ground or a break in the steering gear, she is almost certain to be driven on one of the jetties. The mean velocities in the channel at the strength of the current are about as follows: Mayport, 22 knots; New Berlin, 2 knots; Phoenix Park, 11⁄2 knots; Jacksonville (off Washington Street), 2 knots. The velocity of the flood is increased by northeasterly and easterly winds, and the ebb by southwesterly and westerly winds. Daily predictions of the times of slack water and the times and velocities of strength of flood and ebb in St. Johns River entrance are to be included in the Atlantic Coast Current Tables, beginning with the edition for the year 1936. Differences for obtaining predictions at other stations in the St. Johns River will be found in table 2 of this publication. The tidal currents set in the direction of the channel, except on the crossing from Fulton to the mouth of Clapboard Creek, where there is some set on the ebb from the channel between Fulton and Le Barons Island, and on the flood into the sloughs northeastward of Le Barons Island. DIRECTIONS, ST. JOHNS RIVER ENTRANCE TO JACKSONVILLE The channel from sea to Jacksonville is a dredged cut from 300 to 600 feet wide, the tidal currents have considerable velocity, and strangers are advised to take a pilot. The ranges mentioned in the following directions mark the axis of the cut. Unless with a local pilot, vessels do not run the river at night; sailing vessels require a towboat. The attention of mariners is called to the possible use of the courses (bearings) on the channel ranges in the river for a determination of the deviation of the compass on the various headings. The range marks are, however, sometimes shifted due to changes in the dredged channels; when such changes are made notice thereof is given in the "Notice to Mariners ", and corrected true bearings are published in the annual "Light List." In northeasterly gales there is generally a strong current setting southward across the entrance to the jetties. Vessels entering under such conditions must be prepared to counteract a sheer northward, as the bow enters under the north jetty, with the stern still under the influence of the cross current. Vessels have piled up on the jetty due to this condition. Approach from northward.-(See caution on page 153.) From a position about 2 miles southeast of Savannah Lightship steer 1992° true (S. by W. W. mag.) for 97 miles to a position about 2 miles east of St. Johns Lightship. This course passes 7 miles offshore from Brunswick Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 B. From close aboard Brunswick Lighted Buoy 2 B a 18812° true (S. 34 W. mag.) course made good for 37 miles will lead to a position about 2 miles east of St. Johns Lightship. The principal danger in the northern approach to St. Johns River is the bar at the entrance of Nassau Sound, on which a number of vessels have been lost. In each case the vessel was standing in for the coast on a southwesterly course, obtained a sounding of over 9 fathoms (16.5 m) (high water) in the deep hole a short distance outside the bar, and stranded before obtaining another sounding. A contributory cause for the disasters is the prevailing northerly current, which is felt until well inside the 10-fathom (18.3m) curve, except with northeasterly or northerly winds. The bar is marked off its northeast side by a nun buoy. St. Johns River is so well marked by the lightship, lighthouse, ranges, the jetties, and usually a number of vessels outside the bar that it is unnecessary to get in dangerously close to the coast to recognize the entrance. From southward. Approaching Cape Canaveral from southward the 15-fathom (27.4 m) curve is a good guide. Rounding Cape Canaveral in a depth of 15 fathoms (27.4 m) will lead about 15 miles off the light and in sight of it on a clear night. Passing about 3 miles eastward of Hetzel Shoal Lighted Whistle Buoy 8 a 334° true (NNW. 14 W. mag.) course made good for 117 miles will lead to a position 2 miles eastward of St. Johns Lightship; the course, if made good, leads within the limits of visibility of Ponce de Leon Inlet and St. Augustine Lights. On this course a set due to the prevailing current may be expected, except with northerly or northeasterly winds, of 