Rough time/dangerous bridge ICW: Lake Worth/North Palm Beach

[Stu Jackson]

I think maybe we are too concerned about how long the cars have to wait and this has caused sailboats to get caught in a strong current and carried under the bridge before it was fully open.
Bob

Good point. I've sailed under a bridge I cross to get to my boat. I've had the bridge open when I'm in traffic, both going to and returning home from my boat. It's a double leaf draw bridge.

From start to finish, when the gates come down to when they go up is FIVE minutes.

I recognize that it may seem a lot longer to the guys in their cars, but that's about what it can be in real life.

Amazing how "weird" those drivers can get, isn't it?

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Re: Rough time/dangerous bridge ICW: Lake Worth/North Palm B

Bill,

Your right, BIGGER has the right away man. I have also seen as many bad sailors as powerboaters. The propulsion doesn't matter, it's the captain or lack thereof.

As for standing distance from an ICW bridge, one needs to be inside the idle speed markers. These ICW bridges first agenda is traffic, not water but land based. The further back, the longer it takes in most cases. Me, I try to get thru quickly so drivers don't curse me while reading my transom name.

CR

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

BTW, we skipped the section between Fort Worth and Fort Lauderdale which has 21 bridges.

Ran that ONCE in a 35 foot tri. Miamarina to Lake Worth Swore never again!!! Every other time I've been there, was offshore. 51 miles, 21 bridges, mostly timed openings.

And you forgot the D**ned jet skis

 

[emergpa1]

We do lots of bridges on the ICW in Florida. We try to time them so we arrive just before the opening time unless it is an open on demand. Circling close in front of the bridge is not a good idea. A sailboat is usually better off letting the fast boys go ahead. If there is strong current the upstream guys should go first, this is arranged over the VHF, by the captains. The bridge tenders do not advise who should do what or when, the captains are responsible for the boats and should arrange it over the vhf. The tenders do advise to stay well back until the bridge opens all the way. It is good training to learn to "hover" the vessel in one spot against wind and current without circling. If we have to wait 20 minutes for an opening we will turn around and run 10 minutes away from the bridge and then 10 minutes coming back, then hover well off until it opens. We did the same thing when we had a 26 ft sailboat. good luck, Bob here we are doing an ICW bridge with our H260, https://picasaweb.google.com/macsailor/StuartFlToTheKeys#5443479867383592498

excellent advice CR and Bob, thanks.