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27-10-2010, 07:34
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St Augustine, FL
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 350
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St Augustine Inlet (Shoaling) Info
For folks who plan to use the St Augustine, FL inlet:
The south side of the channel has been shoaling for some time - very visible during favorable conditions. The following article describes in some detail what to avoid. In summary, it is recommended to hug the north side of the channel - not outside of the red buoys, however, as it is shallow there as well (!)
Sand squeezing inlet | StAugustine.com
Fair winds!
Sailndive
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27-10-2010, 07:40
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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Thanks for the heads up. We'll be coming in in December.
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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27-10-2010, 12:09
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Boat: Pacific Seacraft 31 - Cielo Azul
Posts: 360
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Very timely, I was hoping to jump out on Thursday, but now I'll just skip it and
continue south on the ICW.
Tom
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27-10-2010, 12:24
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St Augustine, FL
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teejayevans
Very timely, I was hoping to jump out on Thursday, but now I'll just skip it and
continue south on the ICW.
Tom
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Hello Tom,
The inlet is quite navigable - I didn't mean to suggest avoiding it. I use it several times a month w/o any issues. Some time ago, during very calm conditions, I captured a 'route' through it for use in times of poor visibility/rougher conditions and it has been extremely helpful as an additional reference... (Raymarine GPS captures a series of waypoints and shows them on the plotter - very helpful addition to all the other nav aids)
As long as you stay on the north side of the channel (red buoy line) you should be fine Layla draws 6' and -even at extreme low water - always had at least 10' under her keel.
Tidal current at the inlet (as in many FL/GA inlets) can be quite strong; if anything, the inadvertent drift with the current may have gotten folks in trouble with the sandbar...
Fair winds!
Sailndive
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27-10-2010, 12:46
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Boat: Pacific Seacraft 31 - Cielo Azul
Posts: 360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailndive345
Hello Tom,
The inlet is quite navigable - I didn't mean to suggest avoiding it. I use it several times a month w/o any issues...
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Yea, that's key, I've never used it, and being conservative, I won't be
this time. I'll wave to you as I pass through
Tom
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28-10-2010, 05:23
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailndive345
For folks who plan to use the St Augustine, FL inlet:
The south side of the channel has been shoaling for some time - very visible during favorable conditions. The following article describes in some detail what to avoid. In summary, it is recommended to hug the north side of the channel - not outside of the red buoys, however, as it is shallow there as well (!)
Sand squeezing inlet | StAugustine.com
Fair winds!
Sailndive
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Timely information. I suggest you also post the info at Cruiser's Net for the many Cruisers that use that site as a navigation reference.
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
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28-10-2010, 07:23
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St Augustine, FL
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by svHyLyte
Timely information. I suggest you also post the info at Cruiser's Net for the many Cruisers that use that site as a navigation reference.
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Just tried Cruiser's Net and it appears others have posted same/similar info there already. Thanks for the good advice!
Cheers!
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28-10-2010, 07:52
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX/Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: 1990 Macintosh 47, "Merlin"
Posts: 2,844
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Have a good friend who totaled his Hunter in the inlet a few months ago.
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29-10-2010, 12:57
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Boat: Pacific Seacraft 31 - Cielo Azul
Posts: 360
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I went by yesterday, jeez, it look like the Colorado river. There was breakers everywhere...conditions: wind was mild but there was 4 swells.
Tom
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29-10-2010, 13:24
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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St. Augustine is the location of one of my favorite stories- I had just become bareboat certified, and was taking out my first big boat on charter. My son (who is very excitable) gets on the bow and yells "A bird"
Yes, I know there are lots of birds in Tampa Bay.
"No Dad there is a bird in front of us!"
Well, OK he will probably move when we get closer...
"Dad there is a bird in front of the boat and he is STANDING IN THE WATER!!!"
Well now thats a problem...
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29-10-2010, 16:16
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St Augustine, FL
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teejayevans
I went by yesterday, jeez, it look like the Colorado river. There was breakers everywhere...conditions: wind was mild but there was 4 swells.
Tom
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Probably was ebb tide? It really looks worse than it is, really Glad to hear you've made it past and are continuing South - where are you headed?
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30-10-2010, 07:34
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Boat: Pacific Seacraft 31 - Cielo Azul
Posts: 360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailndive345
Probably was ebb tide? It really looks worse than it is, really Glad to hear you've made it past and are continuing South - where are you headed?
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To a singlehander in a 30ft sailboat, it looked like trouble with a capital T.
I think I'm headed for Stuart, will need to check it out first.
Tom
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13-03-2011, 08:54
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Fernandina Beach, FL
Boat: Island Packet 380 - Delta Blues
Posts: 353
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Re: St Augustine Inlet (Shoaling) Info
We went out the inlet this morning about an hour short of low tide. Never saw less than 14 feet on the sounder. TowBoat US advised to stay closer to the red buoys on the north side and stay in the channel until you approach the final sea buoy.
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13-03-2011, 09:07
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,086
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Re: St Augustine Inlet (Shoaling) Info
Quote:
Originally Posted by dennisjay
We went out the inlet this morning about an hour short of low tide. Never saw less than 14 feet on the sounder. TowBoat US advised to stay closer to the red buoys on the north side and stay in the channel until you approach the final sea buoy.
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Nice of you to update.
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13-03-2011, 09:24
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: On the boat - Carib, Chesapeake
Boat: 58 Taswell AS
Posts: 1,139
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Re: St Augustine Inlet (Shoaling) Info
St Augustine is an unstable inlet like other southern inlets. It used to be down by the lighthouse until a hurricane years ago produced the cut where it is now. A number of years ago, we were in a fleet of sailboats returning north in the ICW. We were waiting at the Bridge of Lions for an opening when a large sport fisher from New York barged roughly through our fleet to take first position at the bridge. The bridge opened and he was off in a cloud of smoke and large wake and headed straight out from the bridge - an onto the sandbar. We motored slowly by him heading out to the inlet wher the turn buoy was a few minutes later. For some reason none of us thought to call him on the radio to tell him to turn right before he hit the bar.
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