<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WF-Sandbar.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2123" title="WF-Sandbar" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WF-Sandbar-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>An unofficial Water Festival venue is located within view of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park every year. Those fortunate to have boats or friends with a boat, anchor at the Beaufort River sandbar and take pleasure in, well, all sorts of fun!<!--more-->

Flotillas of center consoles, pontoons, bateaus and even kayaks tie up to one another, and Beaufortonians of all ages hop from boat to boat until the sandbar comes out of hiding from the ebbing tide. And the first weekend looks to be a good one for those eager to walk in the pluff mud and sand surrounding the infamous bar, home to many Water Festival memories.

Low tide on Saturday, July 16 is at 4:39 pm in the Beaufort River, which will allow boaters good sandbar time between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Low tide on Sunday, July 17 is at 5:22 p.m.

<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WF-Sandbar2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2124" title="WF-Sandbar2" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WF-Sandbar2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Be sure to wear ample sunscreen and make sure your boat is equipped with all safety equipment required by the State of South Carolina. Most of all, be safe on the river and have fun!

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<h3>South Carolina required equipment checklist</h3>
All boats are required by state law to have the following equipment on board:

• Boater safety certificaiton card

• Certificate of number on board

• Validation decals displayed

• Personal floatation devices, one per person. Those under 12 years must always wear one.

• Type B-1 fire extinguisher

• Horn, whistle or bell

• Daytime visual distress signals

• Nighttime visual distress signals

• If boating on coastal waters between sunset and sunrise, navigation lights are required.