Captain's Passage Briefing — ICW

Sunset Bay Marina → Lauderdale Yacht Club

Stuart, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL — Full Intracoastal Waterway

Monday, March 9, 2026 · Departure 0800 EDT

Vessel: 2019 Cruisers Cantius 46 | Engines: Twin Volvo D6 IPS600 | Draft: 3'6" loaded | Air Draft: ~14'3"

DST Alert: Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on March 9. Clocks spring forward 1 hour. You lose an hour of sleep — set alarms the night before.

~73 SM

Total Distance

7.5–9 hrs

Est. Transit

~70 gal

Fuel Burn

~3:30 PM

ETA (EDT)

Bridges

8–12

Openings Needed

ICW

Route Type

Vessel Profile

2019 Cruisers Yachts Cantius 46 — verified specifications

Dimensions & Hull

LOA

46' 11"

Including swim platform

Beam

14' 9"

Draft (loaded)

3' 6" (42")

Mfg spec: 3'3" (39") light

Air Draft

~14' 3"

Verify Your Vessel

Dry Weight

32,200 lbs

Displacement (loaded)

~37,000 lbs

Hull Type

Fiberglass Planing

Deadrise at Transom

16–17°

Propulsion & Power

Engines

Twin Volvo Penta D6-435

IPS600 pod drives

Horsepower

435 HP each (870 total)

@ 3,500 RPM

Engine Type

Inline 6-cyl, 5.5L diesel

Common-rail turbo

Generator

13.5 kW Cummins Onan

17 kW if Seakeeper equipped

Control

Joystick docking

Electronic throttle/shift

Max Speed

~31 knots

@ 3,550 RPM WOT

Capacities

Fuel

358 gallons

~350 gal usable

Fresh Water

100 gallons

Holding Tank

50 gallons

Staterooms / Heads

2 / 2

Sleeps 4–6

Performance & Fuel Burn Chart

RPM	Speed	GPH (both engines)	Range (NM)	NMPG
1,200	6.2 kts	2.3	~900	2.70
2,500	16.0 kts	22	~244	0.73
2,800	18.9 kts	~27	~235	0.70
3,000	23.2 kts	30	~259	0.77
~3,200	~26 kts	~35	~249	0.74
~3,400	28.0 kts	38.5	~236	0.73
3,550 (WOT)	31.1 kts	44	~237	0.71

Data from BoatTEST / Power & Motoryacht. 26-knot / 35 GPH row interpolated — consistent with owner-reported burn rate. Range based on 358-gal tank with 10% reserve.

ICW Compatibility Checklist

Is the Cantius 46 ready for the Stuart–Fort Lauderdale ICW run?

Requirement	Spec	ICW Condition	Status
Draft clearance	3'6" loaded	ICW channel: 6–12 ft (except Jupiter MM 1004: 3.3 ft MLLW)	Caution at Jupiter
Air draft / bridge clearance	~14'3"	Lowest bridges: 9–14 ft closed (openings available)	OK — request openings
LOA for bridge openings	46'11"	All bridges accommodate vessels to 100+ ft	OK
Beam for channel width	14'9"	ICW channel: 100+ ft wide throughout	OK
VHF radio	Required	All bridges on VHF Ch. 09	Verify Working
Fuel range	358 gal / ~70 gal burn for ICW	80% reserve remaining at destination	Excellent
Maneuverability	IPS joystick	Tight bridge approaches, cross-currents	Excellent
Wake profile	Planing hull	No-wake zones require discipline	Mind your wake

Verdict: The Cantius 46 is well-suited for the ICW. Your IPS joystick makes bridge approaches easy. Only concern: Jupiter Inlet crossing at MM 1004 with severe shoaling. Use the inlet bypass route or transit at high tide.

Concern Matrix

Awareness items ranked by severity

Jupiter Inlet Shoaling (MM 1004) Critical

ICW channel has shoaled to <3.3 ft MLLW (Jan 2025 USACE survey). Your 3.5-ft draft WILL NOT CLEAR at low tide. Use the "Bob423" inlet bypass: exit Jupiter Inlet briefly, 180° turn, re-enter ICW south of shoaling (8.0 ft MLLW). No dredging planned. Transit at mid-to-high tide for safety.

