St. Augustine, FL to Charleston, SC

[Opsin150]

Looking for the most convenient route, but also the most expeditious for a 15m cruiser (ICW Mast-capable) but am open to deep water.

What are your overnight recommendations? Best ports heading north, moorings? Hey, throw it at me!

You guys are the best! Arrrrg, Cheers All!

[Pandor]

Most convenient and most efficient happens to be a straight line from jetty to jetty. It should be 199 NM so only a day and a half or so. This offshore route is so direct compared to the ICW it is the only way that makes any sense if time is important.

[gonesail]

the ICW is a nightmare from GA to SC. not for the faint of heart.

[Pandor]

And if you plot the direct offshore route, you’ll see it isn’t possible to stop in anywhere along the way due to the shape of the coast.

[OutOfControl]

Originally Posted by Pandor

And if you plot the direct offshore route, you’ll see it isn’t possible to stop in anywhere along the way due to the shape of the coast.

You can always hug the coast and jump in at Brunswick if needed.

[sailingunity]

We did the reverse trip offshore but stopped in Jacksonville instead. Straight line offshore avoids all the issues with GA (depth). Took us 27 hours.

[Opsin150]

Originally Posted by Pandor

Most convenient and most efficient happens to be a straight line from jetty to jetty. It should be 199 NM so only a day and a half or so. This offshore route is so direct compared to the ICW it is the only way that makes any sense if time is important.

Cheers All, as I consider the time, definitely straight line shot! Running a shoal draft of 5'4" so GA... not gonna hit lovely Brunswick this time...Next question: Mooring if I don't want to sail straight through the night? My call I suppose.

[Cheyne]

We have gone inside and out. On the outside we normall go from St. A to Fernandina Beach. Then on the outide up to the Doboy Sound entrance and anchor on the Duplin River just past the ferry boat docks. The next day we go outside to the Calibouge Sound entrance and anchor just north of Daufuskie Island. The third day we go into the North Edisto River and anchor on Adams Creek. The final day we have run to Charleston. This is 4 days. When we can we just overnight the run from St. A to Charleston since it only takes a single overnight.

Cheyne

[derfy]

WATCH OUT FOR UNLIT STEEL NAVY TOWERS!

The rhumb line jetty-to-jetty passes right by at least four abandoned Cold War-vintage unlit steel target range towers. Find them on your chart, and mark them on your plotter, as I have (see attached red dots on chart). These towers are really scary and too few cruisers know about them.

They are huge rusty steel structures rising very high out of the water, and totally unlit.

Fair Winds.

[dlj]

Originally Posted by derfy

WATCH OUT FOR UNLIT STEEL NAVY TOWERS!

The rhumb line jetty-to-jetty passes right by at least four abandoned Cold War-vintage unlit steel target range towers. Find them on your chart, and mark them on your plotter, as I have (see attached red dots on chart). These towers are really scary and too few cruisers know about them.

They are huge rusty steel structures rising very high out of the water, and totally unlit.

Fair Winds.

What are these things? I have sailed by a couple of these and was wondering what they were. Do you know their history? Just curious.

dj

[derfy]

I don't know the history. I recall reading somewhere these were used for target range observation. Maybe a real Cold Warrior who knows and remembers could fill us in?

I think they are well-known and popular with the local fisherman. For time to time there is talk of tearing them down, or sinking them as artificial reefs.

[bdbcat]

On the rhumbline course, you will encounter a very favorable current lift from the Gulf Stream.
I would take a look at the most recent GulfStream location plots available online, and head for the "knuckle". I have seen +5 kts in this area.


Good Luck
Dave

[Pandor]

I think the Gulf Stream is too far east of RL to take advantage of the speed boost between St. A and Charleston. Right now the western wall is over 65 NM east of St. A and about 80 NM SE of Charleston.

[MicHughV]

That is such an easy trip, my g'ma could do it.

[Opsin150]

Yea, agreed. Just looking for some great places to maybe stop or not run into!!! Lol.