Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

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Bruno
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Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Hi guys!! I seeking for advice. My sons BDay is coming up this Saturday and he wanted to do some windsurfing with some friends and family. I looked on forecast for wind and it looks like it will be 10 maybe 14 mph?? I will be using my both boards, Starboard and Bic. Any suggestions for Lake Lanier best location to learn windsurf and do cookout at the same time?? Any other tips and information highly appreciated. Thank you!!! Biggrin

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moredownhaul
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Saturday is supposed to be SE so Van Pugh or Vans Tavern should work

https://windsurfatlanta.org/wiki/Places_to_Windsurf

Alan

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Randy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

On iwindsurf it doesn't look quite that windy, and it is from the SE. The usually easterly places are Vann's Tavern and TIdwell. Vann's doesn't have a lot of picnic or parking space - what is there might get filled up quickly.

Tidwell has a large area where you can hang out but (despite having been there hundreds of times) don't know if there are facilities for cookouts, though you could probably bring a grill. There is limited parking for people w/o boat trailers. Not a bad place to try to learn - there is a cove near the boat ramp so errant sailors would end up within in short walking distance should things go awry. Not much of a beach.

A little closer is Mary Alice Park - which along with Tidwell is my favorite place for easterlies. There is a lot of parking space and a nice beach. Same story on cookouts - I never paid attention but I know I have seen people cooking there. SE is a good direction and the water is pretty flat. Fairly shallow water in places so that might be good. I did go out there once with a new windsurfer and getting back was no problem. Cost$ $5 to get in - but unless you have a pass it is about the same at other places.

Personally, though I would go to Galts. E and SE work there, there is a nice beach and I do see people cooking a lot there. It is also close to KSU. Lanier water level is pretty low - Toona is full. Parking lot is big but it does fill up so I would get there early.

Another option is Lake Acworth - a small lake with a nice beach and park. Cost to get in ($5?) but SE is a good direction. This is the place where all the old timers learned to windsurf. I think they may even sell concessions there. It is up I-75 one exit past Galts (278 v. 277).

Van Pugh is another place where SE can work ok (though less ideal than the other places) and there is lots of picnicing and a nice beach. Unless the wind is a lot better than forecast - don't count on meeting any windsurfers there and get there as early as possible to grab a space.

Wind this time of year is sketchy - I would suggest placing the highest priority on get a good place for beach and picnic, and windsurfing secondary. I think Galts/Mary Alice would be your best bets.

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

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webguy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Galts and Van Pugh really aren't SE spots. And with the traffic this time of year, that makes them worse. Vanns, Acworth for sure. I don't know how the boat traffic is at either Mary Alice or West Point (which is a lot closer for Bruno). Just across the dam in AL is (or at least was) a nice park although these days you may have go across down in West Point instead of the dam.

It doesn't look that windy anyways. Maybe 5-10. For a bunch of non- or barely windsurfers, having an onshore wind makes things much easier. Nobody has to swim far and the wind is a lot cleaner.

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windlord
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

As another option, there's also South Shore Park at Acworth. it's off Ragsdale road. It's small but last time I was there it was free and there where picknick tables and a porta poty. No power boats either.

Bill Herderich

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FoilDodo
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay
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webguy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

If only we had a wiki or something like that with maps... Biggrin

https://windsurfatlanta.org/wiki/Lake_Acworth

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Randy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Hey Rodney,

Good point on the wiki. Since Bruno was asking about picnic options, I figured the wiki, our usual source wouldn't have the skinny on that. But yeah - we tend to forget how much we have at our fingertips.

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

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Bruno
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Hi guys, very good suggestions and pointers, thank you ALL!!! Biggrin Right now I am leaning towards West Point or Acworth, I still have to talk to my son and ask him what he prefers. I know originally he wanted to see you guys windsurf and try windsurfing him self, but tomorrow there is very little wind and I don't think anybody is going. Other challenge I have that I will have one family with smaller children I have to think of them as well. What they going to do and how safe it is? Yesterday I rigged up my 6.0 Ezzy sail and week before 7.5 sail. Both look very good and clean. We will have good time!!! See you soon.

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Randy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Bruno,

What wind there is today seems to be mostly south - in that case you are probably on the right track. Galts wold not be a good place since south would be offshore and weak to boot. I think Acworth would be ok. I don't know about West Point.

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

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webguy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

fyi Small kids need really small sails.When my son, who was pretty experienced at the time - harness, planing, etc - was 12 and about 80 pounds, a 4.2 was a huge sail for him. It is like an 8.5/9.0 to an adult. An adult just starting out should be on a 4.5-5.0 and kids on 2s and 3s.

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Randy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Uh, Webster, Bruno's son goes to KSU.....(unless you are aware of another one.)

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

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Bruno
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay

Hi guys, we are back form the lake. We went to Acworth South Shore Park and we had a blast. Thank you "Windloard", for suggesting this place and Randy for telling me not to go to Galts. This place is very easy accessible, good for kids. Small beach access helps to get in and out from water. No picnic grills or any other utilities, there is picnic tables and small grass patch for rigging, big plus. Porta Potty, no full bathrooms for changing. If you are planning to go there, be there by 10:30 or 11:00. Later people start arriving and scouting for opens spots.
South East wind if I am not mistaking, it was little challenge, since there is not too much open space for wind to straight up, there was a lot of twisters and it was so darn anoint a specialty for my son. I rigged for him starboard with 6.0 and he was doing very good for beginning, wind was blowing him across the lake and in beginning with my coaching, he was able to go out and get back. For very first time hi did absolutely amazing!! We did end up later on other side because wind picked up and he had a hard time controlling but that was only my fault, I give him my starboard 7.5 rig and that was way too much for him to handle. We called my wife with minivan to bring him back. Help Bic had a 6.0 at time and he was already tired. Over all, great day and he said that he is coming back with me to get better. For me that is what counts the most!
As far as me, I sailed with both boards and both sails, 6.0 and 7.5, Starboard 7.5 felt good and easy to control but Bic Rumba 6.0 was a lot quicker and got out of water planing easy. For some reason I had a feeling that on Starboard I was dragging my butt, a specially when I had to get close to the straps as I was leaning in the wind. It felt heavy. Maybe I did something wrong or rigged wrong, Scratch one-s head I will definitely need your guidance. Later that day around 15:30 wind picked up a lot and I had a chance to go faster and plain. Definitely was great day and all of us enjoyed company. The End!!! Lol Good

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webguy
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Re: Recommendations for Saturday 05/20/17 BDay
Bruno wrote:

As far as me, I sailed with both boards and both sails, 6.0 and 7.5, Starboard 7.5 felt good and easy to control but Bic Rumba 6.0 was a lot quicker and got out of water planing easy. For some reason I had a feeling that on Starboard I was dragging my butt, a specially when I had to get close to the straps as I was leaning in the wind. It felt heavy. Maybe I did something wrong or rigged wrong, Scratch one-s head I will definitely need your guidance. Later that day around 15:30 wind picked up a lot and I had a chance to go faster and plain. Definitely was great day and all of us enjoyed company. The End!!! LolGood

Glad you had a great time. I'll not say anything about a beginner/offshore wind/big sail for the moment. Biggrin Glad it all worked out.

On the Starboard, did you have the center fin in? Which fin was in the back? I can get more into this in a moment but it's super important to make sure the board is flat or the downwind rail slightly more in the water (heeled to leeward in sailor talk). The back foot should be in the middle of the board just in front of the back straps pushing on the toes and not the heels. If you haven't moved the straps to the "intermediate" position like in the picture below, your weight will have been a bit too far forward as well.

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