Daylight Saving Time Change Critical

Clocks spring forward at 2 AM on March 9. You lose 1 hour. Set alarms the night before. All tide times listed here are EDT. A 7.5–9 hour transit means you may arrive near sunset (~7:25 PM) if delayed significantly.

FEC Railroad Bridge (Stuart, MM ~988) Unpredictable

Brightline train bridge is normally open but closes unpredictably for train crossings. Cannot be closed >50 min/hr. Check bridgeschedule.com app before departure. Could delay departure 5–15 min.

Palm Beach Bridge Cluster Delay Risk

Flagler Memorial, Royal Park, and Southern Blvd bridges are close together (MM 1021–1024). New 2025 schedule reduces peak-hour openings to once/hour. Arrive at this cluster between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM to avoid peak restrictions.

Hillsboro Inlet Cross-Current (MM 1050) Caution

Flood tide currents up to 5–6 knots past the Hillsboro Blvd bridge. Strong lateral set can push vessel off channel. Slow down, maintain channel center, compensate for set.

Air Draft Margin Verify

Manufacturer spec: 14'3". Some sources list 14'9". Bridges at 15 ft clearance will be VERY TIGHT. Measure your actual air draft with antennas/equipment. At high tide, bridge clearances decrease. Consider retracting or folding any antennas.

Manatee Season Slow Zones Manageable

November 15 – March 31 manatee protection zones are in effect. Adds 1.5–2.5 hours to transit. Factor into your timeline. Watch for manatees and comply with posted speeds.

Monday Bridge Schedules Favorable

Monday is a weekday — regular weekday schedules apply. Less recreational traffic than weekends. However, seasonal restrictions (Nov–May) are in effect for several bridges.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Complete before casting off at 0800

The Night Before (March 8)

Set alarms for 0600 — clocks spring forward at 2 AM (you lose 1 hour)
Check latest marine forecast: weather.gov/marine
Download/check BridgeSchedule app for FEC Railroad status
Call Lauderdale Yacht Club marina: (954) 527-2209 — confirm transient slip
Review tide tables for Jupiter Inlet (high tide ~1:03 PM for inlet bypass timing)
Charge all electronics: phones, tablets, handheld VHF
Provision boat: water, snacks, lunch supplies, sunscreen

Morning of Departure (0700–0800)

Check fuel level — top off if not full (need ~70 gal; have 358 gal capacity)
Engine pre-start: check oil, coolant, belts, raw water strainers
Start engines, let warm up. Confirm gauges normal.
Start generator if needed for A/C or electronics
Test VHF radio — radio check on Ch. 09 or Ch. 16
Verify chartplotter is on and GPS lock acquired
Check all navigation lights (running, anchor, stern)
Confirm bilge pumps operational (auto and manual)
Brief crew: route plan, bridge protocol, safety equipment locations
Verify PFDs accessible (1 per person + 1 throwable Type IV)
Check fire extinguishers — charged and accessible
Secure all loose items below and on deck
Retract or fold any tall antennas (maximize bridge clearance)
Close all hatches and ports for underway
Cast off lines. Depart Sunset Bay Marina at 0800.

Captain's Bottom Line

Executive Summary

Take the ICW. Depart Sunset Bay Marina at 0800, run the full Intracoastal Waterway south through Jupiter, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, and into Fort Lauderdale. Total distance ~73 statute miles with 29 bridges (8–12 requiring openings for your air draft). Expect 7.5–9 hours transit with bridge delays and no-wake zones. ETA ~3:00–4:30 PM.

Fuel burn will be remarkably low — only ~70 gallons — because ICW speeds average 10–18 knots between slow zones. Your 358-gallon tank leaves 80% reserves at arrival. Weather is perfect (E 5–10 kt, fair). Bring lunch aboard or stop at a waterfront restaurant along the way.

