Lake Lanier Long Distance Sail

General Information

The most popular traverse of the "sailable" section of Lake Lanier - the part south of Brown's Bridge (Hwy 386). The crow's distance is about 9.1 miles (14.6 miles). The shortest route on water is about 10 miles (16 km). Your actual distance, especially if there is any upwind sailing can be considerably more. The typical endpoints are [West Bank Park|West Bank Park] and [Sunrise Cove|Sunrise Cove] although one might stretch to [Mountain View Park|Mountain] View Park if conditions allow.

Recommended Wind Directions

NW: {{{northwest}}} | N: {{{north}}} | NE: {{{northeast}}}

W: {{{west}}} | | E: {{{east}}}

SW: {{{southwest}}} | S: {{{south}}} | SE: {{{southeast}}}

[[Image:Wind_{{{northwest}}}_nw.png|{{{28}}}px|Northwest]]	[[Image:Wind_{{{north}}}_n.png|{{{28}}}px|North]]	[[Image:Wind_{{{northeast}}}_ne.png|{{{28}}}px|Northeast]]
[[Image:Wind_{{{west}}}_w.png|{{{28}}}px|West]]		[[Image:Wind_{{{east}}}_e.png|{{{28}}}px|East]]
[[Image:Wind_{{{southwest}}}_sw.png|{{{28}}}px|Southwest]]	[[Image:Wind_{{{south}}}_s.png|{{{28}}}px|South]]	[[Image:Wind_{{{southeast}}}_se.png|{{{28}}}px|Southeast]]

Local Tips

As the wind conditions vary widely as you traverse the lake, a versatile board will save you much agony and pain in anything less than ideal conditions (i.e. 99% of the time). Classic long boards and formula boards are recommended for their upwind abilities and stability in sub-planing conditions. Additionally, sails (and sailors) which/who have a wide wind range are recommended. Especially in planing conditions, different sections of the lake may have wind strengths that may vary by two sail sizes.

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="34.210666" lon="-84.003525" zoom="12" width="650"> 34.166539, -84.071377, West Bank Park West Bank Park does not allow trailers. You'll have to carry your equipment on or in your vehicle. 34.243202, -83.938854, Sunrise Cove Sunrise Cove is the usual north beginning/end point. Easy access, nice beach and picnic area. 34.252558, -83.950247, Mountain View Park Alternative to Sunrise Cove but more difficult to reach because of wind shadows. Less accessible beach. But a lot closer to Brown's Bridge. </googlemap>