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<p><strong>By Lolita Huckaby&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Real estate, especially waterfront real estate, is at a prime these days, and it’s not just potential homeowners who are feeling the pain.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The Beaufort Rowing Club, chartered in 2010 and registered with USRowing, lost their Battery Creek “home” earlier this year when rents for the private dock, under new ownership, went from $900 for the year to $800 per month.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“Needless to say, that was beyond the club’s financial capability so, … we’re looking for a new home,” Club President Carl Linke said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Since vacating the dock, club members have pursued different options for a location that will provide them access to the water, preferably water that is not too open to make rowing difficult.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>They’ve approached private homeowners associations which have community docks and local marinas but to no avail.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The 40 or so club members range between their 20s and their 80s in age, but all share a love for the water and the skill of rowing. The club also welcomes beginners who are willing to learn the skills of successful rowing.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“It’s been a double hit since we had to shut down for a year because of Covid, and now this,” Linke said. “It’s almost humorous that there’s ‘water, water everywhere’ but not a place to store your boats.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>In the meantime, while some members are keeping in shape with their own boats, the club’s four four-seat shells and three eight-seaters remain stored at a member’s home, waiting for a home.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>For more information about the club, visit beaufortrowingclub.org.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and former reporter/ editorial assistant/columnist with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today, Beaufort Today and The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.). She can be reached at bftbay@gmail.com.&nbsp;</p>
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