I live close to Pittsburgh and always wondered why I never see sailboats on the rivers. I know they had a race with some smaller sailboats at the three rivers regatta a few years ago but thats about it. Most of the lakes around here are small narrow man made reservoirs not much wider than the rivers. I drive two and a half hours to Erie for my sailing fix but I think its a shame that all of these Pittsburgh rivers never have any sails on them. Is there a reason other than current and width that river sailing isn't popular?
River sailing?
- Thread starter chris7319
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I can't think of any reason to not sail on the
large rivers. There is commercial traffic, of course. Jermain to the question, is your boat trailered? if so why don't you sail the river. Get some charts of course so you know where the rocks are.
large rivers. There is commercial traffic, of course. Jermain to the question, is your boat trailered? if so why don't you sail the river. Get some charts of course so you know where the rocks are.
In my neck of the woods...
I'm on the Niagara river in NY. Seeing a sailboat on the river is extremely rare. I'll bet the reasons are the draft and height restrictions. Too many unmarked shallow areas, and too many low bridges. It could also be that there is no need to sail the river since there is a lake at each end of the it (duh).
I'm on the Niagara river in NY. Seeing a sailboat on the river is extremely rare. I'll bet the reasons are the draft and height restrictions. Too many unmarked shallow areas, and too many low bridges. It could also be that there is no need to sail the river since there is a lake at each end of the it (duh).
Yes, there is
I used to sail in the Delawere River in the Phila area. I loved it! The best thing was to sail with the current down to Phila and dack at Dave and Busters for lunch; then ride the current back. Now I sail down the shore and love it even better. I can sail in any direction I want and not just up and down the river. No trees to hit after a strom. Not as much commerical traffic to share the road with. It is a much long ride in the car.
I used to sail in the Delawere River in the Phila area. I loved it! The best thing was to sail with the current down to Phila and dack at Dave and Busters for lunch; then ride the current back. Now I sail down the shore and love it even better. I can sail in any direction I want and not just up and down the river. No trees to hit after a strom. Not as much commerical traffic to share the road with. It is a much long ride in the car.
River sailing
Some rivers have sailing, like the Hudson, especially where it widens out to several miles in the area called the Tappan Zee. But an awful lot of rivers have strong currents, varying water levels due to both natural flows and management of dams, and are relatively narrow. If there is a steady 3 or 4 knot current downriver, and you have to tack back upriver, you probably will make little or no progress at all in a sailboat. For example, using some very rough math, if you are making 6 knots through the water, traveling at a 45 degree angle up river, your VMG to the destination would be just over 4 knots before taking the current into account. But if the opposing current is 3 1/2 knots, your true VMG is 1/2 knot. So when you sail 4 miles downriver, it takes less than 30 minutes (at 9 1/2 knots: 6 knots through the water plus 3 1/2 knot folowing current); the return trip would be 8 hours! And in most rivers there is little destination variety. It works well on the Hudson because of its great breadth and because it is tidal quite far from the sea, so there is not the unrelenting downriver current found in many rivers.
Some rivers have sailing, like the Hudson, especially where it widens out to several miles in the area called the Tappan Zee. But an awful lot of rivers have strong currents, varying water levels due to both natural flows and management of dams, and are relatively narrow. If there is a steady 3 or 4 knot current downriver, and you have to tack back upriver, you probably will make little or no progress at all in a sailboat. For example, using some very rough math, if you are making 6 knots through the water, traveling at a 45 degree angle up river, your VMG to the destination would be just over 4 knots before taking the current into account. But if the opposing current is 3 1/2 knots, your true VMG is 1/2 knot. So when you sail 4 miles downriver, it takes less than 30 minutes (at 9 1/2 knots: 6 knots through the water plus 3 1/2 knot folowing current); the return trip would be 8 hours! And in most rivers there is little destination variety. It works well on the Hudson because of its great breadth and because it is tidal quite far from the sea, so there is not the unrelenting downriver current found in many rivers.
It's the wind
Some might have noticed that rivers are always at the bottom of hills. I know I think this is odd too. Since they prefer to live "down in the valley" most of the wind blows right over them. The exception being wind coming directly up or down the river and then you either have to beat one way or the other. Not much fun in either case.
Some might have noticed that rivers are always at the bottom of hills. I know I think this is odd too. Since they prefer to live "down in the valley" most of the wind blows right over them. The exception being wind coming directly up or down the river and then you either have to beat one way or the other. Not much fun in either case.
Tappen Zee
We've been considering moving our boat to a marina in Haverstraw and I have wondered about the experience on the Hudson. Are the tides and current a big factor or no different than locations on LIS? The one aspect that I would miss is the opportunities for nice refreshing swims. The water on the Hudson isn't all that appealing, yet, although it is supposedly getting better.
We've been considering moving our boat to a marina in Haverstraw and I have wondered about the experience on the Hudson. Are the tides and current a big factor or no different than locations on LIS? The one aspect that I would miss is the opportunities for nice refreshing swims. The water on the Hudson isn't all that appealing, yet, although it is supposedly getting better.
tappan zee
When in High school we had a boat at the Phillispe Manor Marina on the Hudson (North Tarrytown, NY). It was a great place to sail. The water was much dirtier then. If one didn't rinse within 15 minutes of swimming, your skin started to turn red and itch. It was amazing that we were allowed to swim in it (1969). It is a beautiful place to sail. My brother and I would spend the entire day exploring and sailing. The only bad day was the one that we sailed the width of the Tapan Zee and had the wind die. It took us all day to paddle back to home port.
When in High school we had a boat at the Phillispe Manor Marina on the Hudson (North Tarrytown, NY). It was a great place to sail. The water was much dirtier then. If one didn't rinse within 15 minutes of swimming, your skin started to turn red and itch. It was amazing that we were allowed to swim in it (1969). It is a beautiful place to sail. My brother and I would spend the entire day exploring and sailing. The only bad day was the one that we sailed the width of the Tapan Zee and had the wind die. It took us all day to paddle back to home port.
Hudson River Sailing
I spent many years sailing the Hudson at Chelsea (Chelsea Yacht Club). If you can sail the Hudson, you can sail anywhere....Tides, River Traffic & flukie winds. All in all: Great Sailing...I learned alot. Don't get a boat too big...better to be a smaller boat on a river that a big boat (Harder to handle draft & etc.) Good Luck!
I spent many years sailing the Hudson at Chelsea (Chelsea Yacht Club). If you can sail the Hudson, you can sail anywhere....Tides, River Traffic & flukie winds. All in all: Great Sailing...I learned alot. Don't get a boat too big...better to be a smaller boat on a river that a big boat (Harder to handle draft & etc.) Good Luck!
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