Jupiter Inlet (MM 1004) is your #1 concern. Channel has shoaled to <3.3 ft. Use the inlet bypass route or time for high tide (~1:03 PM, but you'll arrive earlier ~9:40 AM — use the bypass).
Measure your actual air draft before departure. Bridges at 15 ft clearance will be tight at 14'3".
Call LYC marina at (954) 527-2209 to confirm transient slip availability.
Monitor VHF Ch. 09 for bridge operations throughout the transit.

Satellite Imagery

ESRI World Imagery — route overview and key areas

Route Overview — Stuart to Fort Lauderdale

Full ICW corridor, 73 statute miles. North (Stuart) at top, south (Fort Lauderdale) at bottom.

Satellite overview Stuart to Fort Lauderdale

Departure: Sunset Bay Marina, Stuart

Sunset Bay Marina on the St. Lucie River. Head east to ICW, then south. FEC Railroad bridge visible.

Critical: Jupiter Inlet (MM 1004) Shoaling

ICW crosses Jupiter Inlet here. Channel shoaled to <3.3 ft. Use inlet bypass (exit, 180° turn, re-enter south).

Arrival: Fort Lauderdale & Lauderdale Yacht Club

Satellite view Fort Lauderdale and Lauderdale Yacht Club

Port Everglades entrance (left), ICW running north-south, LYC located south of SE 17th St bridge at MM 1065.4. Turn west between ICW markers 24A & 26.

Fuel Planning

ICW transit uses much less fuel than offshore — mixed speeds with frequent slow zones

73 SM

Total Distance

7.5–9 hrs

Total Transit

~70 gal

Est. Fuel Burn

358 gal

Tank Capacity

~288 gal

Fuel at Arrival

80%

Reserve at Dest.

Fuel Burn Breakdown by Speed Mode

Mode	Speed	GPH	Est. Time	Fuel Used
No-wake / idle	5–6 kts	2.3	~2.5 hrs	~6 gal
Bridge approach/wait (idle)	0–3 kts	2.3	~2.0 hrs	~5 gal
Slow cruise	8–10 kts	~7	~2.0 hrs	~14 gal
Open ICW cruise	16–20 kts	~22	~2.0 hrs	~44 gal
Total	Mixed	—	~8.5 hrs	~69 gal

If you plan to continue to Freeport on March 10 (~82 NM at 35 GPH = ~110 gal), you will have ample fuel. Top off in Fort Lauderdale before the crossing if desired.

ICW Passage Timeline

Estimated progression — full ICW route, Monday schedule

0730Pre-departure checks, engine start

Brief crew, check weather, confirm LYC slip.

0800Depart Sunset Bay Marina

Idle speed through marina. Slow speed on St. Lucie River.

0810FEC Railroad Bridge

Normally open. If closed for train, wait 5–15 min.

0815–0855ICW south to Hobe Sound

Hobe Sound NWR slow-speed zone (seasonal). 15–20 min at slow speed.

0855Hobe Sound Bridge (on demand)

21 ft clearance — should clear. Minimal wait.

0940Jupiter Inlet Crossing (MM 1004)

CRITICAL SHOALING. Use inlet bypass route: exit inlet, 180° turn, re-enter south side. Slow speed.

1000Jupiter bridges (CR 707, US-1)

On demand. Clear at 25–26 ft.

1015Indiantown Rd Bridge

15 ft clearance — marginal. Wait for :00 or :30 opening if needed.

1030Donald Ross Bridge

14 ft — requires opening. Wait for :00 or :30.

1045PGA Blvd & Parker bridges

24–25 ft clearance. Clear without opening. Cruise 16–18 kts.

1100Blue Heron Bridge (65 ft fixed)

No delay. Snorkel spot at Phil Foster Park if you want to stop.

1115–1145Palm Beach Trio

Flagler (17 ft), Royal Park (14 ft), Southern Blvd (14 ft). Coordinate openings. 15–30 min delays possible.

1200Lake Worth to Lantana

Lake Worth Ave (35 ft, clears). Lantana (13 ft, needs opening).

1215–1245Boynton Beach corridor

Ocean Ave (10 ft, needs opening). Good lunch stop window.

