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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.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA –

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA –

The Tall Ship Lynx, a 122-foot ship will come under the Sidney Lanier Bridge with full sails and will then head into the East River in Brunswick, perform a gun salute, and make her way to Brunswick Landing Marina,where she will berth through December 10.

The boat will be open to the public for free deck tours and scheduled public sailing. Hosted by Brunswick Landing Marina and organized by the St. Marys Tall Ship Alliance. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive on December 1, however inclement weather & rough seas has delayed her departure from Beaufort, and she is currently not expected to arrive until Wednesday, December 5 or Thursday, December 6.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – From a boater’s perspective, the decision of where to stop often depends on whether there’s a good marina. Brunswick Landing Marina and the town of Brunswick, GA, offer so much that many travelers use it as a regular break in their journeys. The marina has many useful amenities, and the town offers main street shopping, many dining options, sightseeing and history, plus business and industry; it’s a thriving community with plenty for any boater or traveler to appreciate. The marina alone makes it worth visiting this town.

BRUNSWICK LANDING MARINA AMENITIES:

1. A sheltered waterfront: Known for its protected location, Brunswick Landing Marina touts itself as a hurricane hole. The configuration provides minimal traffic along the outer sides of the marina. There is deep water, easy access, and cement floating docks.

2. Neighborly hospitality: The management of this medium-sized marina fosters a welcoming sense of community with nightly happy hours that include beer and wine. People from all over the marina (liveaboard folks, and long- and short-term visitors) bring a small dish of hors d’oeuvres, and the marina provides the drinks.

3. Free laundry: Usually boaters hoard quarters to be able to do laundry when we pull into a marina. At two or three dollars a load, costs add up. The free laundry at Brunswick Landing is an opportunity to wash everything on the boat. All those items that don’t get washed often, get washed at Brunswick.

4. Services at your slip: The marina also offers fuel, freshwater, and pumpout from your slip on the transient dock. When you arrive, simply pull into your slip, and they’ll bring all the services to your boat.

5. Getting around town: Bikes are available for all slip holders to use for free. They’re a great way to explore this bustling and historic water town, which oozes with history.

THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK:

6. Getting places: Exploring town from a bike or on foot is doable here. The “main street,” an easy walk from the marina, has the traditional main street look and feel, with a wide variety of shops and restaurants. An easy bike ride through town offers practical shopping, for groceries or marine supplies. Boutique shopping is also available. Across from the marina is a lovely little coffee shop, and within a few blocks on either side of the main street, the other eateries range from Thai and sushi to burgers with live music.

7. Sightseeing, attractions, and history: On a residential street down at the end of town, right on a median island, is a giant old tree they call Lovers Oak, which is reported to be 600 years old. Well manicured and beautiful park squares are all over town, laid out as part of the original charter in 1771. Many of them have signs that tell about the history of the area. Brunswick stew was first made here, and the community is so proud of that heritage that it has commemorated the occasion of the first stew by placing the pot on a pedestal in the town’s waterfront park.

8. Medical needs: The Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus has facilities designed to serve a large regional population with a wide range of services.

9. Business beyond tourism: Commerce and industry remain a significant economic engine in Brunswick and the surrounding area. Many historic towns are forced to rely on tourism as their primary business, but Brunswick has commerce beyond the tourist activity. A manufacturing innovations company, gypsum plant, seafood packing facility, and IT company are all right there in town, and plenty more businesses are situated just a bit further afield. The town even boasts a university.

10. Location, location, location: Brunswick has a great location and surrounding area. It’s positioned on the southeast coast of Georgia near some desirable destinations. The islands all around this area boast resorts, golf, national monuments, beach and seashore access, and a lighthouse with its museum.

For boaters traveling the ICW or exploring Georgia’s Sea Islands, the town of Brunswick and Brunswick Landing Marina are a prime location for so many reasons. They seem to cover all of traveling boater’s needs. For more information, click to https://www.proptalk.com/10-reasons-dock-brunswick-georgia-icw.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Hurricane Irma was a historic storm of epic proportions with measured winds over 200-mph and storm surge over 18-ft. We are grateful to report that Brunswick Landing Marina sustained zero damage resulting from the storm. The area where the marina’s docks are located has for decades been called a hurricane hole marina because the land mass surrounding it on three sides protects the docks and customers’ boats from hurricanes. This unique geographic quality is why during a hurricane, like Irma, everyone of the 341 slips at the marina are occupied.

