Power Boat Cruise to Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center (Okatie)

Hello Everyone - this is the first announcement for a planned club activity where all members can participate. This is a Boat-to AND OR Drive-to trip to the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center at the base of the Chechessee River Bridge half way to Beaufort. About 45 members of this Yacht Club drove out to the Maritime Center a good year or two before it even opened to the public in 2014.

The Foundation began on the waterfront property of the old Lemon Island Marina on the Chechessee River in a dilapidated cinderblock building that was being torn apart and being re-purposed as it's center. It was there that we learned of their mission to preserve the Port Royal Sound for the environmental, cultural and economic wellbeing of our area. We learned how unique this body of water is to the entire United States. Boy, have times changed, wait till you see the Maritime Center now and the expanded work they are doing to preserve and protect this body of water that we take for granted just outside our backyards. We are a Yacht Club, we are now or have been active boaters and we all come from areas where the waters we grew up with are now polluted shadows of their former selves. Part of this visit we've planned is we will hear from the Center's Naturalist and operations manager Mr. Chris Kehrer who will give us a private overlay of our sound and the current state of the sound and how the foundation is working daily to preserve it's quality. We will have an opportunity to walk about the facility and then enjoy a catered lunch set up in their brand new 10,000 square foot wide open building that overlooks the Chechessee River where tables and chairs will be set up for our luncheon enjoyment. Then a leisurely boat trip or car trip back home. In about a month, we'll be asking for those skippers who wish to take their boat up the Chechessee River, a very beautiful run of about 30 minutes from Skull Creek Marina, and those who wish to go as crew to sign up. We'll also have a sign up for those wanting to drive so we get a good head count for the caterer. A special thanks goes to Mike Gilroy who was able to move some things already planned in the boating schedule to fit this trip in for all the club to use. I hope as many members and guest possible will attend this event.