Hey,
What's the best launch for SW winds? I don't have much experience with this direction. I've got my small equipment loaded in the van in case this situation really develops. Note, the "places to sail" page recommends Van Pugh South, Sunrise Cove, or Two Mile Creek.
Also, On the Allatoona side, I think old 41 would be decent, but is closed this time of year. I've heard that you can park on the street and walk your stuff in though. Any thoughts on that?
Bill
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Bill Herderich
If you have the time, Sunrise is a much better launch on SW than VP (VP South I think is closed in the winter, anyway). It's a long slog out to the windline on a SW vs sideshore at Sunrise. 2 mile is side shore as well but you'll have to work a bit upwind to get out to a wider part of the lake. I disappeared up there to check it out Saturday and on a W, it was just a bit too far back in to make it worthwhile. btw, Saturday, it blew great up by the 3 sisters. Don't know if the wind was that nice further downwind at VP (Saturday 3-4 pm) I was fully powered on a 7.5 and went way upwind. Only had about a 20 minute lull making me think I was going to have a slow sail home till the wind filled back in and had a delightful sleigh ride home. I wish there was a better launch to get up there, would also solve this SW problem since that's where the SW is good, too.
Haven't done it in a while but seem to remember it was only a short shlog out from West Bank, too. Big downside is trailers aren't allowed there.
Bill,
I've never tried getting into Old 41 this time of year, but as low as the water is at Allatoona now, seems like it may not be worth the (considerable) effort.
I strongly suspect the "good" launch at VP South (the part in the campling area) is also closed now. The small launch that is open is pretty narrow and it would take a fair amount of effort to get out to a sailable place.
Sunrise seems to be the best for SW. Another important point, SW winds are notoriously unreliable and unuseful. I have seen more days than I can count when it was reported 10-13kt at Gainsville and it was 3 kt at the lake, esp. in situations like this when the air is very warm and the lake very cold. (All this is a long way of saying I probably should work today.)
Two mile is a nice spot, but again, you would need to get out a ways which may be difficult in a strong SW wind w/o a longboard. It is more of a nice, uncrowded summer longboarding place, as WF has pointed out on the web page.
Having said all that, if it really gets windy (say 15 - 20 kt) then Sunrise is probably the best bet. Who knows, I may try to go out myself.
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
When I've tried to sail Sunrise COve on SW when there was wind, it seemed to be coming from all directions. On lite air days i dont think that was such a problem. Gerg B & I sailed there one day when it was blowing and it sucked, and then I rode by Van Pugh and the people who sailed there had a good day, but did have to slog to the wind line.
Anyway, Van Pugh is alot closer (for me). Also, I think I'll work today and hopefully sail tomorrow at Van Pugh.
Gene
Gene Mathis
LLSC is pretty good in a SW. It's straight into the beach. There's almost no boat traffic and the water is pretty flat unless it gets to 4.5 conditions. Then the chop gets really confused for some reason. You can sail upwind toward the channel to get better ramps, but not like at VP. You have to be a guest of member to sail there... try me anytime you're thinking of going. I may be able to make it. (I often just need an excuse like "somebody else wants to go" to make the trip.) I'm a lot less interested if the air temp is under 50.