Marker #32 – Click for Chartview

Much discussion has taken place regarding Marker #32 at statute Mile 690 in St. Andrew Sound, most of which has involved alternate routes to avoid Marker #32. Below, John Hersey, ARGUS Project Leader for SURVICE Engineering Company offers two ARGUS perspectives of the waters surrounding Marker #32.

Marker #32 - Click for Chartview

Captains Chris and Janet are responding to a recent posting relating a very rough passage that adhered strictly to the magenta line through St. Andrew Sound (/?p=130811). Their suggested route below comes complete with a chart. We would like to hear from others who might have made a similar cut close to Horseshoe Shoal to the west of Marker #32. Note Chris and Janet’s very wise tracking of tide during their crossing.

Unless seriously constrained by draft or schedule, a 6 kt boat passing through Jekyll Creek at high tide can cross the outer end of Horseshoe Shoal well to the west of both #31 and #32. We made our first transit of this area 30 minutes after high tide at the Jekyll Marina Station and never saw less than 12 feet on the shoal with wave conditions moderated.
Heading south [from Jekyll Creek], when the magenta line crossed Latitude 31 on the chart, we turned for the old tower on Little Cumberland Island. When the water depth plummeted (west of #32 by 0.6 nm) we turned to intercept the magenta line off #33. This became our standard route.
Caveat, we are unhurried cruisers with 5.5 foot draft. We arrange our days to pass Jekyll, Crooked River, Amelia River #1, and Sawmill Creek #49, each, an hour before high tide.
Chris and Janet

We have taken a similar path six times across Horseshoe Shoals with our 3ft draft Great Harbour trawler. Our route is more north/south right along 081 25.0 W. We’ve always seemed to transit at half tide or better on both ebb and flood tides and are careful to not let the strong current set us east or west. Correcting for the tide we’ve always seen depths that concur with those charted (7 to 8ft mlw). We don’t turn away from our N/S heading until the depths drop off. Have been hesitant to share this as we are each responsible for our on navigation and have different risk tolerance. With a 3ft draft we are probably more tolerant of 7ft charted depths even in area’s where the significant tidal currents can change the bottom quickly.
Roger Arrowood

Hi All,
I think Capt Chris and Janet have my chart plotter 🙂
That is the course I take every crossing of that sound. Good job explaining how to BTW. As always you are welcome to call for local knowledge at Jekyll Harbor Marina or Tow Boat US. We have several Captains that cross the sound each day ferrying clients to Cumberland and can report on conditions. Hope this helps!
Sonny Reeves

Jan 18 2014
We can confirm the above comments on this route.
Came thru 1 hour before high tide with 5.5 ft draft and never saw less than 12′ of water.
Randy Tice

We have crossed this path many times most recent was Jan 12 going South. Always cutting the corner at the angle shown. As soon as we pass R30 we start turning to the light house. We draw 4 ft and have crossed at low tide.
Sonny Reeves

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrew Sound

Marker #32 - Click for Chartview

In addition to Umbrella Cut (see /?p=128619) and other alternates (see /?p=118925) to avoid the infamous R32 in often turbulent waters, Captain Ehlen offers the following suggestion that is an “around your elbow” route, but seems straight forward.
THE SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET WANTS TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING THE ALTERNATE ROUTE SUGGESTED BELOW BY CAPTAIN EHLEN. However, now that we have a first-hand account from Captain Richard Ross, cruising aboard the ARGUS cooperative research vessel, Chez Nous, this route is CERTAINLY on our radar to research in the near future!
Even the adventurous among us should not have the tiniest thought of trying to run the channel east of #7 without an up to date and well functioning GPS chart plotter aboard.

I haven’t tried this myself, but looking at the charts it seems to me that there is a deep water alternative.
When heading south, at red #2 at Raccoon Key Split, turn to starboard SW above Horseshoe Shoal. Follow markers 3,4,5 and 6, then turn to port after G7. Head east until back on the ICW between FG33 and G33A.
I hope someone has comments, good or bad, about this alternative.
Wade Ehlen

Here’s a posting from `the archives’ that describes the route I recently suggested. Posted on 11-02-2011
“We went through the area yesterday. It was beyond awful in the Sound, so we turned to starboard up the Satilla River to marker 8, turned to port and worked our way through the deeper water back to Cumberland River. This is NOT the charted alternate route, but much shorter and worked for us. It was about 2 hours after high tide and we were able to make it through. We draw 5′. Not flat, but the giant elephants in St. Andrews made it a no-brainer for us.
Take a look, and good luck!
Stephanie Wakelin M/V September Song”
Wade Ehlen

And, finally, HERE IS THE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ALTERNATE ROUTE WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING, and from a veteran cruiser, piloting an ARGUS cooperative research vessel, no less. We have pasted a shot of the channel near marker #7, showing the ARGUS soundings. Click on the chartlet to be taken to a Chart View page of these waters, with the ARGUS layer automatically activated!

