18 June US inward clearance in Charleston

Entry into Charleston at dawn was easy with clear channel markers leading us into the anchorage off City Marina. With all three marinas full when we arrived we had to anchor in the river. There is plenty of room for twenty or more boats and we found a spot. The problem is not dropping your anchor, it's retrieving it from a foul bottom of sunken wrecks and an abandoned mooring field snags your anchor.

With anchor down we took the dinghy across to the dock office at City Marina. We had enquired about a slip and were told they were full. However, the staf couldn't have been more helpful giving us their phone to call Customs and Border Patrol to arrange our check in. The officer arrived from the airport within an hour, looked at Jackster at anchor in the river and said that was fine no need to come alongside. A really friendly and welcoming man, he checked our passports and visas and issued us the maximum six month visa.

We returned to the marina office to pay the $5 dinghy dock fee and received the happy news they had shuffled bookings and there was a space for us if we were 50' LOA. The lady ageed 15.8m is 48' so we were in. Hurrah! It was approaching slack high water so time to beat feet back to Jackster and prepare lines and fenders. The anchor came up clean.

City Marina spreads out along the river set beyond the shallow marshes and has space for 500 boats. If you're on the end it's a long walk to the office and shower block. Our spot was nicely central and our timing was good. Tonight there was complimentary happy hour for marina guests: beer, wine and snacks for a couple of hours under a tent on the dock. It was a really nice to meet people.

Next day I called the Customs office at the docks and arranged an appointment for a cruising permit. This time we go to them with our paperwork. Charleston turned out to be bike friendly city; the area is flat and cycling on the pavement / sidewalk is quite acceptable to stay safe. A twenty minute ride across town, an hour of filling in forms, $19 and we have a Cruising Permit License with a unique reference number. Each time we move to a new port we are obliged to phone the local CBP and report our arrival. Failure to do so could result in a large fine and a a phone call takes less than a minute.

Within 24 hours of arriving in the US of A we have validated visas, a cruising permit and a berth in the marina. Time to do some boat maintenance and (better for me) time to explore and shop.