Memorial Day Weekend Cruise - 2025 Pt. 1

Planning for a cruise to Jensen Beach Florida

Our local Sailing Club - HISC - Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club is planning a cruise from Hillsboro Inlet to Jensen Beach FL over the Memorial Day. For us, this will be a two day trip up to Jensen Beach and a two or three day trip back. Stops in Lake Worth and possibly Jupiter are in the cards.

The plan includes meeting up with a few other club members in Jensen Beach, and a whole bunch of members that will drive up for a Saturday evening casual dinner locally. Should be a great trip.

The planning involves research on the Route, Mooring options, Anchorages, Tides & Currents and, of course, the weather. The cruise is planned for May 23rd but we'll probably leave the dock on Thursday May 22nd and return by May 28th. We're in no rush to head back, although that could change - it's Hurricane Season June 1st through November 30th. So an early return is always in the books.

Ok, where do we start?  

What is the distance we have to cover at about 5 knots?

If we head up the ditch due to a grumpy ocean - or - Plan B. then we're familiar with the route, it's the same one that we did in 2015 when we brought Eximius from Solerno Marina in Manatee Pocket by Port St. Lucie back to our rented dock in Fort Lauderdale, except it's the reverse course.

On both the route North and back South, we have the option to enter/exit the ICW/Ocean via Jupiter Inlet, but ideally we'll sail outside each day enroute rather than up/down the ditch.

The route via the Ocean is:

Day 1. Thursday May 22nd

• On the ICW 
• Our Dock south of Atlantic Blvd
• Atlantic Blvd Bridge
• 14th Street Bridge
• Hillsboro Inlet Bridge
• Turn North East on the Ocean to grab some lift from the Gulf Stream
• Lake Worth Inlet
• Anchor overnight by Peanut Island

Day 2. Friday May 23rd

• Depart via Lake Worth Inlet
• Turn North East on the ocean, just as we did on Day 1.
• If weather dictates, 
• We'll come in from the Ocean at Jupiter Inlet
• At Jupiter Inlet, we'll turn North and head up the ICW to Jensen Beach
• If the weather is good, then we'll continue up to Port St. Lucie Inlet
• Turn North and head for Jensen Beach
• If the weather is from the SW we'll anchor South of the Causeway
• Else we'll drop anchor North of the Causeway.

Day 3 Saturday May 24th

• Fun Day 

Day 4 Sunday May 25th

• Fun Day

Day 5 Monday May 26th - Memorial Day

• Raise Anchor
• If the weather is fine, we'll take the Ocean route to Lake Worth with the option to drop into Jupiter
• Else we'll take the ICW Southwards.

Day 6 Tuesday May 27th 

• Raise Anchor Depart Lake Worth for home. Hopefully via the Ocean.

Ok, that's the Outline of the trip. Next - time to review the tides for all three Inlets, HI for Thursday Morning and Tuesday afternoon, Lake Worth Inlet For Thursday, Monday afternoons and Tuesday Morning, St. Lucie Inlet for Friday Afternoon and Monday Morning as well as Sunday Morning if we decide to head South on Sunday.

We have reserved a mooring buoy at Jensen Beach Mooring field for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, departing Monday morning.

I'll detail those in the next post. Just remember, we draw 5'7" empty, so more like 5'8" 

See you on the water.