1/2 to 3/4 knot in a northerly direction parallel with the coast. Broken ground with least depths of 5 to 6 fathoms (9.1 to 11.0 m) lies from 4 to 6 miles from the coast for a distance of 15 miles northward of St. Augustine Lighthouse. A shoal about 430 yards long in an east-and-west direction, with a least depth of 25 feet (7.6 m), exists on the southern side of the approach from the sea to the passage between the jetties. From the center of the shoal St. Johns River Lighthouse bears 270° true (W. mag), distant 3/4 miles. Deeper water is found between the shoal and the bank making off from St. Johns Point. With these exceptions the coast southward of St. Johns River is clear, and it is better to make the coast southward than northward of the entrance. Bound southward from St. Johns River, vessels, except deep-draft ones, can avoid the northerly set due to the prevailing current by following the coast at a distance of about 3 miles to abreast Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, and then shaping the course to pass outside of Hetzel Shoal Lighted Whistle Buoy 8. Courses and distances, St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2, St. J. to Jacksonville [Abbreviations: Lt., light; Bn., beacon; F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; G., green; Alt., alternating; t., true; dist., distant] Courses and distances, St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2, St. J. to Jacksonville-Continued [Abbreviations: Lt., light; Bn., beacon; F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; G., green; Alt., alternating; t., true; dist., distant] 2. Middle Ground Lighted Bell Buoy 1 (Fl. G.) bearing ESE. 4 E., dist. 350 yards. Steer Pilot Town Cut Range astern (both lights F. R.; both daymarks white slatted, on skeleton structures): Direct Reverse. 3. Mayport Cut Range Front Light (F. R.), bearing NNE., dist. 200 yards. Steer Mayport Cut Range (front light F. R., rear light F. W.; both daymarks red, square, slatted, on skeleton structures; rear range on St. Johns Bar Cut Range Rear Light Structure). This course leads 140 yds. off the docks at Mayport: Direct Reverse 4. Stack at Mayport Pogie Plant, bearing S. 34 W., dist. 600 yards. Steer Sherman Cut Range ahead (both lights F. G.; front daymark white, square, slatted, on unpainted pile structure, rear daymark white, rectangular slatted skeleton structure): Direct_ Reverse on 5. Stack at Mayport Pogie Plant, bearing ENE. 1⁄2 E., dist. 600 yards. Steer Mile Point Lower Range ahead (both lights F. G.; front daymark black square with white stripe on skeleton structure, rear daymark rectangular, upper half black, lower half white, on skeleton structure): Direct 3092 NW. W_ COURSES AND DISTANCES 221 Courses and distances, St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2, St. J. to Jacksonville-Continued [Abbreviations: Lt., light; Bn., beacon; F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; G., green; Alt., alternating; t., true; dist., distant] 10. Training Wall Front Range Light (F. R.), 11. St. Johns Bluff Light 1 (F. G.; black Direct_ 12. Fulton Light (F. G.; white rectangular daymark on skeleton structure), bearing S. by E. 34 E., dist. 250 yards. Steer Fulton Cut Range ahead (front light F. R., rear light F. W.; front daymark, red square, on skeleton structure, rear daymark, white square, black round center, on skeleton structure): Direct 13. Fulton Cut Range Front Light 6 (F. R.; red square daymark on skeleton structure), bearing N. by W. 4 W., dist. 500 yards. Pass 160 yds. southwest of Lt. No. 6 and the training wall west of Clapboard Creek: Direct. Points Nautical miles 3062 NW. % W. 0.5 1262 SE. % E .5 271 W. 91 E 4 .4 Courses and distances, St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2, St. J. to Jacksonville-Continued [Abbreviations: Lt., light; Bn., beacon; F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; G., green; Alt., alternating; t., true; dist., distant] Course (reverse course in italics) (For reverse direction read upward and interchange ahead and astern) True 14. Fulton Cut Range Front Light 6 (F. R.; 15. Vick Island Light 3 (F. G.; black square Direct 16. Vick Island Light 5A. (F. G.; black square 17. Vick Island Light 5A. (described above), 198 18 326 146 |