St. Augustine Local Knowledge, Please

[skipgundlach]

We're going to be arriving in St. Augustine late next week (10th-ish).

What's the controlling depth on the inlet?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and crew

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[YOGAO]

Skip,

Plenty of water in the inlet, just follow the markers which are moved "frequently" due to shifting sand. They currently (no pun intended) are closer to the south side of the inlet. Also, it is best not to come in at night or @ max current (especially ebb).

Fair Winds,
Mike

[skipgundlach]

thanks for the reply. We draw 7' - still ok?

L8R

Skip

[YOGAO]

7'? Absolutely no problem.

[Captain Bill]

Be careful when transiting the inlet area as there is a large shoal just WNW or marker 60. I've only been there a few times but it seems that a boat run aground is the usual marker on that shoal as opposed to the channel marker. If you are coming from the south don't mistake Marker 2 and 57A as ICW markers. You must stay to the east of marker 60 before heading at 57a to the north rather than heading at 57a when you round marker 2.

[onestepcsy37]

what captain bill says.

i went in yesterday and found the approach from the sea pretty easy. at the moment it's a straight run in from the sea bouy and well marked.

it can be a bit confusing once you cross the headland and get inside the inlet. you
can go left, right, or straight ahead.

going left will put you in salt run. there is a well protected anchorage there and also a first class marina/hotel/restaraunt called the conch house.

going right will send you north on the icw. and also put you in the direction of another first class marina - caloosa cove.

going straight will put you on course to anchor off st augustine, stop at the city marina, or continue south on the icw (where you will find a turnoff to starboard that will get you to several other marina/boat repair facilities.) you'll also get a first rate view of the fort.

the famous 'bridge of lions' which crosses the icw immediately in front of st augustine is being rebuilt; a temporary lift bridge lies just north it.

if you anchor in front of st augustine you have your choice of either north or south of the bridge. north is less crowded but more exposed to the current running in and out of the inlet. the city marina has dinghy docks, but they're a bit pricey; i think it's now ten dollars a day or fifty dollars a week or some such thing, but it does include a nice boaters lounge with showers and laundry as well as an interesting marine hardware store.

if you've never been there before, theres a place called 'sailors exchange' about a mile walk from the city marina which is basically a used boat parts junk shop. ask any local sailors where it is.

nice town to stop at.

[Fishspearit]

Skip, if you decide to anchor south of the Bridge of Lions be carefull around the red markers that are the east edge of the anchorage. The charts show 23' but there is a shoal that has around 3'. Watched several boats run aground on it.