Golf, Dolphins, Big Tides, and Family Adventures on the Great Loop
After a little break from podcasting, Chris and Deb Winnenberg are back aboard SeaDAN, catching everyone up on their latest stretch of the Great Loop from Hilton Head to Myrtle Beach. Their last update ended back on April 7th after arriving at Harbour Town Marina on Hilton Head Island, and this leg of the journey turned into one of those classic Looping chapters filled with family visits, unforgettable anchorages, golf, wildlife encounters, and a lot of laughter along the way.
Returning to Hilton Head by Boat
Hilton Head has always been a special place for Chris and Deb’s family. Growing up, family vacations often centered around Sea Pines Plantation, so arriving there aboard SeaDAN felt like a full-circle moment.
Staying at Harbour Town Marina during the RBC Heritage golf tournament made the stop even more memorable. The marina was alive with tournament energy, boats everywhere, and golf fans filling the waterfront.
The visit began with family time as cousins Kathy and Kevin visited the boat for happy hour before everyone headed to the famous Quarterdeck Restaurant overlooking the marina.
A Friendly Golf Rivalry
One highlight of the Hilton Head stop was golfing at Colleton River Golf Club with Kathy and Kevin. The foursome turned the round into a boys-versus-girls competition, and according to the official record, the girls won.
Naturally, Chris and Deb made sure the victory was permanently documented on the podcast.
The Hilton Head golf tour continued with rounds at Atlantic Dunes, Palmetto Dunes, and the Robert Trent Jones course near Shelter Cove. Atlantic Dunes turned into a battle against brutal coastal winds, with gusts strong enough to blow sand out of the bunkers and hats off golfers’ heads.
Still, that’s part of what makes golf on the South Carolina coast unforgettable.
Moving to Shelter Cove Marina
Because Harbour Town fills quickly during tournament week, SeaDAN relocated to Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, tucked into Broad Creek on the interior side of Hilton Head Island.
In many ways, Chris and Deb ended up liking Shelter Cove even more.
The marina included complimentary bicycles, and Hilton Head’s extensive shaded bike trails made it easy to explore restaurants, waterfront bars, shops, and neighborhoods without ever needing a car.
The move also led to one of the coolest wildlife moments of the trip.
An Incredible Dolphin Encounter
While exploring by dinghy with Deb’s brother Dan, the crew experienced their closest dolphin encounter yet.
One juvenile dolphin swam directly toward the dinghy before turning sideways and pacing the boat only a few feet away. It rolled slightly onto its side and appeared to look directly at everyone aboard as it cruised alongside SeaDAN’s dinghy.
No one thought to grab a phone because everyone was too busy enjoying the moment.
Sometimes the best memories never make it onto video.
Anchoring Off the RBC Heritage
Watching the RBC Heritage tournament from the water had always been a bucket-list experience for Chris and Deb.
This year, they finally made it happen.
Chris and Deb were joined by lifelong friends, Connie and Mike, who came to visit from Utah!
SeaDAN joined dozens of boats anchored offshore near the famous 18th hole while spectators used water taxis to travel back and forth between the boats and Harbour Town Marina.
It became one of those uniquely “Great Loop” experiences — arriving somewhere not just by land, but by water, and seeing an iconic destination from an entirely different perspective.
Learning About Carolina Tides
Before leaving Hilton Head, the crew got a firsthand education in South Carolina tides.
The full moon created tidal swings approaching ten feet, dramatically changing water levels at the marina each day. At times, the dock ramps became so steep that simply hauling groceries back to the boat became an adventure of its own.
Eventually, the timing worked out and SeaDAN departed on a rising tide toward Charleston.
Rough Water Crossing Toward Charleston
The cruise initially started peacefully across Port Royal Sound with calm conditions and sunshine.
That changed quickly.
As SeaDAN entered St. Helena Sound and the Coosaw River area, conditions deteriorated into three- and four-foot breaking seas with whitecaps and spray coming over the windshield.
For an hour, the boat rolled heavily as Chris and Deb pushed through the roughest conditions they had experienced in a while.
Once through the sound, the crew tucked into a quiet anchorage on the South Edisto River for the evening.
A Perfect Anchoring Night
After the rough crossing, the calm anchorage felt perfect.
With cool spring temperatures settling into the 60s overnight, Chris and Deb were able to sleep comfortably with open windows and fans instead of running the generator for air conditioning.
The peaceful anchorage became one of those reminders of why they love life aboard SeaDAN.
