The St. Marys River, which is the GA/FL state line and a popular side trip for cruisers, departs the Waterway westward just north of Fernandina, FL. See St. Marys River Cruising Info by Claiborne Young.
17th Annual Cruisers Thanksgiving Potluck in St Marys, GA This is an event hosted by a group of St. Marys’ residents and the Riverview Hotel to provide a Thanksgiving stopping place for all of those boaters who are transiting south for the winter. We welcome all cruisers and boaters to St. Marys for our annual Thanksgiving week gathering and meal. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. ALTHOUGH THE WATERFRONT SUFFERED DAMAGE FROM IRMA, THE DINNER WILL BE HELD. DOCK BERTHS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE, SO PLAN TO ANCHOR AND USE THE CITY DINGHY TIE-UP FOR SHORE TRIPS. CHECK THE FACEBOOK PAGE AT “ST MARYS CRUISERS THANKSGIVING” FOR UPDATES TO THE SCHEDULE.
Off ICW mm 712 up the St Marys River Info, Navigation & Map All are welcome. Events, Courtesy Rides, Fun Schedule of Events
The Marker R60 to which Jim refers is just west of the St. Augustine Inlet proper. Our continued thanks to Peg and Jim Healy for sharing their observations and advice. The Healys are dating themselves and showing their sense of humor with the reference to Will Robinson.
ALERT, Will Robinson! ALERT! At St. Augustine – Experienced cruisers know that southbound approaching St. Augustine, the ICW hugs the barrier island to the east, and takes a hard STBD at floating R”60.” Well folks, EITHER R’60” has been relocated and I missed the announcement OR R”60″ is way off station. In any case, R”60″ is not where it’s always been. I don’t know if the shoal that it formerly guarded is there or not. People laugh at me for the detail of my routes. But today, I was very glad my boat knew where it was supposed to turn. R”60″ is MISSING IN ACTION.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
Passed here 11-3-17. Agree with report. Was giving instructions to a first time cruiser on how to pass through here and when we got there it was not how we described it. Red face. Sigh. Improbability
The Waterway crosses the St Johns River west of Mayport, FL at Mile 740. Our continued thanks to Peg and Jim Healy for sharing their observations and advice. The Healys are dating themselves and showing their sense of humor with the reference to Will Robinson.
Sanctuary and Crew spent the night last night on the docks at Jim King Park, Sister’s Creek, north side of the St. John’s. We departed Southbound this morning, 11/2/2017, at 07h15, at first light.
ALERT, Will Robinson! ALERT! The ICW on the south side of the St. John’s is Pablo Creek.We had been warned that the markers at the entrance of Pablo Creek had been relocated, so fortunately, I was on the lookout. Indeed, they have been significantly moved to the west of the old route; maybe 500 feet. Moved west to the point that many versions of charts of the area are undoubtedly wrong! My Garmin chart plotter had me transiting several shoal islands. Be alert with Garmin BCM on hand held iDevices. Following is a screen shot of what is there now. THE BLACK LINE IS THE CURRENT ROUTE. The red track lines are previous transits, showing the OLD ROUTE. In the low light of an early dawn, this could be quite a surprise for the unsuspecting…
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
Experienced cruisers, Jim and Peg Healy, have been generously sharing their observations and advice as they make their way south for the winter. The photos below attest to the healy’s advice to pay attention! Thank you Jim and Peg!
PAY ATTENTION TO THE WATERWAY. Here are two interesting pictures. First, DSCN8150 shows a sunken boat IN THE CHANNEL AT FERNANDINA BEACH. Second, DSCN8155 shows what can happen when you mistake a Range Marker for a Red lateral on a falling tide. It was an interesting day. Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
The Waterway’s channel through the bend in the Amelia River described by Jim and Peg Healy has long been a source of shoaling and channel shifting. The good news is that, as this post is being written, dredging should be underway to realign this pesky channel, see this week’s Local Notice.
Sanctuary and crew departed Brunswick, GA, southbound, at 08h40 on 11/1/2017. The weather was clear, winds light and variable, seas flat, low humidity. A great welcome to Florida in November!
Fernandina Beach, FL at the South Amelia River – We transited that area at 13h30, just a few minutes off low tide. The tide station at Fernandina Beach, Amelia River, Florida reported +0.4 ft. On the route we followed, we saw one sandpile at 7.8 ft, with the majority of the area at 8.5 ft. The control depth on the route we followed is 7.8-0.4=7.4 ft at MLLW. Not bad. Screen shot attached. Our route is in black. Our actual track is the blue highlighted line. The route recommended by Bb Sherer (Bob423) is shown in lime. Screen shot “Fernandina” shows that area, attached. Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
Cumberland Dividings has been a Problem Stretch for several years due to constantly shifting shoals and an erroneous magenta line on many chartplotters. Experienced cruisers, Jim and Peg Healy, share their observations and advice on navigating this Problem Stretch.
Sanctuary and crew departed Brunswick, GA, southbound, at 08h40 on 11/1/2017. The weather was clear, winds light and variable, seas flat, low humidity. A great welcome to Florida in November!
