Upwind toward Flowery Branch Bay on Great Dog
Conditions: ENE 6 to 10 knots, gusts to 17, 66 to 68°F, clear; lake 7.9 ft below full pool
I sailed the Capri 22 Great Dog solo from Holiday Marina in Big Creek, trying to reach Flowery Branch Bay. The wind was east-northeast at 6 to 10 knots with gusts to 17, so the bay was upwind. I motored out past the wake buoys before setting sail.
Getting upwind was a struggle. In two hours, I sailed 6.0 nm and got 2.0 nm north of the marina. At 16:56, I turned back so I’d reach the marina before the dock closed. Back in Big Creek, I took the sails down and motored in to the dock. The trip back took an hour.
Galley: Perfect Bar, 2 IQ bars, 2 Chomps beef sticks, Red Bull Sugarfree (8.4 oz), bottled water (500 mL)
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 35%
- Reaching 39%
- Downwind 9%
- Under 1 knot 4%
- Motoring 12%
Wind ENE 6–10 kt, gusts 17 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.
Also from this sail, a YouTube Short: Port Tack Gives Way to Starboard Tack
Play video: Port Tack Gives Way to Starboard TackWith a typical wind of 8 knots, this sail was windier than 35 of my 63 Lake Lanier sails. See them all on Sailing Lake Lanier.