The Umbrella Cut Route northbound takes you 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 passage which passes through St. Andrew Sound, and almost out into the briny blue, is kicking up.

We used the alternate route on 9/19 heading south. We entered Umbrella Cut at almost exactly mid tide, according to the tide chart, but more likely equivalent to about 2/3 high tide due to a strong NE wind and our observations. We traveled at about 7-8 kts all the way through and took about an hour. Our depth readings were 10′ at A5 and A6 at the entrance to Umbrella Cut, the lowest on the whole route of 5.5′ at A10, 8.5′ at A24 to A26, and 7.5′ just south of A26.
Our boat is a 44′ long Endeavour TrawlerCat with a 3′ draft.
Ralph Small, M/V AmmyBoo

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The St. Marys River flows into the northern tip of Cumberland Sound just north of Fernandina, FL. The town of St. Marys is an easy trip up the St. Marys River (Georgia-Florida state line) departing the Waterway at flashing green marker #29, statute mile 713.

St. Mary’s is a little gem with super friendly people and good food. Doc’s was a cool place with live jazz one night. My wife liked the martini bar at Seagle’s. Lang’s Marina was a great bargain at $1.00 per foot, docks were in great shape with very helpful folks who were tied up there. On the down side, the marina bathrooms appeared to have last been cleaned several months earlier. Also, the $15 price for pump out was over the top and had to be paid in cash directly to the marina dockmaster. Hmmm.
Skipper Bill Brubaker

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The Umbrella Cut Route northbound takes you 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 St. Andrew Sound is kicking up.

We used Floyd’s Cut to bypass St. Andrew Sound last spring in 2010 when the seas were predicted to be nasty. We left Fernandina in time to hit the cut just about at high tide so it was still rising a bit. It took about 45 minutes to go through and we were out before the tide started to go down. The least amount of water we had under our keel at one point was just under 6 feet. The depth sounder did read .9 at one point, but for a brief second, nothing we didn’t see on the ICW channel in spots. We draw 4.7. The most water under our keel was 25 feet! We asked for LOCAL KNOWLDEDGE BEFORE WE WENT.
It is a very pretty ride, saw deer and wild boar, and would definitely do it again, only when the tide is right!
Barbara and Jim Benjamin aboard M/V Golden Lily – Nordic Tug 42

And, a clarification from Captains Jim and Barbara:

In regards to 6 feet under our keel: We WERE in 6 feet of water at the lowest point with just under 2 feet under our keel. The route was well marked with buoys and on our chart and GPS.
Barbara and Jim

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About three miles off the Waterway, departing the AICW near statute Mile 711.5, this anchorage lies east of Drum Point Island and hugs the western shore of Cumberland Island. As Captain Hough notes below, cruisers anchored here can easily dinghy ashore and enjoy the magnificent maritime forest scenery on Cumberland Island, as well as visit several old estates. Even if you usually patronize marinas, don’t dare miss this anchorage!!!!

We stayed here for three nights, November 18-20. We rate it as the best reason to deploy the dinghy anywhere on the AICW. The holding was great, there was plenty of room ‘“ there were 15 sailboats plus multiple powerboats at one point during our stay ‘“ using many different parts of the anchorage. It would probably hold twice that many.
Going ashore and walking to the beach with our picnic (honor charge, $4/person, worth every penny) was one of the highlights of our trip south. There is reasonable protection from the east, less so from the west, and relatively little from north and south, but if you are well set you would be okay.
Captain Leigh Hough

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Jekyll Harbor Marina lies along the easterly banks of the AICW’s passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the 65-foot fixed bridge. These good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and one heck of a friendly stop!

Jekyll Island and the Marina are very special. The new dock master, Jessie and staff are working hard to improve everything. The new walkway, clean showers and pool area under the live oaks are the nicest on this coast. A bike ride to the beach or the historic district is in order when you dock here. No problems with depth at the docks and the channel is clear. Jessie and the staff cooked a wonderful thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings plus homemade Clam chowder for the cruisers docked here on Thanksgiving.
Sonny

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