St. Augustine, Florida Local Boating Knowledge

What types of information should you acquire before operating your vessel in a new area? It’s all lumped under “Local Knowledge.” This is a checklist I used recently for a boater new to the area.

• ICW
  • Marking System
• Inlet
  • Marking System
  • Bearings
  • Inlet Action
  • Wind and Tide Opposed – East / West
  • Wind and Tide Combined – East / West
  • Return on own bearings/course is best
• Landmarks
  • Lighthouse, Cross, Presbyterian Church Dome, Vilano Bridge, Airport, Fishing Pier, Amphitheater, 
• Channels
• ICW East then North and West then South
• Inlet East
• Salt Run South

• Marking System Channel Junctions
• LEO
  • Homeland Security Training
  • St. Johns County Fire Rescue
  • St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department
• Passenger Trade 
  • Victory, Sabrage, Water Taxis, Tiki Huts, Eco Tours, Freedom, ROW
• Sunken Boats  
  • Look on chartplotter
  • Opposite Camachee – boils
• Docks for Lunch
  • Caps, Kate’s, Kingfish Grill, Beaches (Publix), Conch House, Municipal
• Sandbars
  • Inlet
  • Airport
  • Kate’s / Robinson Creek
  • Salt Run
• Bridges
  • Channels, Schedules, Dolphins use
  • Vilano / Usina
  • Bridge of Lions
  • 312
• Mooring Fields
• Wind Prevailing
• Tide Range
• Currents Speed
• Clouds Typical / Worrisome
• Storms Direction, Intensity
• Anchorages
• Right of Way – Likely here
  • NUC – anyone
  • RAM – dredges, barges
  • CBD – sail
  • FISH – shrimpers
  • SAIL – no day shapes visible
  • PWR – speeds, bui, no wake zones
  • PED – opp fort, Salt Run, Vilano, jet paks, waydoos foils, jet skis, kayaks, craigcats, tubing,  – who likely where
• Depths – cloud vice color
• Cruiser’s Net / Sea Tow
• St. Augustine Sailing Sisters – join, race, donate! 

I Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

• Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “KimW” for 10% off.
• MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “KimW” will save you 10% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
• North American Rescue CAT tourniquets.
• Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
• Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
• Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
• PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
• RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
• Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
• AD: affiliate links used.
• Thank you Bill for being the Best Sailing Partner EVER!