If you had a summer off what lakes/coastal sailing areas would you go to and why?

Joe11688 · Jan 5, 2010

biorapper said:
I am torn between crossing the gulf stream or trailering/sailing around U.S./Canada. I am leaning to the us/canada for more variety and good walking/running/hiking along with the sailing. (not to mention hurricane season with a 94 26s...) I could do both...but that seems like too much planning and stuff. Guess I am just throwing this out here to see some folks favorite places/ideas.

Thanks.

I'd love to sail the Chesapeake. I heard that there are more than 6000 coves to investigate on that bay. I've sailed the MA and RI bays and been there, done that for many years. If you've ever read James A. Michener's, "Chesapeake" you'll come to love that area even if you've never been there. That bay can kick up fierce in a hurry, so I'm told.
Joe

1977oday22 · Jan 5, 2010

I've sailed on Lake Erie for years.
If I had the time, I would like to hit all the Great Lakes and the Canadian shoreline.

Sumner · Jan 5, 2010

We really enjoyed.....

...Priest Lake in Idaho and ...............

...........the West arm of Kootenay in Canada and the secenery.........

........at Lake Powell is unbelievable. None of those are great to get out daily to run if that is in the menu. Kootenay with the Provincial Park would be the best bet if that is what you want to do. If you are into spending the nights at marinas none of these with maybe the exception of Priest are good for that. All of these can have strong unexpected winds come up, but if you really want to get away from things these are great lakes to explore. Idaho also has others along of course with Canada.

We only spent a night near someone else on anchor a couple times on Lake Powell and they were houseboats tied to shore. On the other lakes we never were by anyone. We like that aspect of these lakes a lot. The link at the bottom of the page will take you to the above trips.

If it was the summer I for sure would do the west and look hard at Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and B.C Canada. Pick the warmer areas for June and early July. If you did Lake Powell it would be first as it can get hot there, but no humidity. It was also in the 90's in Idaho and Canada. The main drawback to the west is the water is cold, at least for me, even in the summer.

I think you might get more info if you let us know what kind of sailing and overnighting (anchoring vs. marina) you like to do.

This coming year we will return to Lake Powell to make the last 50 miles under sail and then we want to go to a couple smaller lakes in Idaho and then over to Yellowstone and Jackson lakes, but our big plans unless something comes up is to go to south Florida and the Keys next fall for maybe 3 months.

We are really hoping to be able to find anchorages there by ourselves. We had considered the Bahamas, but considering how we like to be by ourselves and some of the regulations and such that is on the back burner for now. The North Channel is a place we still might like to go to, but it seems that almost all of the pictures I see there show more than one boat anchored in an inlet. That is something minor to a lot of people and some even like knowing someone is close so there is nothing wrong with that picture, it is just we really like being off by ourselves.

You have lots of choices out there, so have a great summer,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

Patrick17430 · Jan 5, 2010

House boat with air conditioning, I'm there. I'm not too sure about sailing around on Lake Powell in the summer unless you're a water loving Gila Monster. It is stunningly beautifull but in the summer heat it would be comparable to sailing in hell. And there's maybe three trees for shade on the whole lake. I would do it in the spring instead. Or fall.

Manny · Jan 5, 2010

I'd sail around the Chesapeake, theres a lot of places to explore, way more than a summers worth. Or maybe the New England coast, Maine perhaps?

Manny

walt · Jan 5, 2010

I love Lake Powell in the summer .. but you have to understand that most of the year I freeze my azz off in Colorado - maybe its the only time my brain thaws out. We go at the end of June and spend a lot of time in the low 80's F water. No AC and no bugs make sleeping under the stars no problem. Big lake.. lots to explore.

cephius (Dave) · Jan 6, 2010

Lake of the Woods, MN

There is a regatta late in the summer each year at Lake of the Woods. I've been tempted to trailer up for that.

Here is a link to the organization that sponsors it: http://www.lowisa.org/

Eric M · Jan 6, 2010

It really depends on where you want to sail and how much variety you want to see along the way. If you cross the gulf stream to the Bahamas you are not going to find coves like you would in the North Channel of Lake Huron or Lake Powell. On the flip side, if you choose the great lakes your chances of catching Mahi-Mahi for dinner are zero.
Personally, I like having a boat that does not fit on a trailer and accept that I don't get to see quite the variety of places as I am limited to traveling at a max of 8 knots.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
--Eric

Joe11688 · Jan 6, 2010

biorapper said:
Thanks for all the info. and great photo's. Pretty much solidified my u.s/canada. I will be looking to anchor out alot. Hit a little salt water but prob. mostly lakes hopefully with state parks for showers here and there (my girlfriend, and me too to be honest, are much happier with a nice hot shower every couple of days!). Great pics.... has me salivating to get out there and raise sails!