1245–1315Delray Beach corridor

George Bush Blvd (9 ft, on demand), Atlantic Ave (12 ft, qtr/three-qtr).

1315–1345Boca Raton corridor

Spanish River & Palmetto Park (clear). Camino Real (9 ft, needs opening).

1345–1415Hillsboro to Pompano

Watch for Hillsboro Inlet cross-current. NE 14th St & Atlantic Blvd (15 ft, marginal).

1415–1445Fort Lauderdale corridor

Commercial Blvd, Oakland Park (clears), Sunrise Blvd (16 ft, clears). New permanent slow zone.

1445Las Olas Blvd Bridge (31 ft — clears)

Almost there. Slow speed zone continues.

1500–1530Arrive Lauderdale Yacht Club

Turn between ICW markers 24A & 26. Follow private channel. Hail VHF Ch. 69.

Bridge Operations — Complete List

All 29 bridges, Stuart to Fort Lauderdale — Monday/weekday March schedule. VHF Ch. 09 for all.

Stuart / Martin County

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?	Wait
1	FEC Railroad (Brightline)	~988	7 ft	Normally open; closes for trains	Yes	5–15 min
2	Ernest Lyons (A1A)	984.9	65 ft	FIXED — no opening	No	0

Hobe Sound / Jupiter

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?
3	Hobe Sound (SR 708)	995.9	21 ft	On demand	No
4	Jupiter Island (CR 707)	1004.1	25 ft	On demand	No
5	Jupiter Federal (US-1)	1004.8	26 ft	On demand	No

Jupiter to Palm Beach

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?	Wait
6	Indiantown Rd (SR 706)	1006.2	15 ft	Hour & half-hour	Marginal	0–15
7	Donald Ross Rd	1009.3	14 ft	Hour & half-hour	Yes	5–15
8	PGA Blvd	1012.6	25 ft	Hour & half-hour	No	0
9	Parker (US-1)	1013.7	25 ft	Qtr & three-qtr hour	No	0
—	Blue Heron (A1A)	1018.0	65 ft	FIXED — no opening	No	0

Palm Beach Trio Delay Risk

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule (M-F March)	Opening?	Wait
10	Flagler Memorial (A1A)	1021.8	17 ft	Qtr & three-qtr. Peak: once/hr.	No	0
11	Royal Park (SR 704)	1022.6	14 ft	Hour & half-hour. Peak: once/hr.	Yes	5–15
12	Southern Blvd (SR 700)	1024.7	14 ft	Hour & half-hour. Peak: once/hr.	Yes	5–15

Lake Worth to Boca Raton

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?	Wait
13	Lake Worth Ave	1028.8	35 ft	On demand	No	0
14	Lantana Ave	1031.0	13 ft	Hour & half-hour	Yes	5–15
15	Ocean Ave (Boynton)	1035.0	10 ft	Hour & half-hour	Yes	5–15
16	Woolbright Rd	1035.8	25 ft	On demand	No	0
17	George Bush Blvd (Delray)	1038.7	9 ft	On demand	Yes	0–5
18	Atlantic Ave (Delray)	1039.6	12 ft	Qtr & three-qtr hour	Yes	5–15
19	Linton Blvd	1041.1	30 ft	Hour & half-hour	No	0
20	Spanish River (Boca)	1044.9	21 ft	Hour & half-hour	No	0
21	Palmetto Park Rd	1047.5	20 ft	Hour & half-hour	No	0
22	Camino Real (Boca)	1048.2	9 ft	On the hour, :20, :40	Yes	5–10

Deerfield / Pompano

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?	Wait
23	Hillsboro Blvd (SR 810)	1050.0	21 ft	Hour & half-hour	No	0
24	NE 14th St (Pompano)	1055.0	15 ft	7a–6p: qtr & three-qtr	Marginal	0–15
25	Atlantic Blvd (SR 814)	1056.0	15 ft	7a–6p: hour & half-hour	Marginal	0–15

Fort Lauderdale

#	Bridge	MM	Clr.	Schedule	Opening?	Wait
26	Commercial Blvd	1059.0	15 ft	Nov–May M-F: every 15 min	Marginal	0–10
27	Oakland Park Blvd	1060.0	22 ft	Qtr & three-qtr hour	No	0
28	Sunrise Blvd	1062.2	16 ft	Nov–May: every 20 min	No	0
29	Las Olas Blvd	1064.0	31 ft	Qtr & three-qtr hour	No	0

Verify Before Departure All bridge schedules subject to change. Signal for opening: one prolonged blast + one short blast. All bridges monitor VHF Ch. 09.

