Hey all, has anyone experienced sailing on any lakes in the Mountain Regions? If so where and what would you recomend? Thanks!
- Status
Mountain sailing
I sailed many years in the lakes in Montana. You could not hold a tack for very long because mountain lakes are usually long and narrow, and the true wind changes quite often because as it passes around the different peaks it hits you from different directions. We also had a problem with micro bursts. You could not see them from long distance and they would move fast. So we had to be prepared to take down the sails at a moments notice. I was in a race and got caught by one and the fleet suffered 1 broken mast, 2 shredded main sails, and several people with hypothermia because of capsized boats.
I sailed many years in the lakes in Montana. You could not hold a tack for very long because mountain lakes are usually long and narrow, and the true wind changes quite often because as it passes around the different peaks it hits you from different directions. We also had a problem with micro bursts. You could not see them from long distance and they would move fast. So we had to be prepared to take down the sails at a moments notice. I was in a race and got caught by one and the fleet suffered 1 broken mast, 2 shredded main sails, and several people with hypothermia because of capsized boats.
Lake Champlain
Situated between the high peaks region of the Adirondak Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont, Champalin offers some of the best vistas in the eastern US. Always great winds, and this time of year with the color in the leaves you have to be there to believe it. From an anchorage in Converse Bay south of Burlington you can watch a spectacular sunset as the sun sets behind White Face Mountain, site of the Alpine Ski events at the 1980 winter olympics. If you are tired of those flat lands where you are come east and see some real scenery. (Try Champlain Charters.com)
Situated between the high peaks region of the Adirondak Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont, Champalin offers some of the best vistas in the eastern US. Always great winds, and this time of year with the color in the leaves you have to be there to believe it. From an anchorage in Converse Bay south of Burlington you can watch a spectacular sunset as the sun sets behind White Face Mountain, site of the Alpine Ski events at the 1980 winter olympics. If you are tired of those flat lands where you are come east and see some real scenery. (Try Champlain Charters.com)
Bear Lake UT
Check out the "Caribbean of the Rockies" in Bear Lake in Utah. Bear Lake is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide and ove 200 feet dep. We've stayed at a condo on the south side of the lake with a nice protected marina. The lake was famous in early settlement days for rondevoux with the fur traders.
Check out the "Caribbean of the Rockies" in Bear Lake in Utah. Bear Lake is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide and ove 200 feet dep. We've stayed at a condo on the south side of the lake with a nice protected marina. The lake was famous in early settlement days for rondevoux with the fur traders.
East Tennessee
The mountains aren't as high as out west. There are four lakes that I sailed on. Watauga, South Holston,Douglas and Cherokee. Watauga had the most mountains. The main problem with mountains is wind shifts. The next biggest problem is thunderstorms sneaking up. It isn't unusual to have a 180 degree windshift at the mouth of a large cove. Also the wind will be almost calm and then a big gust knock you over. We were turned turtle on a daysailer many times. We'd all be on one side to keep the boat flat and then the wind do a 180 so fast that we couldn't get to the other side. Then you have to swim around collecting the floating stuff. Beautiful sailing especially in the fall. S,Holston is the smallest cleanest of these lakes. Watauga is simular. Douglas is larger and dirtier and Cherokee is the largest,flattest and dirtiest. You have about 13 miles to sail from the dam to a bridge and there are several islands and coves that are nice anchorages. The water levels on all of these lakes can change dramatically from winter to summer. Early spring is usually the highest and winter low can be 40' lower. I saw where one boater had to dig a channel to get his boat out of a small cove. Apparently the water dropped enough during the night to trap him. This was on Cherokee where there are a lot of old sinkholes that were flooded when the lake was formed. None of these lakes normally have ice. Maybe a little ice way back in deep coves but it is extremely rare to have ice on the main lakes. Watauga and Holston have lake trout and walleye and are clear enough for scuba diving.
The mountains aren't as high as out west. There are four lakes that I sailed on. Watauga, South Holston,Douglas and Cherokee. Watauga had the most mountains. The main problem with mountains is wind shifts. The next biggest problem is thunderstorms sneaking up. It isn't unusual to have a 180 degree windshift at the mouth of a large cove. Also the wind will be almost calm and then a big gust knock you over. We were turned turtle on a daysailer many times. We'd all be on one side to keep the boat flat and then the wind do a 180 so fast that we couldn't get to the other side. Then you have to swim around collecting the floating stuff. Beautiful sailing especially in the fall. S,Holston is the smallest cleanest of these lakes. Watauga is simular. Douglas is larger and dirtier and Cherokee is the largest,flattest and dirtiest. You have about 13 miles to sail from the dam to a bridge and there are several islands and coves that are nice anchorages. The water levels on all of these lakes can change dramatically from winter to summer. Early spring is usually the highest and winter low can be 40' lower. I saw where one boater had to dig a channel to get his boat out of a small cove. Apparently the water dropped enough during the night to trap him. This was on Cherokee where there are a lot of old sinkholes that were flooded when the lake was formed. None of these lakes normally have ice. Maybe a little ice way back in deep coves but it is extremely rare to have ice on the main lakes. Watauga and Holston have lake trout and walleye and are clear enough for scuba diving.
How about Great Salt Lake?
