I'm trailering my 260 down to Jacksonville Fl. the day after Christmas,I will be staying at the Navy Lodge the night of the 26 and launching the boat the morning of the 27, I have a slip at the Marina on Mulberry Cove at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. I don't have to be back till the 6th of January, I don't have any plans other than that...... any thoughts out there, what to see, do. thought I would travel down to St Augustine Inlet and come back via the ICW to NAS. My crew this time will be a friend his wife and 10 year old, new to sailing... TV and DVD on board... table games......with 1.2 KW gen on board power no problem
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Marc_B
Go south down ICW and return outside
I'm not sure how close the Gulf Stream is in Jax, but it may be easier motoring south down the ICW and sailing north on the outside. There may be less fighting with the current that way. Fair Winds
I'm not sure how close the Gulf Stream is in Jax, but it may be easier motoring south down the ICW and sailing north on the outside. There may be less fighting with the current that way. Fair Winds
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Reinhold Fussle
get some good local info
a place to start might be CruisingGuide.com We towed our H240 all the way from Indiana to Charlotte Harbor last February. We had a great time but I was glad I had selected this protected bay for our venture. Most of the time the open gulf was just to rough for us to venture out. Had some awsome sailing though in the bay. Fishermans Village at Punta Gorda was a great marina with a very friendly group of sailors 'harbornating' there. On our way back we stopped at New Smyrna. Sailed a little on the ICW but the Atlantic was out of the question.
a place to start might be CruisingGuide.com We towed our H240 all the way from Indiana to Charlotte Harbor last February. We had a great time but I was glad I had selected this protected bay for our venture. Most of the time the open gulf was just to rough for us to venture out. Had some awsome sailing though in the bay. Fishermans Village at Punta Gorda was a great marina with a very friendly group of sailors 'harbornating' there. On our way back we stopped at New Smyrna. Sailed a little on the ICW but the Atlantic was out of the question.
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Norm Freedman
Cruising ideas
In a 26' boat, depending on the tidal currents, you will probably have trouble making St. Augustine this time of year in one day (shorter days). Even though you might have to pay a small launching fee, I would go by car to St. Augustine and launch there, cruise around, out in the ocean if you want, enjoy St. Augustine from the good anchorage there, and then trailer back to NAS. From there, there are lots of nice sails on the St. Johns river with good anchorages within a two day range. Your decision inside or outside to and from St. Augustine should be made by weather and tidal currents. Pay a lot of attention to the currents, which in a couple of places along your route can briefly reach as high as 5 kts.
In a 26' boat, depending on the tidal currents, you will probably have trouble making St. Augustine this time of year in one day (shorter days). Even though you might have to pay a small launching fee, I would go by car to St. Augustine and launch there, cruise around, out in the ocean if you want, enjoy St. Augustine from the good anchorage there, and then trailer back to NAS. From there, there are lots of nice sails on the St. Johns river with good anchorages within a two day range. Your decision inside or outside to and from St. Augustine should be made by weather and tidal currents. Pay a lot of attention to the currents, which in a couple of places along your route can briefly reach as high as 5 kts.
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John Baumgartner
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Tom Monroe
Crusing ideas, second opinion
Hey John ... I grew up daysailing what essentially is a large protected bay made up where the St. Johns and Ortega Rivers join at a point just down from Jax NAS. There is plenty of sailing to be had right there, and an interesting trip up river under power. Past that point downriver, where you hit downtown and the bridges, you are entering highly commercial water, big freighters, tugs, and some major tidal considerations. You want to run the river with the tide, and be sure not to miss the south turnoff for the ICW. Last time I did Jax to St. Augustine, we ran the river with the tide from Timuquana County Club right by NAS, left at 10 pm, and made St. Augustine with a beam reach about 10 am the next morning ... so 12 hours. There was a series of posts on this a couple months ago that you can probably find in the archives. Have fun! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Hey John ... I grew up daysailing what essentially is a large protected bay made up where the St. Johns and Ortega Rivers join at a point just down from Jax NAS. There is plenty of sailing to be had right there, and an interesting trip up river under power. Past that point downriver, where you hit downtown and the bridges, you are entering highly commercial water, big freighters, tugs, and some major tidal considerations. You want to run the river with the tide, and be sure not to miss the south turnoff for the ICW. Last time I did Jax to St. Augustine, we ran the river with the tide from Timuquana County Club right by NAS, left at 10 pm, and made St. Augustine with a beam reach about 10 am the next morning ... so 12 hours. There was a series of posts on this a couple months ago that you can probably find in the archives. Have fun! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
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Peter
Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida
