Any gut feelings ?

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Joined: 03/02/2004 - 20:18
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Any gut feelings ?

Howzit All,

I'm new to your board. Very nice place you have here.
Just looked at the GFS and ETA models, was hoping for something more this weekend.Any gut feelings about this frontal system ?
From the Bay Area and will be visiting a friend for his 40th. They live out by Lake Lanier. Will be in the area from fri-mon. Is it worth bringing my kite gear for some lite wind ?

Aloha, Tom

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Tom,
I've been snowed under and having not been paying attention to the models. The numbers do look encouraging as a front is supposed to come through Friday night. A reminder, the numbers you see are in knots, so "15" really translates to a possible 18-25 in windspeed. So, given the usual caveats about weather prediction, the forecast looks better than usual. But it is weather that we are talking about here.

The bigger issue is where are you staying and where to launch from. Remember that Lanier is in the foothills of the Appalachians and surrounded by hills and pine and oak trees. On a west wind, you have a limited number of places to launch. (I'm actually trying to think of any...) We usually sail from Van Pugh but sail off an onshore launch that's ringed by tall pines. If you can swim your gear out in the water and water launch, you might be okay or could launch from the leeward side which has more open space and get the kite up above the trees you'd be okay. But we don't have a nice, broad spot to easily get the kite up and off.

You are more than welcome to join us. Enjoy your visit. The weather has turned warm and it's been lovely here for the last several days. Do bring adequate neoprene though because the water is cold.

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Joined: 03/02/2004 - 20:18
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Thanks for the quick reply. Looks like I'll be altering my travel route tonight through IAD because said front is going to be beating on ORD in the early am. Hope wx will not affect my progress from IAD to ATL. I should arrive at 09:15 if all goes well.

I was striper fishing on Lanier about 10 years ago with the same friend. The lakeshore up around Gainesville was very rough. I was hoping to take a look at Van Pugh So. and Sunrise for a possible launch. I've done a couple of lakeside water starts in our norcal lakes. The wind has to be at the upper end of the bigger kites operating envelope for an immediate water launch.

No worries. If I can’t find a launch site I’m sure we’ll be casting and flippin for bass. Thanks for the invite. I’ll be around Van Pugh to check things out on Fri and Sat. Not sure of my plans. As I said, what brings me to the area is my friend’s surprise 40th.

Sorry I’m “cell-less”, lost my phone and haven’t replaced it yet.

Aloha, Tom

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Joined: 03/02/2004 - 20:18
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Thanks for the hospitality. I've got a plane to catch. Hope to be around the lake by late morning. I'll post again tomorrow if I find something.

Thanks again !

Aloha, Tom

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windlord
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Joined: 02/07/2002 - 10:05
Posts: 835

Tom,

It might be too late, but Galt's ferry on Lake Allatoona currently has loads of area to launch a kite as the lake level is low. It looks like Saturday will be a good NW wind day.

NW winds will work there, but tend to be pretty gusty and lighter than Lanier. I'm not sure how kites handle those conditions. I know it can be frustrating on a windsurfer at times. Galts is fabulous on N-NE winds though.

Bill

Bill Herderich

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Tom,

Sounds like you made it out to VP this weekend. How did you find the kitesurfing at Lanier?

We occasionally have posters inquire about the suitability of our location, and since we are mostly windsurfers, we never are quite sure of what to tell them. Would you recommend it for other kiters? Advanced? Beginner?

Randy

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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