. 2x more hp than whatever you may think you need
4. Plan on putting in at the very end of the incoming tide so that by the time you get to moving it is either slack tide or the tide is going out. Ride the tide out and sail till it is time to ride the tide in, otherwise if you did not read #3 you are in trouble.
5. Plan on having a rudder which can swing up as you will hit at least a bunch of sandbars till you figure out where the channel is. Also plan on having a way to hold the rudder down as in a bolt or pin or some type of pulley /rope system to hold it in place. You will find out the hard way about this one when you see just how intense the tide can run and combine that tide with the current in the river and your boat will steer with so much pressure on the tiller it will wear you out, as the rudder is straight aft and will not drop even if you stand on it (been there).
6. Bring someway to get out of the sun
7. Plan on getting hit with a thunderstorm, they range all over and blow up fast and go away just as fast but you will be miserable if not ready.
8. If you can successfully get out off the beach in the summer you can be absolutely guaranteed of good wind from 11:00am-9:00 pm everyday, hitting you on a broad reach as you travel north or south it is absolutely sweet!! Keep in mind as you travel away from the ramp all day north you were going with the rip-tide and as you turn to go south now you are sailing against a 5 mph current going north so either sail out to the horizon or fire the iron jib up and motor sail south. Plan on saing south in the morning and then returning home going north and you will not need the motor.(Learned this the hard way also at the same time learned to have either a good motor or bring a spare which is how I got back).
9. Bring something for sea sickness. I have found rantidine works very well it is an over the counter heartburn medicine (Zantac I think).
10. Don't be discouraged as it will not be easy in the beginning but you will learn and get better each trip.
11. The easiest place to put in/out is Sunbury Ga. There is a ramp right near the coast only 5-6 miles inland from the open ocean. However there is few parking spaces. Ft mcallister marina will put you in-out without dropping your trailer in the salt but it is a long hard trip from there out and back don't try it without HORSEPOWER!!!