Claiborne Young's "Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida" covers the entire coast from Georgia to Miami, and includes the entire length of the St Johns River. You should be able to find it at any West Marine or BoatUS store. I've checked the guide at several places along the coast between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach and it's usually on the money, especially with anchorages. Although written primarily for people with large powerboats, the guide is just as useful for sailors. The guide has no charts, so be prepared to invest in some of those too. At this time of year (short days and cold fronts) the Atlantic might be iffy. The Gulf Stream is well offshore (about 50 miles) but the ocean route will take at least 10 hours to get from downtown Jacksonville to St Augustine, and yuo will have to catch the tides. In my humble opinion, a small boat should not attempt the lower St Johns River or St Augustine Inlet at night. You are probably looking at two days each way, with the second day starting at the crack of dawn. Why not try this? Put your boat in the water in Jax, drive the tow vehicle and trailer to St Augustine (35 min.), leave it there and hitch a ride back to Jax. It should be easy on a Sunday afternoon because many people who keep their boats in St Augustine live in Jacksonville. Then get back on the boat and take a leisurely two-day boat trip down the ICW and your trailer will be waiting when you arrive. Another suggestion is a day trip up the St Johns to Green Cove Springs. At this time of year you should see lots of manatees, because they come into the springs to escape the colder river water. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Claiborne Young's "Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida" covers the entire coast from Georgia to Miami, and includes the entire length of the St Johns River. You should be able to find it at any West Marine or BoatUS store. I've checked the guide at several places along the coast between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach and it's usually on the money, especially with anchorages. Although written primarily for people with large powerboats, the guide is just as useful for sailors. The guide has no charts, so be prepared to invest in some of those too. At this time of year (short days and cold fronts) the Atlantic might be iffy. The Gulf Stream is well offshore (about 50 miles) but the ocean route will take at least 10 hours to get from downtown Jacksonville to St Augustine, and yuo will have to catch the tides. In my humble opinion, a small boat should not attempt the lower St Johns River or St Augustine Inlet at night. You are probably looking at two days each way, with the second day starting at the crack of dawn. Why not try this? Put your boat in the water in Jax, drive the tow vehicle and trailer to St Augustine (35 min.), leave it there and hitch a ride back to Jax. It should be easy on a Sunday afternoon because many people who keep their boats in St Augustine live in Jacksonville. Then get back on the boat and take a leisurely two-day boat trip down the ICW and your trailer will be waiting when you arrive. Another suggestion is a day trip up the St Johns to Green Cove Springs. At this time of year you should see lots of manatees, because they come into the springs to escape the colder river water. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Peter
Question for Norm re ramp in St Augustine
Where in St Augustine is the ramp you were describing? The only ramp I know is on A1A just before the Vilano Beach Bridge, but they don't allow overnight parking. I'd like to leave my tow vehicle and trailer securely for a few days. Thanks for your help. Peter H23 "Raven"
Where in St Augustine is the ramp you were describing? The only ramp I know is on A1A just before the Vilano Beach Bridge, but they don't allow overnight parking. I'd like to leave my tow vehicle and trailer securely for a few days. Thanks for your help. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Norm Freedman
parking
That's the one I was thinking of. I did not know about the parking restrictions. Thanks for letting me know. As a suggestion, you might call Camachee Cove marina right across the street (904) 829 5676. You might be able to talk them into a short term parking arrangement.
That's the one I was thinking of. I did not know about the parking restrictions. Thanks for letting me know. As a suggestion, you might call Camachee Cove marina right across the street (904) 829 5676. You might be able to talk them into a short term parking arrangement.
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carisea
ICW vs. Outside
I have done the trip several times and it all depends which way the wind blows. In summer the wind is usually out of the south/southwestand light maybe 10-12knts. by afternoon.In winter it varies with the fronts. Go outside when you can run with the wind. the trip is about 25nm from Mayport to St Augustine inlet. The gulf stream is 50 miles off shore and does not effect the passage. If you think you will have to tack to make headway in either direction you should stay on the inside otherwise start very early to arrive in daylight.St Augustine very tricky at night
I have done the trip several times and it all depends which way the wind blows. In summer the wind is usually out of the south/southwestand light maybe 10-12knts. by afternoon.In winter it varies with the fronts. Go outside when you can run with the wind. the trip is about 25nm from Mayport to St Augustine inlet. The gulf stream is 50 miles off shore and does not effect the passage. If you think you will have to tack to make headway in either direction you should stay on the inside otherwise start very early to arrive in daylight.St Augustine very tricky at night
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Peter
Thanks Norm
The marina or St Augustine Sailing was my next move, although I suspect they get asked all the time. If not, I may have to find a place along US1 and hike back to the boat. Peter H23 "Raven"
The marina or St Augustine Sailing was my next move, although I suspect they get asked all the time. If not, I may have to find a place along US1 and hike back to the boat. Peter H23 "Raven"
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John Baumgartner
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