We have taken this route twice, and it does avoid the worst of marker 32. The charted depths are fairly accurate, and the only shallow spot is a sharp bump just south of marker 7. Take it slow there, as the bottom rises quickly from 12 ft to about 5 feet MLW, then immediately drops back to 12ft. Click on ARGUS to see the exact spot.
Richard Ross M/V Chez Nous

Came though the same route as Chez Vous early December. Winds ENE 15-20. Good alternative’¦ had same observations. Draft:5.5ft
Doug Jacoby

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrew Sound

Marker #32 - Click for Chartview

The unpleasant passage experienced by Captain Gorham and crew is the reason we continue to look for alternate routes to avoid the infamous R32 in St. Andrew Sound (see /?p=130801). SSECN has heard similar horror stories and has had a Navigation Alert posted for Marker #32 for some time now.

We had a wild ride southbound through the Sound on November 30, 2013 in our 26 foot Glacier Bay cat. Conditions were a lot rougher than I anticipated, and visibility got bad due to spray and the occasional breaking wave over the bow. We shaved marker 32 close on the western side, and had 10 foot depths that dropped very quickly to 35-40 feet almost immediately after we passed the marker. There were solid breaking waves on the big shoal to the east of the marker at the time, so I suspect it was close on to low tide.
Jonathan Gorham
M/V Top Cat

I talked to a ferry captain that crosses the sound twice each day 365 days a year and he advised that a Northeast wind was the worst for the affect on the waves and current. A Northwest wind would be second worst and then next worst would opposing winds and tides, i.e. West winds with incoming tide or East winds and out-going tide. South winds being most favorable.
Sonny Reeves

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrew Sound

Jekyll Creek ICW Marker #24 - Click for Chartview

The shallow waters north and west of marker #24 are not, AND NEVER WILL BE, an SSECN recommended anchorage, but as Captain Reeves observes and documents, they are getting a lot of use. Given the narrow, constantly shifting channel that barges must navigate in Jekyll Creek, cruisers choosing to anchor north of marker #24 will be wise to put out a short scope and to stay well west of marker #24. Our thanks to Captain Reeves, from Jekyll Harbor Marina – A SALTY SOUTHEAST SPONSOR! – for pointing out this potential hazard.
The Anchorage at Red 24 south of Jekyll Harbor Marina is getting a lot of use this season. My concern is when boats anchor to the east of the marker R24 and are in the ICW. You know we have a lot of BIG barge traffic on this part of the ICW. I am attaching pictures from last night that show a boat anchored in the ICW east of the marker. One boat did not have an anchor light. We had a boat hit 2 years ago by a barge, just the corner! The owner was saved but lost his boat. He was anchored near the public dock east of R24.
Cruisers are welcome to anchor and visit the Marina in their dingy for shore access or to use the public dock. Of course they are always welcome at the Marina. Call Tow Boat US or the Marina for local knowledge.
Stop by and visit with us we will be in The Office.
Sonny Reeves

Anchored Vessels South of Jekyll Harbor Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Jekyll Harbor Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jekyll Harbor Marina

Our good friend, Sonny Reeves, who keeps us posted on all things Jekyll, sends these pictures from Jekyll Island beach where a shrimp boat has gone aground, probably during those recent, on-shore high winds. We can only hope that this never happens to any of you!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.170964966446160&type=1&l=e0b742c740

Umbrella Cut - Click for Chartview

Floyd Creek - Click for Chartview

The alternate route discussed below by Captain Byron is the Umbrella Cut Route which takes you northbound from Mile 696 in Cumberland River through Floyd Creek, across the Satilla River and into the Little Satilla to rejoin the AICW at Mile 686 in Jekyll Sound. This is often considered the route of choice when the primary Waterway route through St. Andrew Sound is kicking up. If southbound, do NOT confuse Umbrella Cut with Umbrella Creek where severe shoaling has occurred.

11/25/13 Six years ago when we were headed south we used the Umbrella Cut successfully to avoid crossing St. Andrews Sound when the seas were running high. This year the winds were 20 knots from the northeast and we wanted to try it again but were surprised that there was no recent info. We checked with locals and decided to try it on a mid and rising tide. We found it is still a viable alternative. We timed our approach for 2 1/2 hours before high tide. Our boat is a 34 foot trawler with a 4 ft draft. There was a strong following sea and as we made the turn into the cut we were pushed out of the channel where we saw 7 ft. That gave us pause but we kept going and found nothing less than 9 or 10 all the way through. We stayed midchannel away from the markers and kept to the outside on unmarked curves. We transited the alternative route all the way through Fields Creek without incident. As we exited and rejoined the ICW shortly behind us came a 45 foot boat out of the channel as well. I hope this observation is helpful.
Connie Bryon

We also took the umbrella cut October 14, 2012 due to seas being up. We went through at low tide and had only 1 depth alarm at 3 feet which I cleared immediately and the depth went back to 6 feet. Most of the passage we had depths of 5 to 8 feet. We stayed in the middle of the waterway when there were no markers. I was concerned about using the cut with the horror stories out there. We stoped at Jekyll Harbor Marina to ask the locals about the cut. They said they use it all the time and I would have no problem. We also had a 40+ foot sport fishing boat follow us through at low tide.
Richard Clagett

Thank you all for the great post up, as we say on the big river. Am planning on going north on the AICW this coming spring and it has been very helpful hearing from light draft vessel operators!
Capt. Jerry Robbins

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Northern End of Umbrella Cut

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Floyd Cut