Jacksonville

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Shand Bridge Pier Boat Ramp

Windsurfing and Kiteboarding in Jacksonville

These are the inland launches for Jacksonville. Also see Huguenot Park for sailing by and in the ocean.

Credit and Source

Note: We are indebted to Tom Ingram of Jacksonville Windsurfing for all the information on this page which he has graciously allowed us to use. This information originally appeared here: Windsurfing Launches around Jacksonville, Florida. Updated windfoiling spots contributed by Eduardo Rodrigues.

General Information: St. Johns River Launches

In the areas we sail, the River is over two miles wide. Breezes are generated from frontal passages as well as occasional southeast seabreezes that penetrate inland in the spring and early summer, until the afternoon rains start. With the possible exception of Shands Bridge Pier Boat Ramp, these launches are for sailors who can comfortably sail where they want the board to go, with good ability to sail upwind or downwind. Unless you know the area of the river well, avoid sailing at full speed when close to and parallel to the shoreline, near the end of the various docks. Sometimes docks have been left to rot to the waterline, with the original pilings never having been removed. Occasionally, large branches and even trees can also become stuck and submerged in shallow water. The best beginners' spot is Huguenot Park, in the lagoon, just north of Jacksonville.

If you are traveling here, please be respectful of the launch sites and not make a scene or take unnecessary risks with your safety. Our continued access to these launches is never guaranteed.


County Dock Road Park, Mandarin neighborhood

County Dock Road Park, looking south towards Walter Jones Park

This site is good for winds from the west, northwest, north and northeast, and works okay for southwest. The river is over 3 miles wide here and the current is negligible. The water is shallow for the first roughly 50 feet from the shore. As you sail out, stay within about 30 feet from the new dock. There are pilings just beneath the surface from an old dock that rotted at the waterline, running parallel to the new dock. You can still see a piling at the end of the dock that is above the water. The dock ended with a "T" so don't cut close to the end of the old dock area.

Recommended Wind Directions

NW: yes | N: yes | NE: yes

W: yes | Wind center.png | E: no

SW: yes | S: no | SE: no

Northwest North Northeast
West Wind center.png East
Southwest South Southeast


Ability

Intermediate Advanced

Shands Bridge Pier Ramp, Green Cove Springs

Shand Bridge Pier Boat Ramp

The original Shands Bridge was converted to a pier on each side of the St. Johns. Next to the pier on the west side of the river is a lightly used boat ramp with a small sandy shore just to the south of the ramp. This is a good site for north, east and south wind. The water is generally shallow along the easterly shore, with fewer docks, making it probably the best river sailing location for intermediate level sailors. The winds in the Green Cove Springs area tend to be stronger than in Jacksonville, particularly in spring and early summer.


Recommended Wind Directions

NW: no | N: yes | NE: yes

W: no | Wind center.png | E: yes

SW: no | S: yes | SE: yes

Northwest North Northeast
West Wind center.png East
Southwest South Southeast

Ability

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Shands Bridge East

This foil friendly spot is on the east end of Shands Bridge. It has been recommended to us by Eduardo Rodrigues.

Williams Park, south of Green Cove Springs

Williams Park

This spot is similar to Shands Bridge Pier but is south of the new Shands Bridge, and is located in the Bayard preserve area.

Recommended Wind Directions

NW: no | N: yes | NE: yes

W: no | Wind center.png | E: yes

SW: no | S: yes | SE: yes

Northwest North Northeast
West Wind center.png East
Southwest South Southeast

Ability

Intermediate Advanced

Black Creek, Boat Ramp on south side

At the mouth of Black Creek in Clay County, this heavily-used powerboat ramp and the landing on the north side of the bridge together provide the closest accessible windsurfing access to the St. Johns that is located on the westerly side of the river. The water on the right (east) side of the ramp is shallow enough to walk out to the end of the dock that is along the right side of the ramp, so that you can walk out to where the water is exposed to the wind.

Recommended Wind Directions

NW: yes | N: yes | NE: yes

W: yes | Wind center.png | E: yes

SW: yes | S: yes | SE: yes

Northwest North Northeast
West Wind center.png East
Southwest South Southeast

Ability

Intermediate Advanced

Black Creek, north side landing

Foil friendly. On the north side of the creek, a rough dirt road on the east side of the road leads down to a makeshift parking area at the bottom of the bridge. The regulars launch directly under the bridge and walk through shallow water (with concrete debris on the bottom) until reaching deeper water. The river along this shoreline is quite shallow. There can be a little more current here, which is only an issue on a slow board in light or dying breezes. I do not recommend this launch but it has its fans.


Spring Park, Green Cove Springs

looking west towards Spring Park

This former launch site is probably the most beautiful in northeast Florida. Launching here is not recommended due to the extensive amount of concrete rubble (riprap) that was placed along the shoreline. Windsurfers used to launch in front of the Green Cove Springs Police Station, off of Spring Street, south of the spring run that flows through the park. Out past the riprap, the water is shallow and very nice in that the spring run from Green Cove Spring flows into the River a few feet to the north. A few submerged pilings exist just south of the park boundaries.



Ability

Advanced

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External Links

Jacksonville Windsurfing