No-Wake & Slow-Speed Zones

March is manatee season — zones in effect Nov 15 through Mar 31

Location	MM	Restriction	Season	Time Impact
Sunset Bay Marina / St. Lucie River	988–992	Idle / Slow Speed	Year-round	10–15 min
Hobe Sound NWR	993–997	Slow Speed Min. Wake	Nov 15 – Mar 31	15–20 min
Jupiter area	1003–1007	Slow Speed	Year-round (portions)	10–15 min
N. Palm Beach / Old Port Cove	1013–1015	Slow Speed Min. Wake	Year-round	5–10 min
Palm Beach / West Palm Beach	1020–1025	Slow Speed	Seasonal	10–15 min
Lake Worth area	1027–1030	Slow Speed	Near inlet	5–10 min
Boynton / Delray Beach	1033–1040	Idle / Slow near bridges	Various	10–15 min
Boca Raton / Hillsboro	1047–1052	Slow Speed near inlet	Various	5–10 min
Pompano to Ft. Lauderdale	1055–1065	Slow Speed near bridges	Various	10–15 min
Oakland Park to Sunrise (NEW 2026)	1060–1062	Slow Speed Min. Wake	Year-round	5–10 min
Bridge approach zones (all)	Various	Idle within 50 ft	Year-round	Cumulative 15–20 min

Total slow-speed time impact: 1.5–2.5 hours added to transit.

Locks — Communications & Operating Details

No Locks on This Route Clear

There are zero locks on the AICW between Stuart and Fort Lauderdale. The only locks in the greater South Florida waterway system are on the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), which heads west from Stuart toward Lake Okeechobee and Fort Myers. Your southbound ICW route has bridges only — no locks.

Nearby Reference: St. Lucie Lock (S-80) OWW Only

Located 15.1 statute miles west of the AICW junction on the Okeechobee Waterway. Not on your route, but useful if you ever head west.

Designation

S-80 (USACE)

OWW Mile Marker

MM 15.1

Dimensions

250' L × 50' W

Lift

14.5 ft

Highest on the OWW

Operating Hours

0700–1700 daily

VHF Channel

Ch. 13

Phone

(772) 287-2665

Cost

Free

Lock Communication Protocol (All FL Locks)

Step	Action	Details
1. Approach	Hail lockmaster	VHF Ch. 13 — state vessel name and direction. Or 1 prolonged + 1 short blast.
2. Wait	Watch signal lights	Red = stop. Yellow = prepare. Green = enter.
3. Enter	Proceed slowly	Fenders deployed, lines ready. Enter in order directed.
4. Secure	Loop lines on bollards	Never tie fixed knots — water level changes 14.5 ft. Attend lines at all times.
5. Transit	Engines off, PFDs on	~15 min in chamber. Expect turbulence during fill/drain.
6. Exit	Lockmaster signals	Recover lines, start engines, depart in order.

All Okeechobee Waterway Locks

Lock	OWW MM	Size	Lift	VHF	Phone
St. Lucie (S-80)	15.1	250'×50'	14.5'	Ch. 13	(772) 287-2665
Port Mayaca (S-308)	39.0	400'×56'	1.0'	Ch. 13	(561) 924-2858
Julian Keen Jr.	78.0	250'×50'	1.5'	Ch. 13	(863) 946-0414
Ortona	93.5	250'×50'	8.0'	Ch. 13	(863) 675-0616
W.P. Franklin (S-79)	121.4	400'×56'	2.5'	Ch. 13	(239) 694-5451

All OWW locks operate 0700–1700 daily, 365 days/year. Free. Monthly closure: last Thursday, 0900–1000 for safety training.

