New Marina in St. Augustine Set to Open

A stalled marina project initiated in the early 2000s is finally opening thanks to new ownership. Sebastian Harbor Marina in St. Augustine, Florida, will offer 64 wet slips to accommodate vessels up to 55 feet in length. New marina owner, Asante Asset Management, is performing the multi-million-dollar marina renovation, which adjoins their neighboring AC Hotel St. Augustine. The project will include dredging, pile replacement and augmentation, among other improvements to fortify the existing floating dock system. Dredging efforts will achieve a 7-foot draft at mean low water. John Valdes & Associates, Inc. is overseeing the marina’s construction. The marina will offer all modern amenities and security features, as well as laundry facilities, pumpout and a harbor master’s office.

Targeted clientele includes monthly and long-term slip guests as well as transient boaters cruising through St. Augustine. While live-aboard stays are not permitted, the marina will offer two luxury apartments for boaters or their guests.

Safe Passage Marina Management, LLC, led by St. Augustine business professionals John Valdes and Nico Recore, will oversee the marina’s operations and management. Leveraging the notoriety of St. Augustine as one of the most popular stops for boaters on the Intracoastal Waterway, the marina hopes to capture and integrate the local experience for their guests.

“We want Sebastian Harbor Marina to be more than simply a place to dock a boat,” Recore said. “We have an extraordinary location in the heart of America’s oldest city, a beautiful, protected harbor and an opportunity to welcome boaters into the St. Augustine experience from the moment they step onto the dock. We can’t wait to welcome our first guests.”