St. Augustine Anchorage, Dinghy Dockage And St. Augustine City Marina (Statute Mile 778.5)
Wow, I had no idea that dinghy dockage at St. Augustine City Marina came so dear. This is a fine municipal facility, however. I’ve always been impressed with its amenities and management, and the entire historic district is within easy walking distance. However, the city marina can not boast of anything like the shelter from foul weather offered by Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor, just to the north (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR).
Pay attention to Captain Jennifer’s maxim about setting two anchors, whether you drop the hook north or south of the Bridge of Lions. The currents here can be wicked!
Overall, we much prefer the southern anchorage to the northern for room, some relief from swells from the inlet, and better access to the city marina. Note, however, that a shoal exists along a line from the R `12’³ to the R `10A’ and on to the R `10’³, west of this line there is good depth for most boats (we draw 6′). Photos from the air show this bar clearly. We’ve seen two boats (one was a cat) try to run between the `10’³ and `10A’ at high tide and still take the bottom. The only way in or out is to pass north of R `10’³.
Scenery is in the eye of the beholder – we have no problem with the surroundings. As to derelict boats, they are an unhappy fact of life here. We count about 6 in a very large, and busy, anchorage. Could be worse’¦
Rick Emerson
Can’t get much closer to Old St. Augustine than this and we spent 3 nights here to take it all in. Had a minor engine repair which was quickly taken care of by First Mate Yacht Services who showed up on time with the right Yanmar parts. Great lunch at Bistro de Leon which happened to also be the release day for the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau – tasty. If you need meat/produce/basic groceries, walk about 3/4 mile across the Bridge of Lions to Stewart’s (on the South side of highway). Recommend this marina on location, facilities, and staff.
Pete & Mary Ann
s/v MicMac
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in St. Augustine. I think we’ll be going back. Dingy dock rates at the municipal marina up to $10/day. Rather expensive facility but very well run and clean. If we were going to spend a serious period of time there, I don’t think we could afford to use the dingy dock daily but it was worth it for a week. Used their facilities, laundry, lounge, etc. quite a bit.
One thing we learned, you should always set N and S anchors in St Augustine. Soft silty bottom that my 22lb Delta sliced right through. My Danforth held well there. I initially set only one anchor and our anchor rode fouled on our keel during the tidal changes. VERY strong tidal currents there. Ended up with the rode getting cut through and would have lost our ground tackle if not for some liveaboards who dove on our anchor and retrieved it for us. Visited Sailor’s Exchange (used boat equipment store) for new rode. They are awesome! Once we set 2 anchors, we were fine for the rest of the time there.
Jennifer Clendinen
Subject: St. Augustine anchoring.
Cruising News: The setting of two acnchors in St. Augustine is not only to improve on the holding it is also to reduce the amount of swing at tide change in this crowded achorage.
Bahamian Anchoring allows the boat to pivot at the terminus of the two rodes thus reducing the swing from, let\\\’s say, 400 feet to less than 100 feet for a forty footer.
Make sense?
Dennis Nichols
Subject: Grocery shopping
We found a small grocery near the Lightner Museum – The Market at Granda, 6 Granada St – 904-823-9704. This is an easy walk from the marina area, near the St. George street area. Two thumbs up!
Rick Emerson
We’re currently lying, in the south anchorage, to a single 35 lb. CQR with 3/8’³ 3B chain. Our boat, a Baba 35, draws 6′ and has a modified full keel. So far we’ve had little difficulty with our ground tackle after several tide and wind changes. We do ride somewhat oddly with wind against current, but this is no different than other anchorages, in SC, GA, and FL, where the same situation has occurred. While dinghying through the anchorage, most boats are riding to a single anchor, with few exceptions.
Granted $10/day for a dinghy sticker is a little spendy, the facilities ashore are a plus, to say nothing of the city itself. Given there are no real alternatives to speak of, so it goes.
Rick Emerson
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