Depth & Draft Analysis

Draft-aware guidance for 3'6" loaded draft

Critical: Jupiter Inlet MM 1004 Shoaling

USACE Survey (Jan 30, 2025): ICW channel at Jupiter Inlet crossing has shoaled to <3.3 ft MLLW. Your loaded draft of 3'6" will NOT clear at low tide.

Bypass Route ("Bob423 Track")

Approach Jupiter Inlet from the north on the ICW.
Exit Jupiter Inlet to the ocean (briefly).
Make a slow 180° turn.
Re-enter the ICW on the south side of the shoaling zone.
Alternate track provides 8.0 ft MLLW — well clear.

No dredging is planned. This workaround is standard practice. Allow 15–20 minutes for the bypass maneuver.

ICW Depth Summary

Location	Depth	Your Draft	Margin	Status
ICW channel (general)	6–12 ft	3'6"	2.5–8.5 ft	OK
Jupiter Inlet MM 1004	<3.3 ft MLLW	3'6"	NEGATIVE	Use Bypass
Hillsboro Inlet area	5–6 ft	3'6"	1.5–2.5 ft	Caution
LYC approach channel	5.0–7.0 ft	3'6"	1.5–3.5 ft	OK
LYC dockside	5.0–5.5 ft MLW	3'6"	1.5–2.0 ft	OK

Marine Weather

March 9, 2026 — SE Florida Verify Day-Of

🌄

E 5–10 kt

Wind

🌊

~2 ft

Offshore Seas

🌤

Low

T-Storm Risk

🌡

76–82°F

Air Temp

👁

10+ NM

Visibility

🌊

Calm

ICW Conditions

Excellent day for ICW transit. Light winds, fair skies. Verify at weather.gov/marine.

Tides — March 9, 2026 (EDT)

Location	High #1	Low #1	High #2	Low #2
Jupiter Inlet	1:05 AM (2.22 ft)	6:49 AM (0.49 ft)	1:03 PM (2.06 ft)	7:07 PM (0.09 ft)
Lake Worth Inlet	12:46 AM (2.33 ft)	7:00 AM (0.42 ft)	12:47 PM (2.25 ft)	7:20 PM (0.08 ft)
Hillsboro Inlet	12:45 AM (2.29 ft)	6:57 AM (0.42 ft)	12:45 PM (2.15 ft)	7:17 PM (0.10 ft)
Port Everglades	12:39 AM (2.23 ft)	6:48 AM (0.39 ft)	12:39 PM (2.09 ft)	7:08 PM (0.09 ft)

Jupiter Inlet timing: You'll arrive at Jupiter ~9:40 AM. Tide will be rising from low (6:49 AM). At 9:40 AM, tide will be ~1.3 ft above MLLW. The bypass route (8.0 ft MLLW) gives you 9.3 ft of water — ample clearance for your 3'6" draft.

Lunch Stops Along the ICW

Waterfront restaurants with dockage for a 46-footer

Sailor's Return At Departure Marina

625 SW Anchorage Way, Stuart — (772) 872-7250

930 ft courtesy dock right at Sunset Bay. Perfect pre-departure breakfast. Opens 11 AM for lunch.

Guanabanas

960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter — (561) 747-8878

Tiki restaurant on the ICW near Jupiter Inlet. Dock available — call ahead for 46 ft. Great rum drinks. Arrive ~10:00 AM.

Waterway Cafe Best Timing

2300 PGA Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens — (561) 694-1700

Classic ICW waterfront at PGA Bridge. Pull-up dock. Great for an early lunch ~11:00 AM. Fish dip is legendary.

The Cove Restaurant & Marina

1754 SE 3rd Court, Deerfield Beach — (954) 481-9225

Full-service marina with slips to 65 ft, 7 ft at low tide. Excellent dockage for Cantius 46. Arrive ~1:30 PM for late lunch.

Kaluz Restaurant

3300 E Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale — (954) 772-2209

Upscale waterfront, 180 ft dock. Near destination — arrive ~2:00 PM for a final-stretch lunch before LYC.