Cumberland Dividings – SOUTHBOUND at approximately MM 703, the ICW makes a 90º turn to STBD, at R”60.” Shoaling in that area is growing eastbound. We transited at 11h30. The tide station at Crooked River, Cumberland Dividings, Georgia, reported +2.8 ft. We saw 8 ft through that area, but advise to favor Green, the OUTSIDE RADIUS OF THAT BEND IN THE RIVER for much better water depths. Screen Shot “Dividings” shows that area, attached. Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
The unpleasant passages through St. Andrew Sound experienced by many cruisers have prompted any number of alternate routes to avoid the infamous R32 at the mouth of St. Andrew Sound. See /144151. Cruisers Jim and Peg Healy suggest a route east of Horseshoe Shoal that they have used many times as weather permits.
Sanctuary and crew departed Brunswick, GA, southbound, at 08h40 on 11/1/2017. The weather was clear, winds light and variable, seas flat, low humidity. A great welcome to Florida in November!
St. Andrews Sound – for many years, we have followed a route along the East end of Horseshoe Shoal. The shoal does not seem to have been affected by Hurricane Irma, but is growing toward the east. We transited at 10h00 with the tide at +4.1. Along the route we take, we saw nothing less than 8 ft. That implies 4.0 ft at MLLW, but today winds were light and variable and seas were flat. On a day with lots of energy coming in off the ocean, and/or more vigorous winds, the practical depth in wave troughs would have been much less. Anyone else using this “shortcut,” heads up. Screen shot “StAndrews” shows that area, attached. Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
The channel through Jekyll Creek seems to shift with each tide and Cruisers’ Net recommends mid to high tide passage. Our thanks to experienced cruisers, Jim and Peg Healy, for their observations and advice. Jekyll Creek is home to A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Jekyll Harbor Marina.
Sanctuary and crew departed Brunswick, GA, southbound, at 08h40 on 11/1/2017. The weather was clear, winds light and variable, seas flat, low humidity. A great welcome to Florida in November!
Jekyll Creek – We transited Jekyll Creek southbound between 09h10 and 09h30. Tide at Jekyll Creek Tide Station was +5.1 dropping to +4.7. We saw 7.8 feet along the route, so 7.8-4.7=3.1 feet at MLLW. The most serious shallow spot is in the vicinity of G”19.” We were on a route that was too close to G”19,” and we saw 6.0 ft in the channel on our route. Although we were in the channel, we were not in the best water. I would ass/u/me all cruising boats will need some help from the tide to clear Jekyll Creek. Screen shot G”19″ shows that area, attached. Favor red at G”19.” Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436
Florida manatees on the move, public stewardship on the water makes a difference.
People who remember in November to watch out for manatees as they begin migrating to warmer waters are making a difference in the species’ survival.
Florida is home to more than 6,600 manatees. With the arrival of Manatee Awareness Month, people again are slowing down and looking out for these large aquatic mammals in waterways throughout the state.
Many seasonal manatee protection zones go into effect Nov. 15. Though some signs identifying manatee zones may have been damaged by Hurricane Irma, information on manatee zone locations is also available online. If you see damaged waterway signs, report them at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Waterway Management,” “Waterway Markers” and then “Damaged/Missing Waterway Markers.”
Earlier this year, the Florida manatee was reclassified from endangered to a threatened status, under the federal Endangered Species Act, in a decision announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While this is a notable step, there is still work to be done to ensure continued progress toward recovery of our official state marine mammal.
“People’s efforts to help Florida manatees are working. Let’s celebrate the fact that conservation actions are making a difference and manatees are no longer endangered by thanking all the individuals and organizations that contributed to this milestone,” said Carol Knox, who leads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Imperiled Species Management Section.
“It’s important though to remain vigilant,” Knox said. “Let’s keep up the efforts that are helping with manatee recovery.”
How can people keep making a difference for manatees? Watch for these large aquatic mammals as they search for warmer waters to help them survive winter’s cold, which they generally find in freshwater springs and the outflow of power plants. Wear polarized sunglasses to spot them moving, grazing and resting in the water. Keep a lookout for the circular “footprints” they leave on the surface of the water. Slow down when boating and follow posted manatee zones. Observe manatees from a distance to limit disturbance. Report injured, entangled, orphaned or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cellphone or text Tip@MyFWC.com. Continue to support the manatee decal and license plate, and tell everyone how the decal and license plate support the FWC’s manatee conservation efforts. Want to see a manatee? Go to MyFWC.com/Manatee and click on the link in the “Where Can I See Manatees?” box.
Harborwalk Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, is only a boardwalk away from Georgetown’s Historic District for history, entertainment, great food and shopping. Harborwalk Marina is the third marina on your starboard side as you enter the protected waters of Georgetown, also A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Guys, just wanted to let you know that our 200’ floating fuel dock is now open and we are pumping fuel again.
Chris Carroll, Operations Manager Harborwalk Marina Evening Post Industries P.O. Box 274 525 Front Street Georgetown SC 29440 843-546-4250 843-240-2318 (Cell) www.harborwalkmarina.com ccarroll@harborwalkmarina.com
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