Can anyone tell me about sailing on SML? Are winds favorable or fickle? Any marinas to recommend? I own a Catalina 30. Thx, John
Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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your 30 is a large boat for SML...it has decent sailing and several races a year. Wind is often fickle or nonexistant. The lake sits surrounded by hills on almost all sides. two or three main fairways, and lots of coves. Most is pretty deep.
Blackwater Yacht Racing http://www.byrasailing.org/
Smith Mtn Yacht Club http://www.smithmountainyachtclub.com/
Pelican Point http://www.pelicanpointyachtclub.com/
There are tons of PWC and gofasts on the weekend, and it is often poorly policed. In the past few years, several accidents, a few fatal, have failed to slow people down or warrant added enforcement. Be careful. Especially where you anchor.
The water is clear (unless recent heavy rains) and the level regulated by the power company behind the damn. There is some "exclusive" by local standards, shopping nearby, OK food. Else you would have to go to Roanoke or Lynchburg.
Services are OK, nothing to write home about. Few real travelifts, and then the operators are not overly familiar. Few real mechanics and limited parts availability.
Blackwater Yacht Racing http://www.byrasailing.org/
Smith Mtn Yacht Club http://www.smithmountainyachtclub.com/
Pelican Point http://www.pelicanpointyachtclub.com/
There are tons of PWC and gofasts on the weekend, and it is often poorly policed. In the past few years, several accidents, a few fatal, have failed to slow people down or warrant added enforcement. Be careful. Especially where you anchor.
The water is clear (unless recent heavy rains) and the level regulated by the power company behind the damn. There is some "exclusive" by local standards, shopping nearby, OK food. Else you would have to go to Roanoke or Lynchburg.
Services are OK, nothing to write home about. Few real travelifts, and then the operators are not overly familiar. Few real mechanics and limited parts availability.
Hey John
I'm going to have to disagree with KD3PC on a few points. SML has good winds (for a lake) early Spring and late Fall and decent winds June and July until about 3:30 in the afternoon. August is a bust. KD3PC lives near the Chesapeake bay. SML is not the bay but it is decent if you know when to go. In June and July the winds always die between 3:30 and 4:00 and don't come back until just before dusk then die again at dark. So go sailing early and find yourself a nice cove all to yourself to hold up in during the doldrums. We usually swim between 3:30 and dark, eat a sandwich and then turn in for the night.
The gofast issue is bad on Sat. and Sun but they recently started patrolling with police boats and people do get tickets. A fiend of mine recently got one when his bow light failed. He did not know it was out but it didn't matter and my kids were turned back on a paddle boat about an hour before dusk because they didn't have lights. So the PWCs seem to be a bit more respectful than they have been in the past.
One more marina that I really like (and have kept a boat at in the past) is New Haven Marina. It is a low budget marina with an extremely laid back attitude.
Fair winds and if you want a sailing tour of SML email me...
rgranger@sbc.edu
I do most of my sailing there.
Rob
I'm going to have to disagree with KD3PC on a few points. SML has good winds (for a lake) early Spring and late Fall and decent winds June and July until about 3:30 in the afternoon. August is a bust. KD3PC lives near the Chesapeake bay. SML is not the bay but it is decent if you know when to go. In June and July the winds always die between 3:30 and 4:00 and don't come back until just before dusk then die again at dark. So go sailing early and find yourself a nice cove all to yourself to hold up in during the doldrums. We usually swim between 3:30 and dark, eat a sandwich and then turn in for the night.
The gofast issue is bad on Sat. and Sun but they recently started patrolling with police boats and people do get tickets. A fiend of mine recently got one when his bow light failed. He did not know it was out but it didn't matter and my kids were turned back on a paddle boat about an hour before dusk because they didn't have lights. So the PWCs seem to be a bit more respectful than they have been in the past.
One more marina that I really like (and have kept a boat at in the past) is New Haven Marina. It is a low budget marina with an extremely laid back attitude.