Snorkel Stop

Best option is directly on your ICW route

Blue Heron Bridge / Phil Foster Park World-Class

Riviera Beach, FL — MM 1018 (65-ft fixed bridge, no delay)

800-ft snorkel trail. Artificial reef, seahorses, octopus, sea turtles, nurse sharks. Depths 5–20 ft. Protected calm water. Boat ramp and dock at Phil Foster Park. Best time: 1 hour before/after high tide. High tide March 9: 12:47 PM. Arrive ~11:00 AM on your timeline — a bit early for peak snorkeling but conditions will be fine on the rising tide.

Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

Monday, March 9, 2026 — after arrival

Dining Near Lauderdale Yacht Club

Restaurant	Cuisine	Walk/Ride	Why Go
Boatyard	Seafood	2 min drive	Premier waterfront, arrive by boat or car. Closest quality option to LYC.
Ocean Prime	Seafood/Steaks	Las Olas Circle	Two-story ICW views, outdoor terraces. Upscale dinner spot.
Louie Bossi Ristorante	Italian	Las Olas Blvd	Popular Las Olas spot. Great atmosphere, open Mondays.
Casa Sensei	Asian-Latin Fusion	Las Olas Blvd	Waterfront on the New River. Full sushi bar.
YOLO	American	Las Olas Blvd	Popular scene, open Monday evenings.

Walking & Exploring

Las Olas Boulevard — Fort Lauderdale's signature street. Boutique shopping, 30+ restaurants, art galleries. Short ride from LYC. Walk east to Las Olas Beach.
Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale — Mile-long linear park along the New River. Cultural venues, restaurants, Huizenga Plaza.
Las Olas Isles — Walk the residential canals lined with mega-yachts and waterfront homes.
Fort Lauderdale Beach / A1A — Head east from Las Olas for the beachfront promenade.

Attractions Open Monday

Museum of Discovery and Science — 401 SW 2nd St. Open Mon–Sat 10AM–5PM. IMAX theater, interactive exhibits.
Stranahan House Museum — 335 SE 6th Ave. Open Monday 1–4PM. Fort Lauderdale's oldest building, guided tours. On the New River.
The Galleria — Major mall ~2 mi north. Neiman Marcus, Apple. Open Mondays.

Closed Mondays: NSU Art Museum, Bonnet House Museum, The Wharf Fort Lauderdale.

Monday Evening

Monday is the quietest nightlife night. What's open:

Las Olas restaurants and bars — Most stay open. YOLO, Louie Bossi serve dinner and drinks.
Himmarshee Street / Riverfront — Downtown bar district. Happy hour deals.
Blue Martini (at The Galleria) — Open Monday with "In the Biz" discounts.
Tin Roof Fort Lauderdale — Live music, open Sunday–Thursday.

Freeport, Bahamas — March 10 Crossing

Can we go to Freeport tomorrow? Here's the full assessment.

Quick Verdict: YES — March 10 Is an Excellent Crossing Day Go

East winds 5–10 knots, seas ~2 feet. No Gulf Stream hazards reported. The Cantius 46 can handle this crossing safely and comfortably. BUT: return by March 11. A front arrives Thursday bringing NE 15–20 kt winds and 4–6 ft seas.

Crossing Details

Distance to Freeport

~82 NM

Direct from Port Everglades

Distance to West End

~56 NM

Shorter crossing + 25 NM coastal

Crossing Time (26 kts)

~3–3.5 hrs

Including Gulf Stream drift

Fuel (one way)

~110 gallons

At 35 GPH / 26 kts

Fuel (round trip)

~220 gallons

140 gal reserve (39%)

Recommended Departure

0630–0700

First light. Arrive Freeport ~10 AM.

March 10 Weather Forecast Verify Day-Of

Date	Wind	Seas	Conditions	Verdict
Tue Mar 10	E 5–10 kt	~2 ft	Light chop, fair	Go
Wed Mar 11	SE 10–15 kt	~2 ft	Light chop	Return OK
Thu Mar 12	SE 10–15, becoming S	2–4 ft	Building	Marginal
Fri Mar 13	NE 15–20 kt	3–5 ft, occ. 6	Front arrives	No Go

Weather window: March 10–11 only. If you stay in Freeport past Wednesday, you could be stuck 2–3 days waiting for the front to pass.

