Downwind to Buford Dam in an east wind, and motoring home
Conditions: E 5 to 9 knots, 72 to 75°F, overcast with light rain and mist; lake 0.8 ft below full pool
Play video: Downwind to Buford Dam in an east wind, and motoring homeWatch on YouTube: Downwind to Buford Dam in an east wind, and motoring home
I took the Capri 22 Hot Dog out of Holiday Marina and sailed all the way to Buford Dam. The wind was from the east, which is unusual on Lake Lanier, so the trip to the dam was good sailing, reaching and downwind, under a heavy overcast.
Coming back meant heading straight into the wind. After a short sail north from the dam, I motored the rest of the way to the marina.
Wind, temperature, and sky are from the Gainesville airport weather station (KGVL). Lake level is from the USGS gauge at Buford Dam; full pool is 1,071 ft.
Track
- Upwind 14%
- Reaching 27%
- Downwind 28%
- Under 1 knot 3%
- Motoring 28%
Wind E 5–9 kt
Arrows show the direction of travel. Point of sail compares the boat's course with the wind measured at KGVL, so short stretches can be off when the wind on the water differs. Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
With a typical wind of 7 knots, this sail was calmer than 34 of my 63 Lake Lanier sails. See them all on Sailing Lake Lanier.