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I will be traveling to Lake Seneca next week. My understanding is that any direction between S and WSW should be sailable/kitable in the north part. But are the northerlies doable or a big no-no? (I am thinking N, NNW could work in the southern part of Lake Seneca). Any suggestions for kite launch? Also, any suggestions regarding forecasted strengths needed to get going would be great!
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Hi Brian,
Your plan sounds solid. Northerlies are surely doable and a few of the area riders do travel to Watkins Glen. I’m not sure of the rules of hte road regarding the launch down there though. The big issues will be your ability level and enough room for a safe launch. In our area we have been lucky to have fairly favorable relationships with the non-kiting decision makers. Check in with riders on site for anything you might need to know.
Good luck.
Wd
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I have sailed several times in Geneva from the SP on a NW, mainly after fronts came through and a big wind shift brought the wind around. You would have to launch a bit S of the beach, but it’s shallow and do-able.
Winds from the NW tend to come in waves (lull with a rapid leading edge, strong push for a variable time, then dying down some). Often the rides to the SW are screaming and you can ride the entire way quite far S down the lake. QUITE far.
Watkins is not my fave launch, but it is OK on a N. Mainly it feels a bit “industrial” as you are just off the industrial harbor. Haven’t tried it on a NW, but I think the “canyon” (hills on either side of the lake) is sufficiently deep that, down on the water, the wind will primarily be from the N. The park is an OK launch for sailboards….it’s a bit onshore and you have to beat your way off. There is a wide flat more treeless area on the SE corner of the park, and if I were wanting to launch a kite I’d probably look there.
About 2/3 down the lake is Lodi Point SP, which is in the “kink” of Seneca. The lake is broad there, and I have sailed on N and NW winds. Again, they’re up-and-down, but generally the strong surges last for a minute or so. The park has a fair number of modest-sized trees planted along the shoreline, so you’d have to be a little careful about that. On a reach to the W from Lodi Point, there is an interesting conjunction of water surface and surges that come through…if you’re looking for Hatteras-like flat water with massively overpowered surges, for grit your teeth and hold on to see how high the speedometer will go, Lodi is THE SPOT I know of in upstate NY. For that kick, you’ll want to bear to the WSW and pretty much go as far as you can towards the shore. The lake is wide there, so it’s a ride. But if it’s blowing, the gusts will come and you can just rip it.
For my money, it’s Lodi over Watkins every time.
Haven’t ever sailed Seneca from the W side. Coming from Ithaca, that’s just a non-starter idea…
GEM
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