How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

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Roland
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Joined: 05/20/2019 - 11:42
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How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

Two questions. I'm assuming at some point i will start to know what im doing on the water. So if that happens it brings a couple of questions to mind.

1. How many sail-able high wind days does Lake Lanier have every year? (Im thinking 20-25 mph plus gust kind of days).
I know there has been a couple of days where a 4m wing could be have been used. I was just wondering if there are periods of time when a 3 meter wing might be needed.

2. How cold does Lake Lanier the water get?
I'm not likely to be going out when the weather is super cold because i'm a wimp if things get very cold. But possibly on warmer winter-days id like to know what kind of wet-suit (or dry suit) are you guys using to stay warm?

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

Water gets down to the mid 40's. Last winter was mild so I think upper 40's was as cold as it got. 44 or so is about the coldest I remember. When coupled with lots of wind and temps in 40's - that's pretty rough riding.

There are better guys than me to answer this cause I'm not really a high wind sailer, but I'll try. Most windsurfer sail with a fin rather than a foil on those really windy days. For windsurfing there are usually only a few to a handful of days when a 4.0 m sail even works, it is rare (once in 5-10 years) anyone is using something smaller than 4. One more problem those super windy days also are usually in the coldest months: Jan-March. Think: drysuit, don't sail alone. Some of those days are just too cold to sail.

For windfoiling the sail sizes probably would be smaller, but on the windiest days I think they don't foil. A lot of this depends on how big the sailor is - some guys probably never drop below 5m, smaller guys (William, Gene, Barrett) probably do some of the time. William might be foiling with a 4.x m but that's when others are using 5-6m with foils. He can answer that.

Does a 3m wing equate to a 4 m sail? If so, you probably would get some use out of it but maybe not all that much. If you were to go to the Outer Banks in the spring a small wing that might get some use.

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

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Roland
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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

Randy pretty much covered it. My take: There are probably a handful of 30+ mph days on Lanier a year. Sometimes you'll get a couple before Christmas before the water goes frigid but most are mid-January to mid-April. This past spring we got a late blaster in early May? That's unusual.

Early May blaster: https://windsportatlanta.com/gallery/album/661/list wind kicked from the mid 20s to the mid 30s while some of us were out.

If you are going to be chasing wind in OBX and FL, a 3 could be nice. I've watched Jeff Henderson of HotSailsMaui on his 3. But, be aware that most anywhere on the east coast, when it's blowing that hard it's going to be woolly: super gusty, big swell and chop. Unless you are getting a killer deal now on something, it might be better to wait a bit until your skills catch up before you put yourself out in those conditions. From what I've read, wings have a very good range and you should be able to flag out a 4 in a 30 mph gust.

I think I sailed my 4.2 3 times or so this past season, and probably should have rigged a 3.7 a couple of times. I'm good foiling on the 4.7 to about 25ish, and the 4.2 to about 30ish gusts.

Big Day Feb. 12, 2015: Sunny, 34 degrees. Water temp: 44 degrees. Sail sizes 4.7-4.0. Hard core winter windsurfing. https://windsportatlanta.com/gallery/album/501/list

On the coldest days, either very, very good windsport (slick outside) 4/3 or better 5/4; or drysuit, hood, gloves, booties. Hypothermia is the real danger on those days. Dress so that you can spend at least 30 minutes in the water. That's also why some of us use big, floaty boards in the winter. Lol

Late April and me on the 4.2. I think most people were finning 4.7 to 6.0. You're in this one, Roland! https://windsportatlanta.com/gallery/album/659/list

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Roland
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moredownhaul
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Joined: 05/10/2007 - 07:28
Posts: 1610
Re: How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

Eh don’t worry about the cold 47 degree water. You’ll be foiling by then and will be way above the water.

Alan

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Roland
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arrogantj
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Joined: 01/24/2012 - 14:11
Posts: 1053
Re: How cold and windy does Lake Laneir get?

Lol

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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moredownhaul