There was only one customer boat that reported any damage and that was a head sail that was not properly secured. Unfortunately, one of the marina’s service boats was damaged. The day before the hurricane was to make landfall, the boat was launched and sent to a neighboring marina to assist in the removal of damaged concrete floats they were worried may break loose during Hurricane Irma. While our boat was away, we had a customer arrive at the marina with that was taking on water. The boatyard was full leaving no jack stands available for this new arrival. The customer’s boat was lifted and subsequently left in the travel lift slings to ride out the storm. However, this resulted in our service boat being left in the water at one of our out-of-service docks. Because of this, our service boat ended up being sunk by the unsecured service dock during the hurricane. The boat was immediately raised and fitted into the marina’s maintenance yard so that the engines could be flushed and to allow repairs to commence. The boat has subsequently been relaunched.

On Sunday, September 10, 2017, as Hurricane Irma traveled north, the marina felt sustained winds of 30-mph with gusts up to 50-mph. On Monday morning, September 11, as the hurricane drew closer to Brunswick, GA, the marina had sustained winds of 50-mph with gusts up to 70-mph and heavy rains. The peak of the storm surge came during the Monday afternoon 1:15 PM high tide. Even though we had a 6-ft storm surge coupled with a near-neap tide of 8.2-ft, the marina’s floating docks all held strong and had plenty of concrete pile remaining above the water settling any fears of the docks floating off of the piles.

Interestingly, during the storm 90% of the marina never lost power. The marina’s yacht club was left open to allow customers a place to relax while the storm passed. Since the Yacht Club is equipped with DirecTV, and never lost power, our customers were able to stay tuned to the approaching storm and even be entertained during the storm.

Comcast suffered off-sire damages to their utilities which resulted in the marina’s WiFi and telephones to both be temporarily out of service. We are working with Comcast to get these services back up and running as soon as possible.

We are here to serve the boating community both in good and bad times. We sympathize for the marinas on the southeast coast that have been severely damaged by this hurricane. We are glad that many of their boaters found refuge with us. We hope that these boaters will enjoy downtown Brunswick and their stay with us. Please consider making this marina your home port and if not, come back to see us soon under happier circumstances. We are grateful for your business.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA – Robert M. Torras Sr. is standing by his assertion that plans to expand the Glynn County Detention Center will hurt his marina business.But in a seeming contradiction, Torras fights the expansion on the east side of Newcastle Street while he adds more dock space to his sprawling Brunswick Landing Marina across the street.

The demand for dockage at the sheltered marina on Academy Creek in downtown Brunswick remains strong even in the midst of a nationwide economic slump and concerns that the jail expansion will lower property values in the area.”We’re adding 56 new slips,” Torras said, “and more than half of them are reserved already.”The new slips are situated along a 1,250-foot dock that stretches from the northern end of the marina to Torras’ boat yard on Newcastle Street Extension. Twenty-eight “fingers” extend from the dock, each capable of accommodating two 50-foot boats.The marina is the largest saltwater marina in the state, and the new slips will raise capacity to 317 slips.With the expansion, however, Torras has run out of water.”That’s it,” Torras said. “We’re done.”

The marina opened in 1996 after a 10-year permitting process. Torras and Robert Torras Jr. have expanded it slowly, adding additional dockage only as the marina reached full capacity.Boaters like the marina because it is located well away from the ocean, Torras Sr. said. It has developed a reputation as a “hurricane hole,” providing sheltered harbor for the pricey yachts forced north by the insurance industry.”I’ve been told that boats docked south of here are not insurable because of the hurricane problem,” Torras said.About 70 percent of the boats docked at the marina are owned by out-of-towners, Torras said. They base their boats here but take them on long trips into Florida and the Caribbean.

With no more room to expand, Torras will concentrate on the adjacent 24 acres he owns. That property already has been adversely affected by the jail plans, he said.An Ann Arbor, Mich., developer had been working on a plan to build a $160 million, 380-unit condominium complex on the property. But then the jail plans were announced.”The developer now wants to talk about a revised plan,” Torras said. “He believes the expanded jail complex would present a security risk that he would have to overcome to develop the property.”Torras, however, continues to fight the proposed jail expansion. The county used eminent domain to force Torras to sell it two parcels of land he owns on the site of the jail expansion. He asked a judge to reverse the county’s actions but lost. He has appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court.The boaters have boosted downtown businesses by patronizing downtown shops and restaurants that are within walking distance.

The marina also is nice to look at, said Torras Jr., who manages it and the boat yard.”I sit on our dock and look at the sunset and it’s as beautiful as any place I’ve ever seen,” he said.Brunswick Mayor Bryan Thompson calls Torras Sr. a shrewd businessman with a unique and seemingly prescient ability to make business decisions that will stand the test of time.”He’s always thought long-range with all his planning,” Thompson said. “He has systematically come in and expanded his business to keep pace with the market.”And Torras has an ally in the city.”The city has been consistent from the very beginning of this,” Thompson said. “We are not in favor of the jail expansion on that site.”