Plans for going to the HISC Thanksgiving Cruise 2015

Thanksgiving Cruise with HISC

Last year we celebrated Thanksgiving with the HISC on Joint Decision, our Catalina 250, this year, we're taking Eximius, our 'New to us' Catalina 34. We have spent the past few months working on upgrades and repairs on the boat, it's time get her out of the slip and down the river.

I'll spend some of Friday (day after Thanksgiving) on the boat finishing off the Water Filter system, replenishing the water tanks, and cleaning the cabin, generally making it look nice. Cooling the Fridge Freezer down and stowing food & drinks for the weekend. Making sure all of the necessities are on board and stowed: Pots, Pans, Bedding, Linens, Towels, Toiletries, Books, Electronics, etc. etc. I'm working on building a check off list to make things easier in the future.

The plan is to get to the dock before 8am Saturday, final few bits to be loaded on the boat and cast off by 8:30am. We'll check all of the Electronics and the Engine before disconnecting the Shore Power and casting off the lines. The Dodger windscreen will be in place, we're expecting some crummy weather, but it will be fine. 

We'll head down the New River, past the Swing Bridge, 7th Avenue Bridge, East Coast Railroad Bridge, Andrews Avenue Bridge, and 3rd Avenue Bridge, that will get us through the New River Bridges and it's clear till we get to the Intracoastal. When we reach Sand Bar Park, we'll pass on the North side keeping clear of the shallow waters there. It's really skinny inside the markers, on Thanksgiving day there'll be a good crowd of power boats, anchors hanging just off their bow, partying big time. 

Once past Sand Bar Park, we'll head up the Intracoastal, ok, we'll be motoring East, towards Los Olas Blvd Bridge, that opens on the 15 & 45 minute marks, so we'll time our arrival. Next bridge is at Sunrise, that opens on the hour and half hour, 00 & 30 minute marks, so we'll have 15 or 45 minutes to get between those two bridges.

Our destination is the lake on the North side of the Coral Ridge Yacht Club. So that's only a few minutes North of the Sunrise Bridge on the West side of the Intracoastal Waterway. We have read about the shallows on the southern side of the lake entry, so we'll be entering closer to the North side of the lake.

If all goes well, we'll be dropping anchor by 10am (ish). Remember the Sailors Motto - Better late than dead on time.

If you're heading over the Sunrise bridge, you might see us at anchor, beep your horn!

See you on the water.