Would like to hear from sailors who sail on Lake Lanier, GA, about your experiences there, pro's and con's, marina costs, and what the typical sailing environment is like. Thanks in advance and happy turkey day!
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Info in the archives
Warren, search the archives for Lake Lanier, you'll find a couple of posts with general lake and marina info. There is a pretty active racing community (google Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Barefoot Sailing Club), several sailing schools, and this time of year, some good cool weather sailing. The lake's best and worst point is the proximity to Atlanta - pretty convenient, but lots of power boats in the summer. There are no real destinations on the lake, but good coves to anchor out for the weekend. Sailing well can be challenging with light air in the summer, and wind shifts driven by the geography of the various islands.
Warren, search the archives for Lake Lanier, you'll find a couple of posts with general lake and marina info. There is a pretty active racing community (google Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Barefoot Sailing Club), several sailing schools, and this time of year, some good cool weather sailing. The lake's best and worst point is the proximity to Atlanta - pretty convenient, but lots of power boats in the summer. There are no real destinations on the lake, but good coves to anchor out for the weekend. Sailing well can be challenging with light air in the summer, and wind shifts driven by the geography of the various islands.
Sailed on Lanier for 25 years now.
Warren, Much can be said about Lake Lanier. First, it is the most visited and popular lake in the country with the worlds largest inland floating marina (Holiday). With over 650 miles of shoreline and the main drinking water source for the City of Atlanta, this Corps of Engineer Chattahoochee River damned impoundment is the only large body of water we have for the north Georgia boater. Lake Lanier trends in its great length from north to south with several chains of beautiful wooded and uninhabited islands (once mountain peaks)scattered about, but Browns Bridge cuts the Lake off midway from sailors who cannot venture northward. This bridge has actually provided more of a haven for the powerboaters and houseboat folks who tend to travel north of the bridge for the vast myriad of coves, fishing areas and isolated locations. What a sailor experiences during the summer months is the northern and southern flow of constant powerboat traffic from the bridge heading to and from the larger southern location marina's and launch ramps. What results often is hefty wakes and failure to conform to the rules of the road. You know, that 35 foot Searay motoryacht bearing down on you at 20 knots coming within 50 feet to wave hello and then run off leaving a 4-5 foot wake! But, believe me we are all used to it and somehow, with the traffic and all, the sailors and powerboaters abide by the same mantra and that is, "lets not kill each other today"! Their has never been much love between the rag guys and the stinkpotters here since the damn was constructed. Lake Lanier provides numerous marinas for the sailboater that all are regulated by the Army Corps. Liveaboards, are not allowed (your allowed 29 days aboard out of 30)!!, non-discharging waste tanks are required (pump out stations at many marina's) and of course the state requires boat registration. To the north is Sunrise Cove, which along with Holiday to the south is managed by a group out of California that have modernized these facilities and have made them very appealing places with great amenities to dock a boat. I dock my Catalina 30 at Sunrise along with hundreds of other sailboats ranging from 12 feet to 44. Further to the south is Lake Lanier Yacht Club, Aqualand, and Holiday. Aqualand is one of the largest sailboat marina's on the lake, complete with a travel lift and do-it-yourself repair yard, beautiful grounds, lakeside restaurant, fuel and pump out dock, marina office and probably over 1,500 vessels nestled around three or four penisula's. If you search the web for Lake Lanier you will find several clubs that are very popular and are a great way to meet folks, get involved in club racing (year round), raft-ups, etc. Every year is seems more larger sailboats are docking on Lanier. I started with a Helsen 22 back in 1980 and I thought the 27 Catalina was a monster! Today, seeing Morgan 41's, Hunter 37's, Catalina 42's and even a great Hinckley or Bristol is common place. I will caution you that, if your used to sailing 15 miles off shore on one tack, Lanier will challenge you. The old "Lake Lanier Tacking Two Step" is part of the process and procedure to beat up or down the Lake and run or broad reach back home. Their is plenty of room on the water to not get bored, your crew will forever stay busy (always bring a volunteer winch grinder on a windy day), and the gorgeous mountain sunsets and vista's will keep you enlightened. The negatives are the summer heat and lack of wind for awhile, but thats when you anchor in a beautiful cove, enjoy the freshwater to stay cool and suddenly your a home on the water. The other is the changes that a drought may hit us and the Corps may have to lower the lake level. I have witnessed the lake level going down as much as 18 feet. This does nothing for stopping anyone from sailing, but suddenly land pops up where their was none before and your a bit more cautious out there. We have been lucky for several years now with full pool, so hopefully it will remain that way. Its not the coast, but for a large mountian lake its a beautiful place to keep and enjoy your boat. i see hailing ports on vessels all the time from Boston, New York, Providence, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, etc,. I beleive you would be pleasantly surprised when you see Lanier. Let me know if you need any other details or info and I would be pleased to put you in touch with the right folks and correct information. Bob Breezin II
