Category: News

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – A world map hangs in the common room of the Yacht Club at Brunswick Landing Marina, riddled with pens covering Europe, the U.S., Australia, South America and more.

Each pin represents where boats that have docked there originated. The variety is astonishing to the uneducated.

To the educated, however, which includes the group of boaters, or cruisers, gathered at the Yacht Club on a recent Wednesday, it is no surprise the downtown Brunswick marina has been attracting people to the Golden Isles for decades.

The Wednesday happy hour gatherings — they happen a few times each week in fact — are a tradition at Brunswick Landing Marina and over the years have built an international community that convenes regularly in downtown Brunswick.

Normand and Sylvie Beaupre of Montreal sat recently with new friends made since their stay began in November and enjoyed appetizers, wine and plenty of laughs as they overlooked the East River as the sun set over the western horizon.

“We go downtown. We eat at some of the restaurants,” said Sylvie Beaupre with her noticeable French Canadian accent. “We go to the farmer’s market. Bike to Winn-Dixie. There are so many benefits here.”

It is the Beaupres’ first stay at Brunswick Landing but won’t likely be their last. They had originally planned to make it all the way to the Florida Keys in their 36-foot sailboat, La Vagabonde, but Hurricane Ian derailed those plans.

Having no prior knowledge of the safe haven that is Brunswick Landing Marina — it’s a hurricane hole where boaters keep their vessels to protect them from storms — the Beaupres got a slip and decided this would be their home until April.

“There are people who don’t stop here because they go to Fernandina Beach,” Sylvie said. “Now I sent messages to people waiting to get in somewhere down there and said, ‘Stop here.’”

She and Normand said they sent the same messages to people they know who will be heading back north from the Bahamas soon.

“There are so many benefits here,” Normand Beaupre said.

They had their vessel’s zinc redone to be properly prepared for the saltwater. They found a seamstress downtown who repaired some zippers on some of their equipment. They discovered restaurants and shops like St. Vincent De Paul thrift shop where Normand bought a brand new pair of New Balance shoes at a steep discount.

At the docks, they said features like free internet, grills available for cookouts, the Yacht Club and the community atmosphere make staying in Brunswick an experience unlike any other.

“At a lot of places, they just want your boat and your money. They don’t want you to stay there,” Normand Beaupre said. “Here, they want you.”

And the people they have met have been great too, they said.

On this Wednesday other people from Canada, a couple from England and folks from all over the United States, including Maine and Arkansas, were gathered for some fun and fellowship. At any given time, you can meet people from Italy, Australia or South America. You name it, there’s a good chance someone from there has visited Brunswick via Brunswick Landing Marina.

Stephen Luta, who lived the last 35 years in Florida, said he’s found a new favorite place. His boat was lost in a hurricane last year. When he and his wife bought a new one at the beginning of 2023, they came here to pick it up. They haven’t left.

“We were supposed to cruise to the Chesapeake Bay,” Luta said. “I said, “Let’s just stay here.’”

Luta has helped the Beaupres, who only have electric bikes for transportation, with rides in his car to get larger items they need. Others have taken them to Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island for visits.

“In 50 years of boating, there’s nothing like this,” Stephen Luta said.

Sally Keller and her husband Robert agree. They currently reside in North Carolina but have lived all over after growing up in Wisconsin.

“This town is amazing,” Sally Keller said. “It’s the perfect size. It’s got a little bit of everything.”

On First Fridays, Luta said people staying on their boats walk to downtown Brunswick and enjoy the festivities. He said marina owner Michael Torras practically makes it mandatory.

He and the Beaupres sang Torras’ praises for taking good care of everyone who stays there.

“He actually calls you back and talks to you directly,” Normand Beaupre said. “He has made this a great time.”

Listening to the praises sung by the guests at Brunswick Landing Marina, it’s no wonder it continues to expand and continues to bring in accolades. It was recently named the Best Large Marina by Marina Life Magazine, which just adds to a long list of awards it has garnered over the years.

Future plans include expansions to many facilities, improvements to docks and a mooring ball field to allow more boaters to experience Brunswick and the Golden Isles.

As for the Beaupres, they are already making plans to return.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – The iconic Maine tall ship Schooner Harvey Gamage returned to Brunswick, Georgia today with complimentary dockage offered by Brunswick Landing Marina.

The Gamage (pronounced Gah Mudj) is the most successful high school sail training vessel in US history with 49 years of service as an educational vessel. She is 131 feet long overall and has 33 overnight bunks. She carries a crew of 9 plus 24 students

While in Brunswick this week, the ship will be open for public tours on Saturday, Dec. 3 from Noon to 5, and for visits by invitation at other times.

