Aphrodite, A Beautiful Commuter Yacht, An Incredible Restoration

30 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Classic Yachts, From the helm

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Aphrodite, Beautiful boats, Beautiful yachts, Boat, Boats, Brooklin Boat Yard, Cargile Cutter Cruisers, Commuter Yacht, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Historic boats, ICW, Jock Whitney, Motoryacht Aphrodite, Purdy Boat Company, Restoration, Slow Dance, Soundings, Wooden boats

Some things in life we never forget. I will never forget the time I saw Aphrodite cruising north on the ICW. According to the date on the two pictures that I took of her, it was Sunday, September 24, 2000. Not long before, I had read a story of her being found wasting away on a canal in Florida. As we cruised our restored Cargile Cutter, SunSmiles south on the ICW behind the Isle of Palms, SC, I saw what appeared to be a black-hulled boat approaching from the south. As the gap between us closed, I realized it was Aphrodite! I yelled for my wife to hurry and bring my old “point and shoot” camera to the flybridge! I only managed to get off a couple of shots before she was gone, in part because I was stunned to see someone onboard her taking pictures of SunSmiles – or my wife! Here they were cruising on a piece of history, yet shooting pictures of our old girl?

Regardless of what they were shooting, I treasure the fact that I got to see Aphrodite on her way north to what would become an amazingly beautiful restoration. Sadly, SunSmiles was not as fortunate. On March 21, 2013 the old girl was destroyed in transit to her new owner and homeport in Portland, OR. She and two tractor trailers were hit by a hurricane force wind twenty-three miles out of Laramie, WY. All three were rolled over and were a total loss.

In the August 9, 2017 issue of Sounding Magazine, the editors published another story about Aphrodite. I sincerely appreciate their continued interest in this magnificent boat. It’s but one of the reasons I’m a longtime subscriber! Hope you enjoy reading more about Jock Whitney’s incredible Aphrodite in their latest story, Sweetly Curved.

Learn more about this magnificent boat from the Soundings interview with Aphrodite captain, Kirk Reynolds.

Other worthwhile articles on Aphrodite.

Saving Aphrodite, Soundings Editors, July 20, 2006

Rebuilding A Classic: 20,000 Rivets Later, Soundings Editors, July 20, 2006

Aphrodite Proves The Queen Of The Classics, Soundings Editors, November 7, 2006

The Many Lives of Aphrodite, Rich Armstrong, January 31, 2011

Aphrodite, Steve Knauth, Soundings Editors, October 30, 2012

Aphrodite, Brooklin Boat Yard

Historic Seaport of Georgetown, SC

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Destinations

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Atlantic ICW, Boat, Boats, Coastal destinations, Corona, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Dog, Georgetown SC, Great marina, Harborwalk Marina, Historic Georgetown SC, ICW, Mainship, Mainship 34T, Marinas, The Big Tuna, Trawler

Georgetown, SC. This historic, seaport town has become our favorite “long weekend getaway” destination. From our slip in Mount Pleasant to the Harborwalk Marina is a leisurely six hour cruise aboard Slow Dance. Recently, when making the supreme effort to get there before sunset, we made the trip in five hours, and were still respectful of all No Wake zones.

Georgetown is the County Seat of Georgetown County, also know as the Hammock Coast of South Carolina, thanks to its popular beach communities of Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawley’s Island, and Litchfield Beach. Though we typically stay at Harborwalk Marina, there are three others within walking distance of the historic downtown shopping and restaurant district. Currently, the marina is undergoing a welcomed expansion, but is definitely still open for business. For the 2017 Georgetown Wooden Boat Show we were docked on inside of their new face dock, and loved it. Of course it puts Slow Dance‘s 34-foot size into perspective when there’s a 75-foot Off Shore yacht on the other side of the dock!

Being creatures of habit, we stay at Harborwalk Marina because it is the closest to downtown. All of the marina’s slips are only a very short walk to land and marina facilities – which is important to any cruisers traveling with a crew that includes canines. Our “first mate,” Kate, gives Harborwalk “two paws up!”

On Front Street, which runs parallel to the town’s riverfront Harborwalk, there’s a good selection of restaurants from which to choose. Kate’s first choice has been The Big Tuna, thanks to it welcoming canine crew members. My “Admiral” has tried a myriad of their offerings, but seems to come back to their crab cake or grouper sandwich. My two favorites are their seared tuna, and when available, their awesome whole fried flounder. Have yet to have a meal without the house salad, with housemade ranch dressing. Prices are very reasonable!