Warren, Much can be said about Lake Lanier. First, it is the most visited and popular lake in the country with the worlds largest inland floating marina (Holiday). With over 650 miles of shoreline and the main drinking water source for the City of Atlanta, this Corps of Engineer Chattahoochee River damned impoundment is the only large body of water we have for the north Georgia boater. Lake Lanier trends in its great length from north to south with several chains of beautiful wooded and uninhabited islands (once mountain peaks)scattered about, but Browns Bridge cuts the Lake off midway from sailors who cannot venture northward. This bridge has actually provided more of a haven for the powerboaters and houseboat folks who tend to travel north of the bridge for the vast myriad of coves, fishing areas and isolated locations. What a sailor experiences during the summer months is the northern and southern flow of constant powerboat traffic from the bridge heading to and from the larger southern location marina's and launch ramps. What results often is hefty wakes and failure to conform to the rules of the road. You know, that 35 foot Searay motoryacht bearing down on you at 20 knots coming within 50 feet to wave hello and then run off leaving a 4-5 foot wake! But, believe me we are all used to it and somehow, with the traffic and all, the sailors and powerboaters abide by the same mantra and that is, "lets not kill each other today"! Their has never been much love between the rag guys and the stinkpotters here since the damn was constructed. Lake Lanier provides numerous marinas for the sailboater that all are regulated by the Army Corps. Liveaboards, are not allowed (your allowed 29 days aboard out of 30)!!, non-discharging waste tanks are required (pump out stations at many marina's) and of course the state requires boat registration. To the north is Sunrise Cove, which along with Holiday to the south is managed by a group out of California that have modernized these facilities and have made them very appealing places with great amenities to dock a boat. I dock my Catalina 30 at Sunrise along with hundreds of other sailboats ranging from 12 feet to 44. Further to the south is Lake Lanier Yacht Club, Aqualand, and Holiday. Aqualand is one of the largest sailboat marina's on the lake, complete with a travel lift and do-it-yourself repair yard, beautiful grounds, lakeside restaurant, fuel and pump out dock, marina office and probably over 1,500 vessels nestled around three or four penisula's. If you search the web for Lake Lanier you will find several clubs that are very popular and are a great way to meet folks, get involved in club racing (year round), raft-ups, etc. Every year is seems more larger sailboats are docking on Lanier. I started with a Helsen 22 back in 1980 and I thought the 27 Catalina was a monster! Today, seeing Morgan 41's, Hunter 37's, Catalina 42's and even a great Hinckley or Bristol is common place. I will caution you that, if your used to sailing 15 miles off shore on one tack, Lanier will challenge you. The old "Lake Lanier Tacking Two Step" is part of the process and procedure to beat up or down the Lake and run or broad reach back home. Their is plenty of room on the water to not get bored, your crew will forever stay busy (always bring a volunteer winch grinder on a windy day), and the gorgeous mountain sunsets and vista's will keep you enlightened. The negatives are the summer heat and lack of wind for awhile, but thats when you anchor in a beautiful cove, enjoy the freshwater to stay cool and suddenly your a home on the water. The other is the changes that a drought may hit us and the Corps may have to lower the lake level. I have witnessed the lake level going down as much as 18 feet. This does nothing for stopping anyone from sailing, but suddenly land pops up where their was none before and your a bit more cautious out there. We have been lucky for several years now with full pool, so hopefully it will remain that way. Its not the coast, but for a large mountian lake its a beautiful place to keep and enjoy your boat. i see hailing ports on vessels all the time from Boston, New York, Providence, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, etc,. I beleive you would be pleasantly surprised when you see Lanier. Let me know if you need any other details or info and I would be pleased to put you in touch with the right folks and correct information. Bob Breezin II
Thanks to you all
For the info on Lake Lanier. We plan to visit that general area in the near future and check it out first hand. Lots of useful info from you all. Thanks again.
For the info on Lake Lanier. We plan to visit that general area in the near future and check it out first hand. Lots of useful info from you all. Thanks again.
Bob-thanks
Thanks for the sugestions, both souces listed much more than the AJC. The wife wants to go south and so do I, it's just a matter of time before were sailing on the Lake.
Thanks for the sugestions, both souces listed much more than the AJC. The wife wants to go south and so do I, it's just a matter of time before were sailing on the Lake.
Cherubini 44 on Lake Lanier
I am trying to locate an old friend (I mean I met this guy in 1964) named Bryan who purchased one of our older Cherubini 44s and sailed it up from Sanibel before trucking it inland to use on Lake Lanier. He also owns a 36-foot classic wooden cutter that I forget most everything about, but it's there too. If anyone in that region knows of this guy's boats, I'd appreciate someone dropping him my email (cherubinityachts@aol.com). The company and I would like to get in touch with him again. Thanks mates!
I am trying to locate an old friend (I mean I met this guy in 1964) named Bryan who purchased one of our older Cherubini 44s and sailed it up from Sanibel before trucking it inland to use on Lake Lanier. He also owns a 36-foot classic wooden cutter that I forget most everything about, but it's there too. If anyone in that region knows of this guy's boats, I'd appreciate someone dropping him my email (cherubinityachts@aol.com). The company and I would like to get in touch with him again. Thanks mates!
Check the Folks At Snugharborboats
Thats a great vessel that would certainly get attention here. The folks at Snugharborboats.Com should be able to help you. Go to their website and ask for Anne or "Sparky" who know just about every sailboat on the lake. If they cannot help, then certainly then they must know someone who can. Regards Bob
Thats a great vessel that would certainly get attention here. The folks at Snugharborboats.Com should be able to help you. Go to their website and ask for Anne or "Sparky" who know just about every sailboat on the lake. If they cannot help, then certainly then they must know someone who can. Regards Bob
JCII
I'm not aware of one of your boats here in the marinas. Is it posible he kept it at a private dock behind his house? Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
I'm not aware of one of your boats here in the marinas. Is it posible he kept it at a private dock behind his house? Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
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