Get one of those solar showers, fill it up with water and secure it somewhere on deck where it will get hot. I take a shower every night when I'm on my boat. You can hang it on the boom and take one in the cockpit, or if nobody is watching, you run the bag up on the Jib halyard and shower on the bow. I've actually taken showers standing on the bow, or in the cockpit with the bag hanging high on the back stay while my boat was sailing downwind under autopilot. I've done some other crazy things with my boat sailing under autopilot, but I need not mention them here for fear of corrupting anyone's sailing etiquette.

One of the best gadgets that has come in handy on my boat is a garden sprayer. I bought a cheap one gallon sprayer last year and cut the spray wand down a few inches and filled it with water. You give it a few pumps and you can adjust the nozzle to a fine spray or a stream. I use it for cooling off in the hot sun. It's also good for cooling off pets on board. I find that I can save water by rinsing my soapy dishes with the sprayer, rather than use my galley pump in the cabin. I just wash the dishes and pans in the sink and rinse them off in the cockpit. I think that a real good garden sprayer can be used as a shower.
http://www.simplicityboats.com/shower.html It's well worth having on board and you can always refill at the parks that you stop at.
Joe

Scott B · Jan 7, 2010

Who needs hot showers....... go jump in the lake..

Scott B · Jan 7, 2010

One more reason to visit Canada and the North Channel....

shemandr · Jan 7, 2010

No trailer option here so its either north or south from LI. In the summer North to Maine and in the fall south to NC. But since I don't have a month off its mostly LI and its pretty good.

Scott B · Jan 7, 2010

biorapper said:
North channel* is high on the list. Those pics are almost as "bad" as playboy. Can't waot to sail those [new!] waters, anchor with my stern to the shore, hop of and jamn to the top of those hills!

Great ideas scott, don't have an autopilot...but learning to heave to** has been a great addition to my sailing ability for making a drink, just chilling (amazed at how a hard beat upwind with waves can change to relatively calm conditions), as well as "crazy" things!

We hit the "big showers" at anchor after sailing all day and usually every morning.

biorapper said:
* have read about a good bit of submerged rocks..., but also of how it is a sailing mecca, are out of site rocks a big problem there?

There are lots and lots of rocks, but only an issue if you stray from the marked channels. If you do, then post a good bow watch and go slow. Last year on our way back from Killarney, I monitored 3 distress calls to CG with people abandoning their boat after hitting rocks.

This is the chartplotter in NE Georgian Bay in clear wide open water....
depths are in feet

Don3098 · Jan 7, 2010

San Juan and Gulf Islands of Washington and Canada

For the past two summers, my wife and I have cruised our H-26 in the San Juan Islands of Washington, and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. You could spend a lifetime exploring this area and still not see it all. It has many secluded anchorages, great marinas, and interesting towns, with lots of fresh seafood. Check out my blog at www.sailingthesanjuanswithdonanddonna.blogspot.com

Phil V25 · Jan 7, 2010

Apostle Islands - Lake Superior

Although I was only there for a few days, I think I could spend a summer there.

biorapper said:
I am torn between crossing the gulf stream or trailering/sailing around U.S./Canada. I am leaning to the us/canada for more variety and good walking/running/hiking along with the sailing. (not to mention hurricane season with a 94 26s...) I could do both...but that seems like too much planning and stuff. Guess I am just throwing this out here to see some folks favorite places/ideas.

Thanks.

heart of gold · Jan 7, 2010

Desolation Sound, Gulf Islands, BC

Cruisers Paradise

Les · Jan 7, 2010

No, no, no, no, no! Do not spend a summer in Desolation Sound, the Gulf Islands and and the San Juan Islands. It rains all the time. And there are tides and currants--the currants have whirlpools in some places. But the tides will get you. In one place where I go after anchoring, when the tide goes out, you can climb the shore and work on your spreaders.

And then there is the beer problem. When you go into Canada, they quite often have a beer strike. Really! So when you return to the "lower fortyeight" then you have to go to a micro-brewery--they are all over the place. In fact recently one in Bellingham won the Nation's top award for Microbrews. How terrible can it get?

People who cruise this area have been known to disappear for the entire summer. And since it is an international border, there are these strange little boats from Homeland security always whizzing by you so you forget to enjoy the beauty and the peace. And just when you are getting comfortable sailing, some darn whale comes along and splashes water on your boat. How can you enjoy yourself that way.

No, I would stay in Long Island Sound--go up the river to Mystic. But the Pacific Northwest is a terrible place to cruise. But if you do come and cruise, bring your rain gear, sea boots, ear muffs and gloves.....

Les--sailing out of Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.

If you had a summer off what lakes/coastal sailing areas would you go to and why?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.