It’s Sunday morning and we are anchored in West Palm Beach, clearly the home of some pretty big kids with all the toys that go along with being one of the .001% crowd. One of the best parts of being on the water is that we get the $20m view without having to pay the price. Alas, gone are the days of the Million Dollar View, I guess as that amount won’t get you much more than a one room condo in this neighborhood with a view of a parking lot. Well, owning a boat isn’t exactly cheap but compared to what the locals must be paying, we are pretty low on the totem pole and we have terrific views too.
While I am certain that the local property owners would love it if we didn’t anchor near them, the city and merchants clearly want us to hang out so they offer docks to tie up for a few hours and a very convenient spot to park our dink while we visit ashore. I even spied a spigot on the dock so perhaps I can fill up our water tanks too.
We arrived here yesterday after our short ten mile run from North Lake Worth. We are still in the “Palms” as the local cities are known but are now anchored in a more urban environment and the view of the city it’s very nice. A short run to shore in our dink put us in the heart of a great shopping and dining district with a very pretty waterfront park. Last night we went out to a very nice Mexican restaurant for dinner. It was terrific.
The main drag in town is bustling with activity. 
The view from the park is very pretty with a neat fountain that lights up at night along with lights on the palm trees and over the street itself. 
And, as the light fades, it’s even more beautiful. Doesn’t this make you want to whip out your AMEX? I guess that’s the point. 
I have to say that the view of the city after dark from the harbor is quite impressive.
As we made our way south yesterday we passed the Rybovich yard, known for their work in refitting megayachts. It seems that this yard does more projects than any other in the US each year. And, if the number of huge yachts at their docks is any indication of how business is, then they must be swimming in work. This is clearly a spot for the “big boys to keep their toys” with slip after slip filled with one yacht bigger than the next. If yachts are the ultimate status symbol, then these babies are making that point loud and clear.
I was particularly struck with this racing yacht R88. I have seen photos of this yacht, the newest Rambler. It was just launched by New England Boat Works in late 2014. It’s a very hot boat and will certainly be sailing around the world and do all of the major ocean races. When it comes to toys of the “megawealthy”, no make that the “gigawealthy”, this boat is a the top of the heap.
And, when the gigawealthy want to take their yachts to Europe or perhaps further, they (their yachts that is) are hoisted aboard a ship like this and off they go. Notice the yacht tender on dock to the right, all packed in a cradle waiting to be shipped. Or, perhaps it just arrived. Who knows? I wonder what the “mother ship” for that little number looks like. 
Anyway, “The Palms” are clearly where it’s at if you are a member of the .001% club and have dollars to burn. And, in that case, The Palms are on fire.
Today we hope to feel a little of that heat by going over to the iconic resort The Breakers, to have a cup of coffee and do some people watching. The history of the hotel is really the history of Florida tourism. The last time Brenda and I were there was years ago in a different life with someone else paying the bill. At that time we stayed several days for a nice visit but now, on our own dime it will just be coffee or tea. It’s a beautiful building. 
That’s fine with me as these days I certainly feel that in the “having fun” department we are keeping up with those .001% folks just fine. My mother used to tell me that the rich were miserable however, looking around Palm Beach is making me wonder. Well, one can only hope, can’t one?
OK, OK, perhaps I have overdone the “sunrise thing” of late. However, a nice one today. 
That’s all for now.
Oh yeah, one more thing. It’s going to be in the mid 70s today.
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