Jan 22, 2010 N. Lake Worth, MM 1014 to Sunrise Blvd. Bridge, MM 1062.6

We up anchor this day at 0645, MM 1014, in North Lake Worth/N. Palm Beach. Travel down the ICW four miles passing Lake Worth Inlet at Palm Beach. I took pictures of the first three boats to show the kind of crap that floats in FL. These kinds of craft are all along the ICW. No wonder homeowners want to ban anchoring. A marina manager refers to them as floating shells for the homeless.

Proper seamanship dictates obtaining an accurate weather forecast before leaving the anchorage. I listen to the weather every day, and many days LOON does not travel. After searching the internet, I located a weather forecaster who is blazing new trails in forecasting. Because of the forecaster's uncanny ability to predicte the weather, I copied one of his weather maps. This forecast map represents reality, don't you agree?

Lake Worth Inlet.

Lake Worth Inlet.

Lake Worth Inlet. These boats share anchorages with ICW cruises. If/when a strom comes and these break loose/drag (AND THEY WILL) it is my *(&#$%! boat that gets damaged!

Tall Ship near Lake Worth Inlet.


The next three pictures are of Yachts at the Rybovich Marina, Palm Beach.

Largest sailboat I've seen.

The Rybovich Marina. Look at the size of the travel lift. Cruising guide list the lift at 300 TONS!

Motor Yacht BACARELLA at Rybovich.

And now for the first bridge... enjoy.

Bridge 1.

MM 1021.9. Flagler Memorial B. (opens on qtr and three qtr hr)

Hotel in West Palm Beach.

Bridge 2.

MM 1022.6. Royal Park B. ( opens on hr and 1/2 hr)

Bridge 3.

MM 1024.7. Southern Blvd. B. (opens on qtr and three qtr hr)

Bridge 4.

MM 1028.8. Lake Avenue B. (opens on demand)

Bridge 5.

MM 1031. Lantana B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr)

Bridge 6.

MM 1035. Ocean Avenue B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr)

Closer look at Ocean Ave B. FL bridges are by far the nicest on the ICW.

Pelicans waiting for the bridge to open.

Bridge 7.

MM 1035.8. Southeast 15th Avenue B. (opens on demand)

Bridge 8.

MM 1038.7. George Bush Blvd. B. (opens on demand)

Bridge 9.
MM 1039.6. Atlantic Avenue B. (opens on qtr and three qtr hr)

Bridge 10.

MM 1041.0. Linton Blvd. B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr)
At this point, LOON traveled 27 sm and asked for openings for TEN bridges. Are you getting the picture?

Bridge 11.

MM 1044.9. Spanish River Blvd. B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr)

Bridge 12.

MM 1047.5. Palmetto Park Road B. (open on hr and 1/2 hr)

Oh boy, .7 of a sm and another bridge (#13).

Bridge 13.

MM 1048.2. East Camino B. (on hr and every 20 minutes)

MM 1054. Hillsboro Inslet Bridge -- No picture- I won't count it.

Nice Home near Pompano Beach.

Bridge 14.

MM 1055. Northeast 14th Street B. (open on qtr and three qtr hr)

Bridge 15.
MM 1056. Atlantic Blvd. B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr)

Bridge 16.

MM 1059. Commercial Blvd. B. with Welcome to Ft Lauderdale sign.

MM 1059. Commercial Blvd. B. (open on Hr and 1/2 hr)

Bridge 17!

MM 1060.5. Oakland Park B. (open on qtr. and three qtr. hr.)

Bridge 18! Seventeen is enough for one day.

MM 1062.6 - Sunrise Blvd. B. (opens on hr and 1/2 hr). Yacht docked at Coral Ridge YC, MM 1062.3.

MM 1062.3 - Anchored N. and W. of Coral Ridge YC.

Today was work:

traveled 48.3 sm

17 bridge openings (a bridge on average every 2.8 sm)

travel time 9 hrs 25 minutes

average speed 5.1 sm hr. Reality usually run the engine at 2200 rpms. Between bridges ran 2800 to 3000 rpms. Translate -- put the engine through hell AND happy I have new motor mounts.

An alternative, which most cruisers take, is to go "outside" at Lake Worth Inlet and come in at Port Everglade Inlet, Ft Lauderdale, approximatley 45-50 nm. I had to do this once, will go outside on the return north.

Next post downtown Ft Lauderdale, only two bridges away on the ICW, BUT 4 bridges on the New River to Cooley's Landing Marina. FYI the New "River" is not as wide as Back Creek yet you meet 140! yachts. My camera could not capture the closeness or the 2.5 knot current.