The iconic nautical science training ship will host high school teachers, principals, and guidance counselors on Friday afternoon to learn about plans for Brunswick-area high school students to sail next year.

Customers from Brunswick Landing Marina are invited to tour the ship Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5:30.

Captain Kevin Jumbeck, Chief Mate Kelly Percy and their crew will welcome visitors interested in youth education at sea and marine workforce development as well as families.

“We are delighted that we are able to help programs like the Harvey Gamage that are dedicated to improving the education and lives of children in our area,” said Michael Torras, Marina Manager at Brunswick Landing Marina.

In December of 2023 –one year from now–Gamage plans to take 24 Glynn County students out to sea for a week where they will receive academically-accredited nautical science training. The week following this at sea sail program, students interested in Marine Trades careers will live on board dockside and receive an intensive introduction to marine trades career opportunities meeting marine employers and learning basic trade skills including electrical, engine and marine systems.

Educators interested in introducing their students should plan to visit the Gamage this week or contact the Gamage office at [email protected] or call 207-450-5363.

For media inquiries, call Alex Agnew at Sailing Ships Maine at 207-450-5363 or Michael Torras at (912) 324-7415.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Brunswick Landing Marina has been named the Best Large Marina by Marina Life Magazine in the publication’s annual contest.

The downtown-Brunswick-based marina was chosen by readers of Marina Life for the prestigious award out of thousands of competitors in its annual Best Marina Contest. Marina Life is a leading boating publication created to allow the boating community to fully embrace life on the water.

“Considering how many great marinas there are in desirable locations, I couldn’t be prouder that we received this recognition,” said Daren Pietsch, president of Brunswick Landing Marina. “All credit goes to our highly committed team along with the supportive community of boaters and Brunswick businesses that share in our constant efforts to improve.”

Brunswick Landing Marina boasts more than 445 dry and wet slips and offers marine services performed by highly skilled technicians. The property is ideal for all seasons and was once used by the U.S. Navy as a hurricane hole because the marina is protected on three sides by land, offering a haven for boaters from storms.

The marina also offers year-round service at its boatyard, features a dog park for guests, hosts daily social events at its Yacht Club, provides a complimentary propane grill on every dock, and offers free bike rentals, laundry machines and other amenities to make life easier for boaters. Customers of Brunswick Landing agree.

“Brunswick Landing Marina is a great hurricane hole, with super amenities and a very social atmosphere,” said Gary Kreiger, who has docked at the marina.

There are several new additions recently added or on the horizon for Brunswick Landing Marina, said Michael Torras, marina manager. Recent renovations and professional personnel changes have improved operations at the Boat Yard. There are plans for an additional 540 linear feet of leasable dock space including slips to accommodate larger vessels. The Dock Office and Ship Store is set for expansion which will create space for an expanded store as well as a new, secure mailroom for the marina’s guests. The northernmost bathhouse will be expanded to offer more showers and restroom facilities with work scheduled to begin December 1, 2022. Additionally, a mooring ball field is in the works to create even more space for vessels to take advantage of the offerings at Brunswick Landing Marina.

“We are always thinking of new ways to make life better for our guests while at Brunswick Landing Marina,” Torras said. “Whether that is through upgrading our services, facilities or our programs, we have a great time serving our boaters.”

The current and future amenities at Brunswick Landing Marina attract customers from around the world, many of whom come back for multiple visits.

“The staff are amazingly attentive to the needs of boaters and the facility has nice floating docks, free laundry, happy hours, very clean grounds, and a live aboard community that rocks,” said Ray Hendricks after a recent stay. “We’ll definitely be back.”

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Historically, the Golden Isles has always attracted seasonal boaters who benefit from the geography which makes it a boater’s hurricane hole. This allows many to benefit from the reduced boat insurance premiums by crossing over the Georgia/Florida line. Over the last 20 years, local marinas have increased their offerings to these “cruisers,” who often bring their boats up for 6 months of the year, and other transient travelers who are looking to enjoy the Southern hospitality of the Golden Isles. Many of these boaters inevitably stay longer than they initially planned and start to call the Golden Isles home.

