5 Reasons Savannah Is a Yachting Destination on the Rise

When it comes to cruising destinations in the United States, multiple time-honored areas come to mind. Increasingly, owners and crew are discovering cities that for years they’ve ventured past without realizing the treasures awaiting. One of the most charming Southern cities, Savannah is a prime example. Savannah is a yachting destination quietly but decidedly attracting more superyachts, worth putting on your must-visit list. Here are five reasons why.

On the National Register of Historic Places, the renowned Savannah Historic District contains the largely preserved pre-Civil War city footprint. Therefore, 18^th– and 19^th-century homes abound. So do cobblestone streets and dozens of parks (like the famous Forsyth Park, above), museums, and restaurants. The district runs along the Savannah River, itself steeped in maritime history. In fact, an American Revolution battle involved control over it. The port of Savannah was crucial to the United States’ early trade routes, too. Related, the port is one of the nation’s busiest, translating to deep channels and no bridge height restrictions for superyachts.

Just opened this month, IGY Savannah Harbor Marina is the first new marina in Savannah in hundreds of years. It features nearly 100 berths, including more than 1,100 linear feet (335 meters) of deep-water dockage for superyachts. It sits on Hutchinson Island, a stone’s throw across the river from the famed River Street within the Historic District. Equally important, the marina is only five miles from the Intracoastal Waterway. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is 25 minutes away, ideal for owners and guests flying in and out. IGY Savannah Harbor Marina offers high-speed fueling, shore power, and concierge services. In the coming years, the adjacent upland property will include a hotel, golf course, and more.

Savannah is a yachting destination additionally for its highly touted refit yards. Although South Florida’s yards have strong reputations as well, that often means they’re busy. A 24-run up the East Coast brings megayachts to Safe Harbor Savannah Yacht Center and Thunderbolt Marine. Savannah Yacht Center has a 459-foot-long (140-meter-long) graving dock (above) and slips for yachts to 400 feet (122 meters). Several contractors have on-site facilities, and shipyards are opening satellite offices here, too. Thunderbolt Marine’s paint booth (below), meanwhile, is among the highest-tech in the country—and so futuristic-looking that Hollywood filmmakers have requested using it as a set. Overall, the shipyard can service yachts approaching 200 feet (61 meters) with its in-house specialists and outside contractors. Furthermore, it’s in a quiet residential area, leading some owners to enjoy staying aboard in its marina.

Unquestionably, Savannah is a yachting destination for owners seeking original artwork. Graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) have become influential artists, and galleries abound in the city. Increasingly, the students are learning of opportunities in the superyacht sector. The founders and staff of Savannah-based Verge Yacht Design (below) are SCAD graduates—and collaborate with the school. The studio custom-designs furniture for yachts, creates full interior designs, and especially stands out for groundbreaking work developing sustainable materials.

While owners are responsible for choosing yachting destinations, captains and crew further have heavy influence. Simply put, if they’re bored by a location, chances are high the yacht will never return. Similarly, some seek a city where the owners and guests aren’t the only ones benefitting from peace and quiet. The captain of the yacht Blue Moon is among those who treasure the city. So, Savannah is a yachting destination as much for crew seeking something lower-key and calmer than South Florida. This isn’t to say activity lacks. Walking tours (especially ghost tours) are popular, for instance. The city has terrific bars and restaurants and a vibrant arts scene. It’s convenient for day trips to Georgia’s St. Simons Island plus Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Every city has a nickname, and Savannah’s, “Hostess City of the South,” certainly fits. It’s steadily earning yet another, “Yachting Destination of the South.”

IGY Savannah Harbor Marina igymarinas.com  

Safe Harbor Savannah Yacht Center shmarinas.com

Thunderbolt Marine thunderboltmarine.com

Verge Yacht Design vergeyachtdesign.com