Gulf Stream Crossing Strategy

Current: Gulf Stream flows north at 2.5–3.6 knots. You'll be pushed ~5–7 NM north during crossing.
Compensation: Steer 8–10° south of your rhumb line to Freeport. Monitor GPS COG vs. intended track.
Current zone: ~43 NM wide. Strongest in the center (~8–11 NM from western wall).
Conditions: With E 5–10 kt wind, no wind-against-current chop. Ideal.
NEVER cross with northerly wind component — creates dangerous steep seas in the Stream.

Is the Cantius 46 Suitable? Yes, Conditionally

The Cantius 46 is a sport cruiser, not a bluewater vessel. However, for this crossing in these conditions:

Favorable: 82 NM is well within 236 NM range. 3-hour crossing minimizes exposure. High freeboard (6'8" stern, 7'4" bow). Twin-engine redundancy. IPS maneuverability.
Limitations: 16–17° deadrise is moderate (not deep-V offshore hull). In seas >4 ft, ride gets uncomfortable. No offshore stabilization (unless Seakeeper equipped).
Bottom line: In E 5–10 kt / 2 ft seas — absolutely safe. Do NOT attempt in winds >15 kt or seas >4 ft.

Customs & Immigration

Entering Bahamas

Fly yellow quarantine (Q) flag on approach
Only captain may leave vessel until cleared
Valid passports for all persons
Vessel registration documents
Cruising Permit: $500 (vessels <50 ft, valid 12 months) — pay via Click2Clear at bahamascustoms.gov.bs
Fishing permit: $100 additional (if fishing)

Returning to U.S.

Download CBP ROAM app — create account on login.gov before departure
Submit return trip details via app. CBP officer may video-interview.
May need to report in person at Port Everglades CBP

Ports of Entry in Grand Bahama

Old Bahama Bay Marina (West End) — customs comes to your slip. Easiest clearance. Fuel available.
Port Lucaya Marina (Freeport) — in the tourism/resort area. Close to restaurants and shops.

Recommended Route

Option A (Conservative): Fort Lauderdale → West End (~56 NM) → Clear customs at Old Bahama Bay → Coast east to Freeport (~25 NM). Total ~81 NM but more protected water after West End.

Option B (Direct): Fort Lauderdale → Freeport direct (~82 NM). Steer ~090–095°T to compensate for Gulf Stream. Faster but all open water.

Fuel in Freeport before return. Bahamas fuel is pricier ($6–8/gal) but eliminates fuel anxiety. Depart with full tanks both ways.

Safety Equipment for International Crossing

PFDs: 1 per person + 1 Type IV throwable
Visual distress signals: 3 day + 3 night (or 3 combo). Check expiration.
EPIRB (406 MHz, registered with NOAA) — strongly recommended
Life raft or ditch bag
Handheld VHF (backup)
Satellite communicator (InReach or similar)
Bahamas charts loaded on chartplotter
COLREGS copy required aboard for vessels >39.4 ft
First aid kit, fire extinguishers (current inspection)

Destination: Lauderdale Yacht Club

Lauderdale Yacht Club — Est. 1938

Address

1725 SE 12th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Coordinates

N 26° 06.480' / W 080° 07.390'

ICW Mile Marker

MM 1065.4

Marina Phone

(954) 527-2209

VHF

Ch. 16 (monitor) / Ch. 69 (working)

Transient Slips

5 of 64 total

Approach Depth

5.0–5.5 ft MLW

Electric

30-amp service

Hours

9 AM – 5 PM daily

Amenities

Wi-Fi, Showers, Pool, Restaurant, Fitness

Arrival Procedure

At ICW Markers 24A and 26, turn west into LYC private channel.
Follow private channel: Red 2–8 (north), Green 1–5 (south).
Make 90° westward turn at NE corner of property.
200-ft transient guest dock past sailing dock (piles 1–22).
Hail on VHF Ch. 69 for docking assistance.