When Bob Torras, Sr. first shared his vision to have a marina in downtown Brunswick, he was met with across-the-board skepticism. People asked why someone would keep their boat in Brunswick when there were perfectly fine marinas available on the islands. Despite the headwinds, Mr. Torras was determined to see his dream come true. That was 30 years ago. Today Brunswick Landing Marina is the largest saltwater marina in the state of Georgia with nearly 400 boats in the water alone. Thousands of people come through the marina each year, venturing out into the downtown and surrounding areas and contributing a great deal to the local economy. “While the marina has fully built out its nearly one-mile of waterfront,” says Marina Manager Michael Torras, “there are still 25 acres between the marina and downtown Brunswick that we also own and intend to develop. This is where our next big expansion project will begin.”

Across the causeway, in June 2020, Morningstar Marina/Golden Isles, completed a $6 million rebuild resulted in the facility being named “Marina of the Year for Building and Growth” by Marina Dock Age magazine The project included a state-of-the-art coastal aluminum dock system with a Brazilian hardwood decking known as Ipe, new transient dock with 36 concrete piles that are 70’ long and weigh 20,000 lbs. each, new electrical system and power centers, dockside pump-out at every slip, new fuel system, dock office etc. Morningstar Marinas continues to enhance the property having recently rebuilt the main boardwalk and outdoor pavilion. Additional improvements are planned for late 2022 into 2023.

This investment in boating infrastructure has been coupled with an increase in opportunities for boating over the last 20 years for locals, tourists, and visitors. A prime example is the Spirit of St Simons, the only certified sailing vessel in the State of Georgia authorized to carry up to 24 passengers. The boat was designed for the day charter trade, and was homebuilt and first splashed by owner Charles Elkins in 2014. It’s perfect for a relaxing sunset sail with a group of friends. Local fishing charters have also seen an increase in business and are heavily invested in the future of fishing and the island’s surrounding waterways.

Whether you choose to enjoy the waters by pontoon, sailboat, fishing charter, speedboat, or luxury yacht, boating in the Golden Isles offers many opportunities for memorable experiences. Come aboard and cast off for your own adventure.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – A donation this week is expected to bring joy to local students after the start of the new year.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – There’s nothing like a day trip to a nearby location to change your perspective. Let’s say you live in the Golden Isles and frequent downtown Brunswick on the regular to conduct business, but haven’t paid much attention to the great dining, shopping, cultural and recreational resources that make up the downtown area. May we suggest hopping in your boat and making your way to the docks at Brunswick Landing Marina, or simply jumping in your car and heading to downtown Brunswick? There’s a lot to see and do.

The port city of Brunswick was chartered 250 years ago, but its long history began well before then. The flags of five nations have flown over the seaside idyll. Michael Torras, owner of Brunswick Landing Marina, has those five flags flying at the marina.

“Our area has been called the Land of Five Flags because of the different flags that have been flown here,” he said. “The flag of Spain was first raised over Georgia in 1526, when Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón arrived with 600 Spanish colonists to found the ill-fated settlement of San Miguel de Gualdape.”

Then, from 1562-1564, the French flag flew over the Golden Isles, as Jean Ribault, seeking a haven for French Huguenots, explored the Georgia Coast and built fortifications. In 1565, Spanish troops expelled the French and ruled until the early 1700s.

“In 1736, General James Edward Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica, the most expensive fort in the American colonies, on St. Simons Island,” said Torras. “The flag of Great Britain flew here, signifying an era of British dominance that lasted until the American Revolution in 1776 when our first national flag – with 13 stars and 13 stripes – was flown.”

The American flag was lowered in 1861, when Georgia, and other Southern states, seceded from the Union at the onset of the American Civil War.

“The ‘Stars and Bars,’ – the flag of the Confederate States of America, flew over the area until early 1862, when Union forces occupied the Georgia Coast,” Torras explained.

Following the end of the American Civil War in 1865, a series of American flags, changing as the nation grew and added a new star for each new state, have flown. The city was laid out in a grid, just like Savannah, but on a smaller scale. The downtown area is eminently walkable and ideal for riding bicycles too. Streets and squares still bear strong references to Great Britain – with Newcastle and Gloucester streets being the two main thoroughfares in downtown.

The picturesque city, with its old English names like Dartmouth, Albemarle and Norwich reflected on its street signs, its tree-lined residential areas, abundance of Victorian architecture to be found both in the downtown commercial and adjacent residential areas, and just a few blocks away are the busy waterfront docks where shrimpers and fishermen bring their catches every day. We have gathered 12 of the best stops in Brunswick for you to take in on your day trip. Enjoy.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Brunswick Landing Marina has been recognized as a 2020 Travelers’ Choice award-winner for Best of the Best by TripAdvisor. Based on a full year of TripAdvisor reviews, award winners in this exclusive category have consistently received great traveler feedback, placing them in the top 10% of hospitality businesses around the globe.

