The Querrey's QUEST: WE'RE IN THE MONEY, HONEY (OR AT LEAST LOOKING AT IT)

RIVIERA BEACH TO LAKE SYLVIA IN FORT LAUDERDALE

WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 42 NM

ANCHORED AT LAKE SYLVIA IN FT. LAUDERDALE MM 1064.5

SUNRISE AT RIVIERA BEACH: 6:55 AM

SUNSET AT RIVIERA BEACH: 5:27 PM

HIGH: 82

LOW: 66

With the sun still contemplating its ascent, the Bahamas Celebration slipped into port after its quick run to Nassau. Here she is just clearing Peanut Island and entering her berth at the Port of Palm Beach. And that was just the beginning of our boat sightings on our way to Ft. Lauderdale!

BAHAMAS CELEBRATION COMING AROUND PEANUT ISLAND

Not only are the temperatures getting warmer (YES!) but the water has lost it coffee coloring and is getting clearer. Looking down between the dock and Quest we were able to see lovely, tropical fish swimming around the pilings. I think this may be a Queen Angelfish. And to think, a few days ago we could hardly spot a log floating in the water.

POSSIBLY AN ANGELFISH IN THE AQUA WATERS

This port area is like “Guy Heaven” with all the activity going on. Boats were being loaded on the BBC Scotland, bound for exotic ports. Cranes used for loading and off-loading dotted the shoreline. Shit was happening everywhere and Dan was drooling with excitement!

PACKING UP THE BCC SCOTLAND AND GETTING READY TO SHOVE OFF

TOYS FOR BOYS TO DROOL OVER

We started out for the short 42 mile trip to Ft. Lauderdale, thinking it would be an easy day. Well, let me tell you, when you have to request openings for 17 bridges and somehow manage to make their scheduled while still honoring the many “Slow-No Wake Zones” set up for the protection of the Manatees, your day suddenly gets really long. The bridge at Commercial Blvd. offered up some diversion with maintenance workers attempting to make repairs on one span while the other span opened.

LOOK, WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE!

SUPPORTED BY NETS WHILE WORKING UNDER THE BRIDGE

So we had a few other diversions today too. The Ft. Lauderdale area is like a spa for the mega-yachts and they were here in mass. Dan caught a glimpse of Paul Allen’s 198’ Meduse and the lovely 240’ Laurel that ranks as the 46th largest yacht in the world. You could purchase the 161’ Trinity, Zoom-Zoom-Zoom, for about 23,400,000.00 or even charter if you had some extra petty cash.

THE LAUREL

ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM

The 160’ VF-15 is owned by Jack Taylor, founder of Enterprise Car Rentals. He had served on the USS Enterprise during WWII as a naval aviator and is now #128 on Forbes List of Billionaires. You can also buy his little boat for 29.95 million.

VF 15

The biggest surprise today was finding La Masquerade docked here in Ft. Lauderdale. We had first seen her in Costa Rica at Bahia Carillo Bay, then Quepos, and Golfito. We next saw her in Panama as we pulled up anchor off Isla Cebaco the finally heard over the radio that they were transiting the Panama Canal later the same day as we were. This 180’ beauty is owned by Sir. Robert Ogden, a British industrialist and racehorse owner. On September 30, 2010, after transiting the canal in April, this 710 ton luxury yacht was docked in Curacao before continuing on to Brazil and Antarctica. For some untold reason the pilot of a 45,000 ton tanker entering the channel misjudged their entry and hit La Masquerade, snapping six lines then dragging her down the dock. It appears that she is fit and back cruising again.

LA MASQUERADE

Finally, finally at 5:00 we anchored in Lake Sylvia just past the Las Olas Blvd. Bridge and the Swimmers Hall of Fame Marina. This little hidden lake proved to be a popular anchorage for the cruising crowd. We found ourselves in good company with mostly sailboats but this custom built Dettling, Limelight, out of Denton, MD charmed us. We had been traveling along with them off and on all day and spoke to them on the radio once to comment on their appealing craft. After we anchored they cruised in and hovered close by for a chat before moving on to drop their hook. The owner and wife were on board and gave us a little history of their Dettling Boats. You can see more at www.dettlingyachts.com. Joe Fischer, I think this could be for you!