Mission Accomplished .... And the 100-foot Boat Slip

From backyard shed to industry benchmark:

In the fall of 2021, my client, a retired physician from Ponte Vedra Beach, was looking for a beautiful condo on the ocean. He wanted to immerse himself in nature at its best, with ocean breeze, sunrises and wildlife, so I invited him to look at the condo at the prestigious Corona Del Mar, located at 33 Comares Ave. in Saint Augustine.

Corona Del Mar is a boutique condo building with only 15 units facing the water and each with its own deeded boat slip. The first view from inside the unit, was from the generous balcony looking out on the Salt Run and Anastasia Park and, in the distance, the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.

After further confirming that the interiors fulfilled all their needs with space and amenities, they lingered on the balcony looking at the various boats, gardens, palm trees, swimming pool, and the adjacent harbor of the classic Florida Conch House and Marina. They truly loved watching the pelicans, the seagulls the ospreys and spoonbills as well as pods of dolphins playing in the water around the docks.

After confirming they had found their retirement paradise, they soon became the new proud owners.

While meeting the other condo owners, Dr S. asked Clyde Murphree, who owns the other top-floor corner penthouse and a large boat, “How did you find your condo?” Clyde laughingly replied, “I was living on my Leopard 500 in the Virgin Islands looking for a boat slip, which I found here at CDM, and the condo just came with it.” But that’s another story.

Soon after, they learned about the interesting history of the condo’s original owner, Mr. Douglas Clarke from the Worcestershire Village in England.

Doug became a local legend with insights into his high-octane life as an accomplished musician, operating 11 motor dealerships, including MG Rovers. With his passions as an avid boatsman, sea dog, and businessmen, his story continued. The official biography of Douglas Clark, written by Euan Rose, is titled Belt and Braces—it’s a very interesting read and is available on Amazon.

An excellent article about his illustrious life, written by Sarah Reese, was also published on August 21, 2013, in the Orlando newspaper The Village.

He discovered beautiful St. Augustine while living on his yacht called Mission Accomplished.

As written in his biography:

“I berthed and booked myself into the Conch House Marina on Anastasia Island, and set off to explore St. Augustine. It was like an adult fairyland, country rock, bands played, art shops abounded, and there was just this fabulous feeling of being somewhere magical. On the way back to the boat I noticed a fantastic little development called Corona del Mar. It was a block of really nice apartments set in magnificent grounds. There was even a 50-foot dock for every condominium. It had been built two years earlier and there was just one condo left. I looked around it and was astounded by the abundance of wildlife. I imagined sitting out on the balcony watching nature at its best. I decided there and then that I had reached the end of my traveling around by boat and wanted to have some roots here on dry land.”

While living on his yacht, he played with his friends at the Trade Winds in St. Augustine.

But he also needed a boat slip for his large yacht. Entrepreneurial and creative as he was, he was able to find a home of his liking at Corona Del Mar. Later, he bought three condos there, each with a 50-foot dock, and managed to combine two of the dock slips to end up with a 100-foot boat slip at the end of the CDM dock. He then sold the other two condos and lived in the largest penthouse unit with the beautiful views that he so admired.

This beautiful condominium with the 100-foot deep-water boat slip is now

for sale.

Unit 305 at Corona Del Mar is a boater’s dream, featuring a deeded 100-foot deep-water boat slip with running water and electric hook-ups, plus two underground garage parking spaces.

Welcome to our dock and to Unit 305 at Corona Del Mar, which is the rare top-floor corner unit. This penthouse retreat offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Salt Run, Anastasia Park, and the Atlantic Ocean.

This spacious 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom condo spans 1,870 square feet and has front-row seats to Florida’s birds and dolphin watching.

After a sail, step inside to discover a light-filled, peaceful home adorned with expansive windows that frame the stunning coastal vistas. The gourmet kitchen boasts granite countertops and backsplash, custom cabinetry made of Canadian alderwood, and new, modern appliances. The home’s privacy and amenities, along with its open concept in the living and dining areas, make it perfect for entertaining.

Enjoy sunrises, ocean breezes, afternoon happy hours and moonrises over the ocean, all from your private outdoor retreat. Watch the birds flying by in the mornings and evenings. Watch the seagulls, pelicans and spoonbills enjoying the waters just below your balcony.

CDM is a 15-unit concrete-block condominium complex, with a tile roof, offering residents exclusive amenities, including a heated pool and spa, outdoor grilling area, running water and sink, floating docks, covered dock gazebo with seating, a fish-cleaning station, condo elevator, underground parking and individual storage lockers. Located in the desirable David Shores neighborhood, it is just steps from the Conch House Marina and restaurant next door, local dining, shopping, and a short bike ride to historic downtown Saint Augustine and the beach.

Whether you are seeking a full-time residence or a luxurious coastal getaway, unit 305 delivers an unmatched opportunity with a private, 100-foot dock slip ownership, and an elegant lifestyle in an ideal location.