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Charleston Charters Offer Coastal Sailing Experience

Marie McAden Marie McAden
A former staffer with The Miami Herald, Marie moved to SC in 1992. She is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys exploring the state’s many natural treasures from the Lowcountry to the Upstate.
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Experience the pleasures of sailing on a yacht in Charleston Harbor.

It's a scene straight out of the pages of Condé Nast Traveler, a classic 50-foot sloop sailing along the coast against the backdrop of a brilliant sunset.

You don't have to count yourself among the rich and famous to enjoy this romantic fantasy. Charleston charters offer a wide range of sailing experiences - from two-hour trips in the harbor to overnight excursions to neighboring Beaufort and Daufuskie Island.

Get a different perspective of Charleston from the water.

On a two- or three-hour sail, you can cruise by Charleston's famed Rainbow Row, the historic Battery and Fort Sumter, birthplace of the Civil War. And you'll get a spectacular perspective of the seaport city's skyline with its many church spires.

Most of the trips are skippered by a captain, but rentals and bareboat charters also are available for experienced sailors.

Charleston Sailing School & Yacht Charters’ boats are equipped with a full galley and salon with TV, DVD, stereo, wireless Internet and cable.

If you want more than a taste of the good life, book an overnight trip to a nearby port of call. Along with two full days of sailing, you'll experience what it's like to sleep aboard a yacht.

On these charters, you typically leave the marina around 9 a.m. and sail out of Charleston Harbor into the Atlantic Ocean. A mile off shore, the water turns from a murky green to a vibrant blue. It's not unusual to have dolphins playing in the boat's wake as you roll over the swells.

Overnight charters usually include lunch the first day and breakfast and lunch the second. For dinner, passengers can choose from the restaurant offerings at their overnight destination.

As you head out to sea, you'll sail past Fort Sumter in Charleston.
Marie McAden
A former staffer with The Miami Herald, Marie moved to SC in 1992. She is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys exploring the state’s many natural treasures from the Lowcountry to the Upstate.