Will someone from the Salt Lake area come one the net? There is a sizable marina with some big sailboats on the south side of the lake near the airport. I drove over there a couple of years ago and was surprised to see 1) all the boats floating several inches above their factory waterlines, and 2) none with bottom paint, and 3) no growth! I've wondered what the tradeoff in increased drag through the dense salty water is compared to reduced wetted area from floating higher in the water. Any experience/thoughts?
Will someone from the Salt Lake area come one the net? There is a sizable marina with some big sailboats on the south side of the lake near the airport. I drove over there a couple of years ago and was surprised to see 1) all the boats floating several inches above their factory waterlines, and 2) none with bottom paint, and 3) no growth! I've wondered what the tradeoff in increased drag through the dense salty water is compared to reduced wetted area from floating higher in the water. Any experience/thoughts?
California Mountain lakes
I would venture to say that the best mountain lake in the U.S. for sailing is Lake Tahoe, it's huge, it's beautiful and has lots of coves and anchorages. Winds are fairly steady in the afternoons and because of the size, you don't have to tack much if you don't want to. My favorite spot is Emerald Bay, however if it's nightlife you want, you can anchor or tie up at North Shore or South Shore and hit the Casinos on the Nevada side of the line after a day of sailing.... Our "home" lake is Scott's Flat, which hosted the regionals for the Cat 22's this year. What it lacks in size it makes up for in steady breezes coming up over the dam from the valley below. The Sierra Nevada of Northern CA has hundreds of lakes that are all great for sailing...If it's mountain sailing you want this is where you should be....Oh and, if you miss the "big water" SF bay and the Pacific is only 90 miles west of here.....(which is why I'm a trailer sailor with my O'day 23)
I would venture to say that the best mountain lake in the U.S. for sailing is Lake Tahoe, it's huge, it's beautiful and has lots of coves and anchorages. Winds are fairly steady in the afternoons and because of the size, you don't have to tack much if you don't want to. My favorite spot is Emerald Bay, however if it's nightlife you want, you can anchor or tie up at North Shore or South Shore and hit the Casinos on the Nevada side of the line after a day of sailing.... Our "home" lake is Scott's Flat, which hosted the regionals for the Cat 22's this year. What it lacks in size it makes up for in steady breezes coming up over the dam from the valley below. The Sierra Nevada of Northern CA has hundreds of lakes that are all great for sailing...If it's mountain sailing you want this is where you should be....Oh and, if you miss the "big water" SF bay and the Pacific is only 90 miles west of here.....(which is why I'm a trailer sailor with my O'day 23)
Hobie Cat ...
Roger, how could you miss the unmistakeable sails!!?? That looks like my Hobie 16 built in 1982! But it looks more like an 18 unless the angle is hiding the posts for the tramp. I seem to see a daggerboard on the windward hull, which would indicate an 18. You're not seeing the leeward hull almost entirely submerged. This is a typical pitch pole that Hobies are known for. If the crew doesn't keep their weight back far enough when trapping out, the leeward hull buries in a wave and over you go. Then all you can do is try to avoid the rigging as you fly over the bow! Andy, looking at the hull color, the sails and the partial number on the sail, I'm wondering if that is my old Hobie Cat that I wish I never sold? Where is that picture taken? Just looking again, it looks like a four digit number, mine had 5 digits but if I remember correctly they ended in "848". I'll have to dig out some old photos to remember!
Roger, how could you miss the unmistakeable sails!!?? That looks like my Hobie 16 built in 1982! But it looks more like an 18 unless the angle is hiding the posts for the tramp. I seem to see a daggerboard on the windward hull, which would indicate an 18. You're not seeing the leeward hull almost entirely submerged. This is a typical pitch pole that Hobies are known for. If the crew doesn't keep their weight back far enough when trapping out, the leeward hull buries in a wave and over you go. Then all you can do is try to avoid the rigging as you fly over the bow! Andy, looking at the hull color, the sails and the partial number on the sail, I'm wondering if that is my old Hobie Cat that I wish I never sold? Where is that picture taken? Just looking again, it looks like a four digit number, mine had 5 digits but if I remember correctly they ended in "848". I'll have to dig out some old photos to remember!
Navajo Lake Colorado
Located at the Southern end of the San Juan mountains in Colorado and extending into New Mexico has literally hundreds of miles of coastline. Large and small finger canyons and coves make a retractable keel very desirable. Private camping is easily found. The rapidly changing conditions of mountain lakes are a challenge.
Located at the Southern end of the San Juan mountains in Colorado and extending into New Mexico has literally hundreds of miles of coastline. Large and small finger canyons and coves make a retractable keel very desirable. Private camping is easily found. The rapidly changing conditions of mountain lakes are a challenge.
OK now I see!
Scott, I THOUGHT those were Hobie sails, but I was looking for another hull (ama?). Thanks for getting me straight. Say, do you sail Lake Hopatcong? I have a daughter lives in Netcong,and I was thinking of trailering down my Picnic Cat sometime to go for a sail there. How's the sailing?? Roger Katty Bay PC 123 Cape Cod
Scott, I THOUGHT those were Hobie sails, but I was looking for another hull (ama?). Thanks for getting me straight. Say, do you sail Lake Hopatcong? I have a daughter lives in Netcong,and I was thinking of trailering down my Picnic Cat sometime to go for a sail there. How's the sailing?? Roger Katty Bay PC 123 Cape Cod
- Status