Hi,
Looking like an easterly Sat and Sunday. Models are sort of promising, but nothing huge, WC is only saying e5-10, but I've seen lots of times when that kind of forecast turns out to be well worth going - EARLY. So if it looks promising in the morning, I'll probably be heading to Tidwell. Could be talked into going elsewhere if anyone else was going.
Randy
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
It's only 7 am and already 8 mph. Usually picks up from here. I'm heading for Tidwell.
Randy
It's only 7 am and already 8 mph. Usually picks up from here. I'm heading for Tidwell.
Randy
Outstading 8.5 day!!
Sailed from about 8:30. Solid planning, but never overpowered. Wind died at 11 am, though.
Still going to keep on eye on Sunday am.
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Glad you had a good morning.
What are the advantages of Tidwell? I did a search to see if this had been discussed and didn't find anything notable. The description in "Places to Sail" doesn't make it sound too great.
Anybody ever sail from the West Bank park? I noticed it was listed as good for an east wind and it's a lot closer than Vanns (at least for me).
I'm keeping an eye on the forecast for Sunday morning, but the wind numbers keep getting lower. I'll get up early and see.
Leo,
Its 7am and I called G-ville - NNE @4kt, not too good. Uusually, I look for something from the e (90) or ene (70-80). Today might improve, but not too optimistic.
I think Tidwell is underated on the club webpage. For me its closer than Vann's Tavern or Van Pugh. In choosing among the 3 spots that's probably the first thing to consider, since they are all pretty equal otherwise. Vann's Tavern can have more windshadow - takes longer to sail out to the wind line. Tidwell probably has the longest fetch on the lake, so the wind is theoretically the best there. There are rocks at the launch in Tidwell, but I always launch from the boat ramp, so that's simply not an issue. Tidwell also has heated restrooms that (so far at least) are open all year. It has a nice rigging area, and plenty of parking. Your chances of encountering other sailors is better at Vann's Tavern, but unless its a very good wind day (and well advertised in the forecasts) peeps just don't show there very often.
I've sailed at West Bank park, though never had a lot of luck there. It would probably be best on N, to NNE, but I've sailed it on even w, and nw. On nnw you can sail up past the little island and there is a long channel that gives a decent fetch. But I would only sail on NNW if I just didn't have the time to go somewhere better. On N, and NNE type winds West Bank is ok, though I haven't seen too many days when that direction is very strong. Overall, West Bank is probably a good place to sail if your bored with your other spots and just want to try something different. It's maybe the closest spot for those going up 400, but traffic on exit 14 can bog things down, so you don't gain anything timewise compared to Tidwell.
Another spot that doesn't get mentioned much is Two Mile. Good for SW, and acceptable for W its a good longboard spot - meaning you may have to sail a ways upwind to get to the stronger winds. In fact, I like it much better for SW than Sunrise Cove, since its much closer and I've almost never seen good days at Sunrise. You can also sail E at Two mile, though there's no reason to pick it over Vann's Tav any of the others. Two mile is a very nice park, and pretty empty except in the warm weather months.
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
West Bank has a significant wind shadow and doesn't allow trailers. Two Mile, as Randy said, is a neat park that most have never visited for SW plus you get to sail on the southern arm of Lanier which most never do (unless taking an extended excursion - the virtues of Formula, wide and long boards).
I've had many great SW seshes at Sunrise. But I usually visit there with the kids since having them blown back to shore if anything goes wrong is definitely a plus. Best time is in mid-late spring when Van Pugh begins to get crowded and you get a good SW before a front comes through. Unfortunately, a lot of times those fronts are ones that carry tornadoes, too. (That strong SW/NW shear doesn't help things - the NW winds being the ones following the front)
Tidwell -rocks. Vanns - sand. Randy says tomahto and I say tomayto. Both good spots with their own virtues. I ended up as a Vann's partisan because it was close to Athen's Park (now closed and just upwind of Vann's) which was a fantastic spot. You could literally park on the point, dump your stuff in the grass and rig, and sail away with no windshadow all in a space of about 15 feet. It was closed, afaik, because it had a bad rep for folks meeting for various elicit activities. I always wondered about those cars where people would just sit and [seem to] look out at the water.
Thanks for the perspectives on the launch sites. I need to take a look at all of these sometime when I'm not anxious to get rigged and on the water. Sounds like a good excuse for a motorcycle ride on a windless day.
It looks like there may have been some wind today after all. I've seen 10 to 14 mph reported at Gainesville since noon. Unfortunately, I'm headed to the airport in a couple of hours, so no sailing for me this afternoon. :cry:
Ended up gong to Galts today. Sailed 8.5 from noon till 4. Solid planning on every run for the first 1.5 hour, spotty after that. Just as soon as you would decide to head back, another gust would come up. All in all a great day.
Jimmy and Dan Young made it out as well.
BTW - Webguy, the Seatrend rocks too!
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Actually, webguy wrote Tidwell (and this is the important part) HYPHEN rocks
What sail did you use on the Seatrend, Randy? Glad you enjoyed it. Email me your address so I can settle up.
Just got back from a weekend at St. Simons -- man that was sweet. Two full days of 5.2 wind, 90 degrees and low tide. The jumps were still huge! That is one heck of a great place to sail. Highly recommended!