“Winners of the 2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards should be proud of this distinguished recognition,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at TripAdvisor. “Although it has been a challenging year for travel and hospitality, we want to celebrate our partners’ achievements. Award winners are beloved for their exceptional service and quality.”

Brunswick Landing Marina president Daren Pietsch commented, “We are truly excited to receive this top award from TripAdvisor. For over 30 years now, the Torras family and the marina employees have worked to create a marina community where boaters from all over the world feel welcome, safe, and appreciated. This award confirms we are on the right track, but we will keep striving to make the marina and boatyard even better.”

Brunswick Landing Marina is nearing completion of its latest expansion involving a new dock with 15 slips, including a 240′ face dock with 100-amp 3-phase power that is able to accommodate mega yachts. The marina will now officially have 345 wet slips with the new dock. This robust, southernmost dock will also serve to protect the rest of the marina on the only open-water side.

Most marinas we have been to over the past three and a half years are basically large parking lots for boats where you unfortunately only know your fellow dock mates,” according to Tim McNair, a longtime repeat customer of the marina. “Brunswick Landing Marina makes it a point to host social events and encourages boat owners to get off their boats and make friends in their Yacht Club. We frequently meet boaters in our travels that we met at Brunswick Landing who are now lifelong friends. This is a large marina with 17 docks spanning almost a mile of riverfront, but it still feels like a tight-knit community of friends where nearly everyone knows and offers to help everyone else. Even during these crazy times with COVID, Brunswick Landing Marina has worked hard to keep us healthy but still bring us together in safe ways that inspire a sense of camaraderie you cannot find anywhere else.”

“I am very proud to work with such a great team. Our efforts, along with our location in beautiful historic downtown Brunswick, make the marina a truly magical place. We are grateful to receive this recognition from TripAdvisor and the travelers who shared their experiences with us,” said R. Michael Torras, Marina Manager.

About Brunswick Landing Marina, Inc. Brunswick Landing Marina is a full-service marina located in the heart of downtown Brunswick, GA which includes 345 wet slips and 100 dry slips for storage and maintenance of vessels in their service yard. The marina is in an area formerly used by the US Navy as a hurricane hole which provides vessels with protection from wind and waves on three sides by land. Construction was completed on a new dock this past year that provides protection on the only vulnerable side which will also function as a wave attenuator. Brunswick Landing Marina prides itself on being much more than a marina, it is a social destination where yachters and sailors alike can enjoy each other’s company at numerous events held throughout the year.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Construction of the 17th dock at Brunswick Landing Marina will offer residents and guests additional shelter from wind and rough seas.

The new floating concrete dock is being built just south of the southernmost dock at the marina. The dock’s five fingers will accommodate more mariners desiring in-the-water boat storage.

More importantly, the estimated 265-foot long, 10-foot-wide, dock is being built to perform as a wave attenuator, serving as a breakwater against wave action. The dock will accentuate the marina’s geographical advantages, making it one of if not the safest haven on the East Coast during hurricane season.

Surrounded by land on three sides, Brunswick Landing Marina already ranks as perhaps the most protected marina on the Atlantic Coast and boasts a thriving liveaboard community and bustling transient boating business. Brunswick Landing Marina is located just off the Intracoastal Waterway midway between Savannah, GA and Jacksonville, FL and is the westernmost marina on the east coast, which affords an 80-mile buffer between the boats docked there and the typical hurricane path along the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. With a well-deserved reputation as a “hurricane hole,” Brunswick Landing Marina for decades was classified by the U.S. Navy as a haven for its ships encountering Atlantic hurricanes.

Already the largest in-the-water marina on the coast of Georgia Brunswick Landing Marina will add dockage space for an additional 10 boats with the construction of the new floating dock, bringing capacity to over 350 wet slips. The expansion is the latest in the marina’s storied history that began when Rosendo Torras and his fleet of sailing vessels dropped anchor here in the 1880s seeking refuge from a hurricane. Rosendo’s grandson Robert M. Torras, Sr., and great-grandson, Robert M. Torras, Jr., spent over 10 years securing permits and preparing the property before starting construction of the marina, adjacent to the Rosendo Torras Wharf location, turning it into a successful business that has thrived for more than 25 years. Today, under the watchful eye of Rosendo’s great-great-grandson, Michael Torras, the marina continues to grow and flourish.