Fair winds and if you want a sailing tour of SML email me...
rgranger@sbc.edu
I do most of my sailing there.
Rob
Jut to be accurate...I lived in Roanoke/SW Va for the past 17-18 years and did quite a bit of sailing on both SML and Claytor Lake (in Dublin) as well as Lake Norman and Buggs Island.. I just keep the big boat off the bay, and have moved that way last fall to live aboard and prepare for longer cruises and retirement..
And actually we don't disagree, your sailing and expectations are just different than mine.
For a small lake it is OK, but I would still call the wind fickle and as Rob says they often die...as for the enforcement, it could be better, but glad that they are ticketing those who go out without lights or proper safety gear.. Sadly they have not been able to do much about the gofast boats, as they can't catch them in the act...some of the operators seem to take it as a challenge to the few LEO there...LEO knows the boat...just can't issue a summons unless they catch them.
And actually we don't disagree, your sailing and expectations are just different than mine.
For a small lake it is OK, but I would still call the wind fickle and as Rob says they often die...as for the enforcement, it could be better, but glad that they are ticketing those who go out without lights or proper safety gear.. Sadly they have not been able to do much about the gofast boats, as they can't catch them in the act...some of the operators seem to take it as a challenge to the few LEO there...LEO knows the boat...just can't issue a summons unless they catch them.
John;
The second reply is more accurate about the lake. Generally when school is in, the lake reverts back to the lake people. Winds generally good September thru middle of June. During the summer, winds in the early morning and late afternoon can be found and for two days following a good day rain shower.
Patrol has always been there on the lake but in the last few years it has gotten worse but the fellow is correct that enforcement is increasing due to some accidents involving even some folks that I knew two of which are dead. The fellow who killed them is serving time in jail.
There is Tom Hardy at Smith Yacht Club who is excellent working on sailboats. As for New Haven Marina, that is Lake Haven Marina. Very well laid back.
You may contact me via email for more information. I lived in the area before the lake was built and sold many sailboats on that lake thru American Marie & Sail. Many know me as Crazy Dave.
One answer as to when the ribbon was cut opening Hales Ford Bridge. What was the first thing to cross the bridge. It was the farmer and his mule who used to own the property.
davecondon@mindspring.com
The second reply is more accurate about the lake. Generally when school is in, the lake reverts back to the lake people. Winds generally good September thru middle of June. During the summer, winds in the early morning and late afternoon can be found and for two days following a good day rain shower.
Patrol has always been there on the lake but in the last few years it has gotten worse but the fellow is correct that enforcement is increasing due to some accidents involving even some folks that I knew two of which are dead. The fellow who killed them is serving time in jail.
There is Tom Hardy at Smith Yacht Club who is excellent working on sailboats. As for New Haven Marina, that is Lake Haven Marina. Very well laid back.
You may contact me via email for more information. I lived in the area before the lake was built and sold many sailboats on that lake thru American Marie & Sail. Many know me as Crazy Dave.
One answer as to when the ribbon was cut opening Hales Ford Bridge. What was the first thing to cross the bridge. It was the farmer and his mule who used to own the property.
davecondon@mindspring.com
Nice to see you around these parts...Crazy Dave. Met you sometime back at the Annapolis Boat show and you were always extremely helpful with my Hunter 22.
I would hate to be land locked and stuck to lake sailing. Something about knowing the Potomac River goes to the Chesapeake Bay and I have access to the ICW and Atlantic Ocean does something for me.
One thing I noticed about lakes on weekends is that if they have steep banks and there are a lot of power boats the lake will get so chopped up because the waves reflect off of the shores and get bigger.
Damn go fast boats!
I would hate to be land locked and stuck to lake sailing. Something about knowing the Potomac River goes to the Chesapeake Bay and I have access to the ICW and Atlantic Ocean does something for me.
One thing I noticed about lakes on weekends is that if they have steep banks and there are a lot of power boats the lake will get so chopped up because the waves reflect off of the shores and get bigger.
Damn go fast boats!
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