Van Pugh South Park

Eddie Brodeur launching while Fox5 films segment on winter windsurfing. Temps were in the upper 30s that day.

General Information

This is much preferable to the regular Van Pugh launch for something SW or S as you don't have a wind shadow at the launch. Not a good summer weekend spot as you are very close to some major marinas and their heavy traffic. Whether this park is open is subject to the season and the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers.

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]]

Legacy Directions

50 min. N I-85 to N I-985 to Exit 8 (Friendship Rd & Lake Lanier Islands). Turn left at top of exit. Turn right on Atlanta Hwy. In about one mile turn left on Gaines Ferry Road. Go straight, you'll pass one light (McEver Rd). Keep on for another 1.5 m until road deadends in park. Bear left as you reach the end of Gaines Ferry. Continue straight into old camp ground until road dead ends. Park in one of the camp site slips. Nice small sandy beach facing west.

Local Tips

Wind Shadows

A substantial makes this site difficult to just not worth it for anything between NW and E.

Sailing Upwind

On a west, the Three Sisters off of Lake Lanier Islands can often funnel the wind so it's a bit stronger.

Map

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="34.207401" lon="-83.984642" zoom="13"> 34.184061, -83.993505 </googlemap>

Windsurfing Sites on Lake Lanier

• About Lake Lanier
• Windsurfing on Lake Lanier
• Kiteboarding on Lake Lanier
• Keith's Bridge Park
• Lake Lanier Map
• Lake Lanier Long Distance Sail
• Lake Lanier Sailing Club Members only unless special event
• Little Ridge Park
• Mary Alice Park
• Mountain View Park
• Old Federal Park
• Sunrise Cove
• Tidwell Park
• Two Mile Creek Park
• Van Pugh
• Van Pugh South
• Vann's Tavern
• West Bank