Sunday, May 17
Halifax Harbor Marina (Daytona Beach) to Marineland Marina (outside of St. Augustine)
30.83 NM – 5 hours underway
There’s a saying in boating: sometimes you watch the show… and sometimes you are the show. Today, we were very much the latter.
We knew going in that it would be a short cruising day, but that didn’t mean it would be easy. Our goal was to get underway early—partly to take advantage of calmer morning winds, and partly to stay ahead of the inevitable “weekend warriors” that tend to fill the waterways by late morning. But early departures come with their own set of challenges, especially when you’re ending the day at a marina. Most don’t allow check-in until noon or later, and finding anything open early on a Sunday in Florida can feel like a treasure hunt.
After changing our destination marina about 5 times, we got lucky with Marineland Marina, just south of St. Augustine. Not only were they able to accommodate an early arrival, but they also offered us a T-dock—generally an easier setup than a traditional slip… or so we thought.
Our approach, however, didn’t exactly go according to plan. On our approach, we misread the markers and gently bumped the bottom. Nothing like a quick adrenaline spike to keep things interesting. A firm reverse got us free without issue, and we adjusted our approach.
Getting the bow line on was smooth enough, but Mother Nature had other ideas for the stern. Between the wind and the current, the back end of the boat kept getting pushed off the dock, leaving us awkwardly perpendicular. For a moment, it felt like we might complete a full 180-degree spin whether we wanted to or not. Thankfully, our deckhand stepped in and quite literally wrestled the situation under control, getting us tied up securely and saving us from becoming even more of a spectacle.
Because yes—by this point, we were definitely the show.
Once on the dock, we were greeted by a Sea Hare. That was a new one for us and we had to use AI to even figure out what it was.
The day’s true highlight, though, came once the lines were tied and the chaos subsided. We had our first official “Docktails” with the St. Augustine Harbor Hosts, Doug and Melissa. Having just completed the Loop last month, they were a wealth of knowledge—and even better, great company.
All in all, it was a short day filled with a little bit of everything.
And sometimes… you just have to embrace being the show.
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