Georgia Anchorages – AICW, Elba Island Cut to Hell Gate (Statute Mile 575.5 to 602)
Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
St. Augustine Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 578
Lat/Lon: near 32 03.699 North/080 59.113 West
Location: on the waters of St. Augusine Creek, southeast of this stream’s first crook-like turn to the east, ‘“ St. Augustine Creek departs the ICW south of unlighted daybeacon #8
Minimum Depth: 18-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 36 feet, assuming the gambling ship can clear your position (see below)
Foul Weather Shelter: Good except in particularly strong southeast winds
Special Note: a large gambling ship pays regular visits to St. Augustine Creek. The passage of this ship seriously limits swing room, and has caused us to downgrade this creek as a possible anchorage
Rating:
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Herb River Anchorage
Statute Mile: 584.5
Lat/Lon: near 32 00.776 North/081 02.174 West
Location: lies south-southwest of the Waterway’s flashing daybeacon #37
Minimum Depth: 7-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Excellent, except in unusually strong westerly wind
Rating:
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Waterway Anchorage
Statute Mile: 586
Lat/Lon: near 32 00.482 North/081 01.116 West
Location: found in the correctly charted deep water abutting the western banks of the Skidaway River portion of the ICW south of flashing daybeacon #40
Minimum Depth: 10-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair to poor; wide open to southern winds
Rating:
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Isle of Hope Anchorage
Statute Mile: 590
Lat/Lon: near 31 58.731 North/081 03.316 West
Location: just northwest of the ICW’s unlighted daybeacon #46A
Minimum Depth: 8 feet
Swing Room: anchorage is often crowded, and boats larger than 40 feet my have trouble finding sufficient elbow room
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, wide open to southwestern winds
Rating:
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We anchored here on Friday, 4/23/10. It’s crowded with lots of boats on private moorings and permanent locals anchoring. That didn’t leave much room for transients. We managed to slip into a tight spot just outside the channel markers. Watch your position with the reversing current. There was some tug and barge traffic.
Lots of local traffic and noise from shore. Weekend partying, etc. Lots of friendly boaters curious about our ICW experiences and our live aboard cat.
Nice spot, but I wouldn’t count of finding room to anchor here. Better bet is to take a slip at the marina.
Vernon River Anchorages
Statute Mile: 597
Lat/Lon:
31 55.995 North/081 06.949 West (anchorage west of Beaulieu)
31 56.285 North/081 07.430 West (anchorage south of Montgomery)
Location: on the waters of the section of Vernon River abandoned by the ICW, northwest of flashing daybeacon #70; downstream anchorage on the waters west of the charted position of Beaulieu; upstream anchorage south of the charted position of Montgomery
Minimum Depth: 8 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair to Good; Beaulieu anchorage wide open to southern and southeastern winds; Montgomery Anchorage is better sheltered, particularly to the north, northeast and northwest
Rating:
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Delegal Creek Anchorages
Statute Mile: 601
Lat/Lon: 31 53.650 North/081 03.730 West
Location: on the waters of Delegal Creek, northeast of the ICW’s flashing daybeacon #86 and north of Delegal Creek Marina
Minimum Depth: 4 to 4 ½ foot dead low tide entrance depths
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 38 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Excellent except in particularly strong northern winds
Rating:
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Comments from Cruisers (5)
I stayed near the turn on the second 17 noted on the chart with a 27′ sailboat. While looking in the creek, I passed and chatted with the Capt of the casino boat. He informed me that he would be returning around 2330 and suggested the area of the second 17 ft marking because of width. I happened to be up around 2330 and hailed the casino boat when I saw them in the creek. You can see them for a mile or so and asked if he wouldn’t mind slowing down. He slowed when he rounded the turn and was very courteous. I had no problems with this anchorage.
Chris
Earlier today we decided to use this anchorage; but had failed to check out the above comments. Needless to say, when the SunCruz vessel, returning from sea, called us on the VHF to inform us that he would be using this creek to return to his dock, we were taken by surprise. He was very courteous and suggested a spot farther into the creek where it is wide and we would not be in his way. Our electronic chart (not visible on our paper chart) showed a creek up ahead on the starboard side which has 9 feet MLW. We continued on and anchored in a very pleasant spot with plenty of swing room. We are now in a very protected spot, good holding and can rest knowing the gamblers will not disturb our sleep. This only goes to show the importance of these up=to=date additions to our normal cruising guides. And with that, a good night
Martha aboard Sandpiper
Claiborne – re St. Augustine’s Creek – it is shown as an anchorage . . . but is NOT SAFE. There is a gambling cruise boat that comes along after dark – anchoring in the creek puts you in its way and there is insufficient room to swing. When it happened to me, I pulled the boat close to shore with a second anchor to shore until after the ship had returned, after midnight.
It’s not safe and cannot be recommended. It’s just fortunate that the ship’s captains are aware of the problem and watch for it. Not a trip goes by that I’m in the area and don’t hear the ship calling out to someone anchored there.
To repeat – not safe, not to be used.
Wally
s/v Gypsy Wind
We are a 40 ft trawler and had plenty of room here. We went in a bit farther to shallower water and where the creek seemed wider. After spending 36 hours out in the Atlantic, this anchorage was a welcomed respite!
Captain Bobbie Blowers
Good water, but leave room for the Midnight Gambler II, who makes at least two runs a day through here. 25-30′ at low, plus up to 9′ of tide and another 5′ to the bow cleat gives depths of 39-43′. A scope of 8 for overnight tidal conditions would require a rode of 312-344′. Not the normal equipment for most boaters. You can (and should) find shallower water near the sides. Swing radii with this much rode will be a problem.
Name Withheld By Request