Arriving in Charleston
SeaDAN eventually arrived at the famous Safe Harbor Charleston City Marina, home of the massive MegaDock.
The marina itself felt like a destination, surrounded by enormous yachts, giant pilings, strong tidal currents, and nonstop activity along the Ashley River.
One mega yacht even carried a Mini Cooper onboard using a crane system.
Only in Charleston.
Exploring the Historic City
After briefly flying home to Cincinnati for some house-related projects, Chris and Deb returned to Charleston and spent several rainy but enjoyable days exploring the city.
They visited:
- Charleston City Market
- Historic downtown Charleston
- The haunted horse-drawn carriage tour
- Waterfront restaurants and bars
- Marina happy hours with fellow boaters
Although Charleston felt more modern and spread out compared to Savannah, it slowly grew on them throughout the stay.
Touring the USS Yorktown
One of the biggest highlights in Charleston was visiting Patriots Point and touring the USS Yorktown.
Chris and Deb joined a captain’s tour led by an 89-year-old guide who navigated the ship’s ladders and passageways with incredible energy while sharing stories from his naval career.
The entire Patriots Point complex — including the USS Laffey destroyer and Vietnam Experience — turned out to be far more immersive and fascinating than expected.
Heading Toward Myrtle Beach
Leaving Charleston meant continuing north toward Myrtle Beach with a planned overnight anchorage near Georgetown.
The first stop was the South Santee River where SeaDAN shared an anchorage with fellow Loopers aboard Ella J and Sweet Surrender.
For the first time, Chris and Deb were welcomed into an anchorage over the radio by neighboring boaters.
That simple conversation instantly made the anchorage feel like a floating neighborhood.
Cruising the Waccamaw River
After passing Georgetown and fueling at Wacca Wache Marina, SeaDAN entered one of the most scenic stretches of the entire Loop so far: the Waccamaw River.
The river twisted through dense forests and cypress-lined banks that felt almost jungle-like.
Chris described it as cruising down a golf fairway made entirely of water.
The peaceful overnight anchorage in the Waccamaw Oxbow became another favorite stop of the trip.
Arriving in Myrtle Beach
SeaDAN’s first Myrtle Beach stop was Grande Dunes Marina where Chris and Deb were joined by Deb’s brother Don and sister-in-law Patty for their first overnight stay aboard the boat.
The week quickly filled with:
- Beach days
- Barefoot Landing
- Bar hopping
- Golf stories
- Card games
- Family dinners
- Plenty of laughs
According to Chris and Deb, Patty may have also set the all-time high score record during a game of Five Crowns.
The Myrtle Beach Classic
Mother’s Day included a trip to the Myrtle Beach Classic golf tournament where the group watched players finish on the 18th green from public bleachers.
The tournament atmosphere, beautiful weather, and easy access made for another memorable golf experience along the Loop.
Through the Rock Pile to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
As weather moved into the area, Chris and Deb decided to relocate SeaDAN early to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little River.
That cruise included passage through the famous “Rock Pile,” one of the more talked-about sections of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Fortunately, the transit turned out to be straightforward by simply staying centered in the marked channel.
Along the way, SeaDAN also passed Barefoot Landing from the water and navigated the Captain Archie Neil “Poo” McLauchlin Swing Bridge after a brief delay caused by radio issues with the bridge tender.
Eventually, SeaDAN settled into Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, complete with a pool, waterfront restaurants, and easy access to local attractions.
Family Time Aboard SeaDAN
The best part of Myrtle Beach, though, wasn’t the marina or the golf.
It was family.
Nick, Rami, and Leon arrived to spend a week aboard SeaDAN, turning the marina into a floating family vacation.
The group explored Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, the beach itself, and multiple putt-putt courses.
Leon especially became obsessed with mini golf.
PopStroke Myrtle Beach
One standout attraction was PopStroke, the Tiger Woods-backed putting complex at Broadway at the Beach.
With two full putting courses, food and drink service directly on the course, restaurants, playgrounds, and family-friendly entertainment, it quickly became a favorite stop for everyone.
Next Stop: The Chesapeake
With family visits winding down, Chris and Deb are now preparing to push farther north toward Norfolk and the Chesapeake Bay.
The plan is to move steadily through the next stretch before slowing down again to fully enjoy everything waiting farther north.
And if this leg of the trip proved anything, it’s that the best parts of the Great Loop continue to be the unexpected moments:
The dolphins beside the dinghy.
The strangers welcoming you into an anchorage.
The rough crossings that make calm nights sweeter.
And the family and friends memories made aboard SeaDAN along the way.
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