Las Olas

After three days in the Land of Bridges, we pulled into Las Olas on the north side of Fort Lauderdale and set anchor a stone’s throw from an old college friend and experienced cruiser, Lisa Ann (and SO Scott). In addition, Sea Captain-friend Mark C. was in town for work. We had a super weekend catching up with these great friends and received loads of advice and a Christmas-load of gifts. Great thanks to all!  In addition, we got in a shake-down cruise out to the Gulf Stream which was definitely one of those terrors that needed to be confronted.

On Saturday morning, we sailed several miles out into the Gulf Stream; no one got sick and everyone got a good taste of what a 3-knot current feels like,

or at least what it does to our course. We all got a chance to steer the boat and got to see a huge cruise ship departing the harbor on our way back in. The Coast Guard was putting on a show, zipping around the ship with a big gun and amidst the excitement and multi-million dollar homes, Finn dropped ‘trow’ and peed over the side.  Upon our return, Saturday evening, we dinghied over to a local restaurant and enjoyed a great dinner with friends.

On the way out through Port Everglades Inlet, the last bridge on the ICW we had to pass, had a clearance of 55 feet. We have a document stating our mast is 51 feet and another identifying it as 54 feet. We didn’t know if either was correct or if these measurements included the weather equipment on top. We radioed in an opening and the operator radioed back asking if we were sure we needed an opening. My thoughts immediately said “shouldn’t the question be ‘Are you sure you don’t need an opening?’” We took the opening and on the way back the tide was out and we skirted under a 58-foot span. Bob and Grandpa got to work the next day to figure out just what the height is which came in somewhere between 52 and 53 feet.

We spent Sunday running around doing last minute shopping, Kim and the kids with Lisa Ann and Scott and Bob and Grandpa with Mark and finished up the final preparations for departure on Monday.