CRUISING USA


Debora Radtke takes a look at some of the varied cruising grounds on offer from southern Florida to the Great Lakes and the unique landscapes each has to offer the superyacht owner and guests


F


ort Lauderdale has longed called itself the yachting capitol of the world. More than just American hubris, it is home to the largest boat show in the world and it may, indeed, deserve that title. Yachting is an integral part of the economy of South Florida. The fact that it kept growing and moving even during a pandemic is proof of that.


So why should a yacht decide to “discover” south Florida? It’s a great jumping off point to the Bahamas, it’s easy to get parts shipped in, and typical tax and duty is less than 10% for items that don’t qualify as ships spares. It has world class repair facilities. But South Florida is becoming more than just a pitstop between Caribbean and Med seasons.


Miami rivals any other city in the world with night life, restaurants, art galleries, and events. Art Basel at the beginning of December has dockage options sold out months


68 | SUMMER 2022 | ONBOARD


in advance, as did the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, held in May 2022. If you tire of Miami you can cruise to Palm Beach and take in a Polo Match, or move further up the coast to Cape Canaveral for a Space X rocket launch.


However, many American owners and others are choosing new cruising grounds. One “undiscovered” area is the Great Lakes, a string of 5 freshwater lakes, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario and Erie, that separate the US and Canada. The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world’s surface fresh water. Lake Superior, the largest, has often been called an inland sea. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface; thus, it makes its own weather.


Access to the lakes is through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The majority of the seaway follows the natural path of the St. Lawrence River, but since there is a rise of 600 feet from sea level to Lake Superior, the western most lake, there is a series of locks, the most notable of


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