Hilton Head's Harbour Town

If you happened to watch the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament this weekend you no doubt noticed the Harbour Town Yacht Basin filled with 100 boats of all sizes.

Many years ago I stood along the docks of the Harbour Town Yacht Basin with my father and wondered what it would be like to guide my own boat past the wonderful red and white lighthouse.

Harbourtown Lighthouse Circa 1970

I marveled at the wonderful yachts docked safely inside the harbor and the pure beauty of the Lighthouse and its simple design. 

I climbed the stairs to have a look from up high in the lighthouse and remember looking down on all the boats, wondering how hard it would be to dock one of those "big ones" in what from above looked like a really small slips, with little room for error.

Now having the pleasure of gliding past the famous red and white lighthouse in my own boat so many times that I just count the years, I know there is nothing quite like it in the world.

The Low Country has a feel all its own, and with it comes a welcome home feeling of Harbour Town on a warm and sunny spring afternoon. 

The harbor is alive with activity, the dock creaks and adjusts to the weight of the 75 foot Hatteras motor yacht I've just brought in from Charleston.

Visitors gather to watch as I adjust our boat inside the slip, just a spring line and even without a bow thruster she eases against the dock. I've learned over the years to make my docking look good even when its not. A well seasoned crew is a must.

Watching me with wide eyes are two young boys about 10 and 12 along with their father, our crew has much to do, yet I can't help but offer to give the three of them a quick tour.

Suddenly I am young again as the boys scamper ahead of their father and the youngest one exclaims "wow this boat is sooooo big, we are so lucky to get to go on this huge boat".

Me too kid, Me too....