Where is the next best alternative to VP when the park hits capacity? Say tomorrow, the wind picks up around one, but by the time I get there the park has reached its limit. Where does everyone go on W to NW wind?
Hopefully, it won't be a problem since Sat is forecast to start out with rain. Unf. there really is no alt. to VP for NW that I know of, so getting their early to get a parking place is your best bet. (You can go to Galts on NW, though conventional wisdom is that VP is better, but parking issues aren't much better.)
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
On NW winds, Old Federal or Sunrise Cove should both work, although the wind quality might not be quite as good in that part of the lake. The public access at Sunrise tends to close ridiculously early in the evening & I've been locked in there before & had to deal with some a** holes manning the marina gate. Old Fed seldom seems to get crowded like VP. If the wind is due west, you could launch @ " Middle Van Pugh", but you'd have to work directly up wind a ways to get clear air and room to reach. On NW there is (or was) a public access area at Aqua Land although it is a little sheltered and there you must also work up wind to get clear. Middle VP is free ( go straight instead of right to Van Pugh) but on a holiday weekend, you might not find a legal place to park ( not on grassy shoulder)
For west or southwest, you can go to Two Mile, which has a fair amount of parking space near the boat launch, but I usually try to go the spots with picnic tables. (Carefull where you park, though, they don't like you parking on the grassy area in the center.)
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Lake Lanier Sailing Club is good in south to west winds, works ok in a NW if you are willing to schlog out to the wind line maybe 100 yds. I was there yesterday and had the place almost to myself. It was pretty much perfect with SW wind straight on shore and just a few sailboats for traffic. I sailed to Van Pugh where it looked like a zoo and the motorboat chop all over that bay was horrible. Chattahoochee Bay (LLSC) has very little through traffic and almost always has nice water. (Starboard tack jumps, but not as favored as VP).
It would be great if some WSers joined. You can do it pretty cheap. There's an intemediate membership or a social membership that are half the full member fees- but you can't store property there, or vote or hold office. (These 2 are a bonus actually). The info on membership is at http://www.LLSC.com
I saw a spot on the Lake Map called Keith's Bridge. It is northeast of Vann's Tavern. From 400 you would get there by going on 306 and then not turning onto 369. It looks like it might be pretty good from SW or W. It may not be as crowded as the more southern spots on the lake. I was going to check it out this weekend, but ended up at Old 41 instead. Anybody ever sailed there?
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
The problem with Van Pugh is that it really is the best place on the lake for westerlies. The only exception is the slot up by Lake Lanier Islands but until we can sail off there for free, going upwind from VP is the best bet. A bunch of us have sailed all over and it's difficult to believe how different the wind can be in different spots.
There are alternatives - Sunrise, Old Federal, LLSC, Two Mile. I go to Sunrise for spring SW simply because it's a nicer launch and less boat traffic.
But for the classic Lanier W/NW experience, there is a reason we put up with the goose poop, infernal wind shadow and crowded parking.
I haven't seen anything notable north of the bridge. As Chris said, the fetches are much shorter. With hills and 90 ft pines, it takes quite a while for the wind to lie back down on the water.
Hopefully, it won't be a problem since Sat is forecast to start out with rain. Unf. there really is no alt. to VP for NW that I know of, so getting their early to get a parking place is your best bet. (You can go to Galts on NW, though conventional wisdom is that VP is better, but parking issues aren't much better.)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
what about old federal or vanns tavern, do they pack out quick in the summer too?
On NW winds, Old Federal or Sunrise Cove should both work, although the wind quality might not be quite as good in that part of the lake. The public access at Sunrise tends to close ridiculously early in the evening & I've been locked in there before & had to deal with some a** holes manning the marina gate. Old Fed seldom seems to get crowded like VP. If the wind is due west, you could launch @ " Middle Van Pugh", but you'd have to work directly up wind a ways to get clear air and room to reach. On NW there is (or was) a public access area at Aqua Land although it is a little sheltered and there you must also work up wind to get clear. Middle VP is free ( go straight instead of right to Van Pugh) but on a holiday weekend, you might not find a legal place to park ( not on grassy shoulder)
For west or southwest, you can go to Two Mile, which has a fair amount of parking space near the boat launch, but I usually try to go the spots with picnic tables. (Carefull where you park, though, they don't like you parking on the grassy area in the center.)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Lake Lanier Sailing Club is good in south to west winds, works ok in a NW if you are willing to schlog out to the wind line maybe 100 yds. I was there yesterday and had the place almost to myself. It was pretty much perfect with SW wind straight on shore and just a few sailboats for traffic. I sailed to Van Pugh where it looked like a zoo and the motorboat chop all over that bay was horrible. Chattahoochee Bay (LLSC) has very little through traffic and almost always has nice water. (Starboard tack jumps, but not as favored as VP).
It would be great if some WSers joined. You can do it pretty cheap. There's an intemediate membership or a social membership that are half the full member fees- but you can't store property there, or vote or hold office. (These 2 are a bonus actually). The info on membership is at http://www.LLSC.com
cv
I saw a spot on the Lake Map called Keith's Bridge. It is northeast of Vann's Tavern. From 400 you would get there by going on 306 and then not turning onto 369. It looks like it might be pretty good from SW or W. It may not be as crowded as the more southern spots on the lake. I was going to check it out this weekend, but ended up at Old 41 instead. Anybody ever sailed there?
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
not enough fetch
cv
The problem with Van Pugh is that it really is the best place on the lake for westerlies. The only exception is the slot up by Lake Lanier Islands but until we can sail off there for free, going upwind from VP is the best bet. A bunch of us have sailed all over and it's difficult to believe how different the wind can be in different spots.
There are alternatives - Sunrise, Old Federal, LLSC, Two Mile. I go to Sunrise for spring SW simply because it's a nicer launch and less boat traffic.
But for the classic Lanier W/NW experience, there is a reason we put up with the goose poop, infernal wind shadow and crowded parking.
I haven't seen anything notable north of the bridge. As Chris said, the fetches are much shorter. With hills and 90 ft pines, it takes quite a while for the wind to lie back down on the water.