Finger Lakes

[Champ Percy]

Hi,

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to sail the length of Cayuga Lake?

Champ

 

[Ron-Anne]

Well, Cayuga lake is 37.5 miles long, are you heading into the wind or with? with you, it will be a nice sail for ya
Ron

 

[Champ Percy]

Thanks Ron. probably both at some point...would like to try an overnight sail with my wife sometime this year or next. Just learning now, but trying to look ahead and plan some outings. We're on the north end.

 

[Johnb]

We rented a boat out of Hibiscus Harbor a couple of years back. Parts of the lake are shallow and also there is some grass growing up from the bottom in places. I would suggest that you get some charts and see what local knowledge you can find out.

It is a lovely place, we explored the lake and the Erie canal and got as far as Rochester to the East.

Along the canal people were very hospitable and we had a great time. Want to do it again.

 

[Champ Percy]

thanks John, yes a lot of nice people in this region

 

[sesmith]

We have done the trip on a long day with decent wind (north or west for the north to south trip). You may want to plan overnight anchorage at Taughannock Falls state park to break it up if need be. Taughannock is really the only place, on the way, that will give you good protection from a north or south wind depending on what side of the point you anchor on.

Scott

edit: You can also pick up a transient slip for a reasonable price at Treman marina in Ithaca, when you get that far.

 

[tkanzler]

I had the boat on Canandaigua Lake for the last two weeks, and on Saturday I had it up to about 6.5 kts or better in bursts (GPS), but typically held about 5.5 to 6.0 kts steady. Hull speed is about 6.4 kts, but it's a semi-planing hull, though the rig is small for a boat that size. Winds were out of the west, turning to WNW by the end of the day.

Would've had a higher sustained speed if I had the working jib on it, as we were heeling too much, which slows it down noticeably. A reef in the main would have helped, too. I kept the genoa and main full out mainly because there were many light-air lulls, and I didn't want to stop completely during them. By the end of the trip, I had the genoa furled to about 60%, but the luff was very loose and baggy and hard to keep full without falling off.

Good day sailing, though. Probably the fastest sailing I've ever had in this boat. I'm surprised it sailed as well as it did, being what it is. I could have sailed the 16 mile length in about 3 hours or so, with the winds being sustained and as strong as they were.

 

[Dan Hill]

We sailed last week from Treman park in ithaca to Hibiscus Harbor in 2 days with a N-NW wind. You will find the wind channels up or down the lake with a rare cross wind.

We anchored at Taughannock the first night and Sheldrake Point the second. Actually Sheldrake offers better protection than Taughannock.

When we arrived at Hibiscus we got stuck 3 times trying to get into the entrance, apparently they haven't dragged the channel in a long time! Very disappointed to say the least. When I made reservations for a transient slip I inquired about the depth of the entrance and they assured me my 5.5 draft was fine, WRONG! Luckily I was able to reverse myself out.

Due to a holding tank in desperate need of pumping we were forced to motor back to Treman that day which took 6 hours at 4.5-5 knots.

So, the answer depends on wind direction and or how full your holding tank is . 2 days vs 6 hours