🌊 Welcome aboard! In this episode of Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States, join host Bela Musits and boat owner Mike Malekoff as they share a captivating leg of their journey from Brunswick, Georgia to Burlington, Vermont. Today’s featured stop: the historic and charming port city of Charleston, South Carolina.

⛵ In this sailing podcast episode, we take you behind the scenes of a real-life coastal cruising adventure aboard Mike’s Hunter 44 Deck Salon. From navigating offshore in the Atlantic Ocean to docking in one of the East Coast's most iconic sailing towns, this episode is packed with storytelling, lessons learned, and seafaring camaraderie.

⛵ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How Mike and Bela planned and executed an offshore sail to Charleston

• The surprises that came up despite perfect weather forecasts (spoiler: plans go awry at sea!)

• First impressions of Charleston Harbor and why it's a must-visit for any East Coast cruiser

• Anchoring tips, marina reviews, and navigating the approach to Charleston

• An authentic day-in-the-life look at living aboard while coastal cruising

• Reflections at anchor after a long sail and how the boat (and crew) held up
  

📍 Location Highlights:

• Charleston, South Carolina – Historic, hospitable, and full of nautical charm. We discuss what makes this city such a welcoming port, from its protected anchorage to vibrant waterfront culture.

• Offshore Route – Our sail from Georgia to South Carolina: how the weather evolved and the real-time decisions made while underway.

• ICW vs Atlantic – Why we chose to go outside the Intracoastal Waterway for this leg—and how that decision played out.
  

🧭 Gear & Boat Info:

• Boat: Hunter 44 Deck Salon

• Navigation: Windy, Navionics, NOAA charts

• Weather: Light winds forecasted… reality was a bit different

• Conditions: Calm seas, shifting winds
  

🔔 Don’t Miss an Episode! Subscribe and click the bell to be notified when new episodes drop! We post regularly about:

• Coastal navigation and trip planning

• Marina reviews and anchoring guides

• Boat maintenance and living aboard

• Interviews with sailors and cruising experts
  

👍 Like, Comment & Share if you're enjoying the journey!

Connect With Us:

Our email is Sailingtheeast@gmail.com

Happy Sailing!

Bela and Mike

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