Okay, we knew that the shoaling that the Coast Guard had been announcing for days (to as little as 3 feet of depth at mean low tide) precluded following our charts so we sought local knowledge to navigate the Matanzas inlet area. We researched tide tables and slowed way down to transit the area during a rising tide. We talked to others who transited the area ahead of us. And we came through without any issues, the shallowest area we found was 9.8 feet at statute miles 792-3 (and we draw 5'1"). We hugged the west side of the water, staying within 30-50 feet of the bank. If we had followed the charts, the markers or the magenta line, we would have run hard aground. Someone in front of us who had done just that is actually in the boat yard awaiting repairs.
In spite of that, after clearing the area that was supposed to be shoaling, Gay returned to the magenta line and markers to finish up the last seven miles into St. Augustine. At statute mile 785 on the ICW (where all charts, books and everyone indicate a minimum 10 foot depth and we were there at high tide (+4.7)), with a crab pot in the middle of the water Gay followed the magenta line and noticed depths going from 12 to 10 to 9 to 8 feet. (At that point she put the boat in idle and seriously screamed for Ken to come up to the cockpit). Ken came running and threw the boat into reverse just as the depth meter showed 5 feet (remember we draw 5'1"). Of course we continued forward for a short time and the depth meter showed 4 feet by the time Ken was able to reverse the course. We were sitting on top of the sandy bottom. Ken was able to power us out of the situation and we never came to a stop or hard bump. Nonetheless, for Gay anyway, it was the end of her love affair with the magenta line. We have had much harder hits, but not with Gay at the helm. Wonder how long it will take for her to get up to full speed at the helm again.
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