Along a tidal lagoon, next to marshy grass lands, bordered by sand dunes awaits an adventure on the water that's perfect for summer.
"It's a really gentle place to learn, so they get used to it pretty fast,” said sailing instructor Jessie Youngblood.
Where the water and the wind meet, await a safe harbor for sailing lessons.
“You cross the wind. The sail switches sides. And then you pick up the other side of the tack,” Youngblood explained.
Youngblood, a sailing instructor with Anastasia Water Sports, makes it look easy. The four-mile lagoon is where first-time mariners can become comfortable at the helm.
What is the most difficult thing about sailing?
“Tacking up wind. It takes someone awhile before they realize how fine the line is to get to the wind,” Jessie believes.
Youngblood said you can learn this in 10 minutes and be on your own.
“We can watch you from where we are, so that if you do get in any trouble, we can come and help you,” she said from the lookout on the beach.
After learning how to sail, if you want to get an up-close look at Mother Nature, the best way to do it is with a kayak. Besides Hobe Cats, Anastasia Water Sports also rents paddleboards, windsurfers and kayaks from their facility located inside Anastasia State Park.
On calm days, sailing students can sail a few miles north and enjoy lunch at waterfront cafes.
Anastasia Water Sports is open seven days a week. You can find the boat launch located inside Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine.
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