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Old 27-10-2010, 07:34   #1
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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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Old 27-10-2010, 07:40   #2
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Thanks for the heads up. We'll be coming in in December.
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Old 27-10-2010, 12:09   #3
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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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Old 27-10-2010, 12:24   #4
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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
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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Old 27-10-2010, 12:46   #5
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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...
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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Old 28-10-2010, 05:23   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailndive345 View Post
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
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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Old 28-10-2010, 07:23   #7
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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.
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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Old 28-10-2010, 07:52   #8
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Have a good friend who totaled his Hunter in the inlet a few months ago.
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Old 29-10-2010, 12:57   #9
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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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Old 29-10-2010, 13:24   #10
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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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Old 29-10-2010, 16:16   #11
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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
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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Old 30-10-2010, 07:34   #12
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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?
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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Old 13-03-2011, 08:54   #13
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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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Old 13-03-2011, 09:07   #14
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Re: St Augustine Inlet (Shoaling) Info

Quote:
Originally Posted by dennisjay View Post
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.
Nice of you to update.
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Old 13-03-2011, 09:24   #15
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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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