Boatin' in the Appalachians.

[Doug Cameron]

Here in the mid-South, our best sailing is in the late Fall, winter, and early Spring when the winds are from frontal activity.  summer is terrible, with heat, powerboat wakes, and little wind outside of thunderstorms.

[Don Silsbe]

If you're looking for something closer to home, there's Lake Bowen in Spartanburg County.  Still a little small for a CS20, but it'd give you an OK daysail opportunity.  Be sure to leave your outboard motor home, though.  The launching fees are ridiculous for out of state powered boats ($400/year).  A sail/oar/paddle boat permit is only $5/year.  Honk when you drive by-- I'm in Tryon.  Jocasee is truly beautiful, although the launch site is in a narrow cove, as I recall.

[1blueheron]

I live on Leesville Lake, VA.  It is small and very under utilized.  It is tucked in the Staunton River Valley so the wind is never terribly strong and there is never much wave action or boat traffic. Lake is about 17 mi long, dam to dam. About 10 mi is easily navigable deep water.  Great if you want solace and meditation. We are about 3 hours North of Charlotte, 2.5 hours north of Winston/Salem   It is part of the Roanoke River chain of lakes which upstream includes Smith Mt. Lake, (Large lake but traffic and constant maneuvering can make it a sailing challenge, lots of little coves to overnight in though)  Downstream from Leesville takes you to Kerr Reservoir which would also make a nice sailing experience.  Then down to Gaston.  All have reasonable launch ramps if you choose carefully, many are state owned and free or very reasonable. Outboards are permitted on all of them.

 

Philpott might also be a possibility?

[Chick Ludwig]

Thrillsbe, 1blueheron, Hey, good to hear from you guys! I'd forgotten about this thread. As you know, I sold Summer Breeze when I moved. Not a good move on hindsight!. But now I have a partially built CS-17 that i bought from Greg Baker when HE had to move. I'll get to work finishing her after I finish my Sport Boat, "Turtler". I'll probably add a cuddy so I can do my 2-3 day cruises. Lake Hartwell isn't far from here and I think it's big enough for cruising. Jocassee looks beautiful. (Went to look awhile back.) They say that the sky looks like you are 20 miles off shore.

 

Maybe we can get together for a mini-mess-about some time---what do y'all think?

[mattp]

I live on Leesville Lake, VA.  It is small and very under utilized.  It is tucked in the Staunton River Valley so the wind is never terribly strong and there is never much wave action or boat traffic. Lake is about 17 mi long, dam to dam. About 10 mi is easily navigable deep water.  Great if you want solace and meditation. We are about 3 hours North of Charlotte, 2.5 hours north of Winston/Salem   It is part of the Roanoke River chain of lakes which upstream includes Smith Mt. Lake, (Large lake but traffic and constant maneuvering can make it a sailing challenge, lots of little coves to overnight in though)  Downstream from Leesville takes you to Kerr Reservoir which would also make a nice sailing experience.  Then down to Gaston.  All have reasonable launch ramps if you choose carefully, many are state owned and free or very reasonable. Outboards are permitted on all of them.

 

Philpott might also be a possibility?

 

Hey, that hits close to home! My home waters are Smith Mountain Lake and while I agree that there is a lot of traffic, most of it is between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend which is not the best sailing season anyways because of light and flukey winds. I have had many wonderful and peaceful fall and spring sails here.

 

And the much larger Kerr Lake is another fave of mine for laid back, solitudinous, camp cruising.

[Ken_Potts]

   I know a guy who keeps his airplanes (and his bed and breakfast) up on Smith Mountain Lake.  You might be able to trade a sail for an airplane ride if you get up that way.

   Smith Mountain Lake is a long way Hendersonville, though, if you don't have an airplane

[1blueheron]

mattp,

Yes, we are almost neighbors.  My late uncle, who loved to sail, had a place on SML off S.Hickory Hill Dr.  Perhaps you know the area. My cousin still has the place.  I agree SML is certainly beautiful in fall and spring and less busy than in the summer months. Winds are more predictable.  It can blow pretty steady in the main channel  down towards the dam in fall and spring.  Winter it can almost be brutal. Its been a few years since I was up there. I  used to bass and Striper fish SML a bit.  We moved to Leesville because it was so much quieter, cheaper and less boat traffic.  We just have to contend with level fluctuations and some trash but that has gotten better recently. I'm lucky to see 5 boats on a nice summer sat. or sunday and even fewer few jet skis.  Not to take anything away from SML it definitly has its redeeming virtures. I think Kerr is the ideal  VA/NC sailing lake due to the items you mentioned, its sheer size and being in flatter area.

[Chick Ludwig]

Over 4 hours to either lake for me. Too far to throw "an-apple-atcha". (Ha! little joke---VERY little joke.) Know anything about Douglass Lake or Cherokee Lake in Tennessee?

[1blueheron]

Haven't been on either Cherokee or Douglas.  I have fished South Holsten Lake.  Nice little lake but has a pretty big level fluctuation as well.  That and Wautauga shouldn't be a bad drive.

[Tom Lathrop]

Chick,

 

I have either sailed or motored on many of the mountain lakes mentioned.  Keowee in SC as well as Hartwell, Smith Mountain, Philpot, Kerr, Fontana, Santeela and maybe some I have forgotten about.  Another that few know about is Lake Julian.  Two great things about Julian.  It is in your back yard and the lake is a cooling lake for a power plant.  The last bit makes it very interesting in the winter as the water is warm and there are tropical fish in there.  We used to hold a Mountaineer sailing regatta there for Windmills on the nearest weekend to October /November.  If you capsize which we did when racing in Windmills and Lasers, the water is warm.  The conditions often made for a low lying fog that obscured the boats and left the tops of sails and masts visible.  Sailed in a snowfall there too.  Weird but fun at the same time.  Lake Julian is just south of Skyland, NC.  Small but very nice for a late or early season sail.

[Chick Ludwig]

Hey Tom! I was just up at Julian a few days ago, Not boating, just checking-it-out. Amazing to see the cruising boats at the marina. Kinda short cruises... 

 

I was paddling down on Lake Adger a little while back. Kinda like it there. And it's free to launch and use the lake. I'll be boating in kayak, Turtler, or future CS-17 on most of the lakes sooner or later. Well, maybe not the ones that charge a bunch just for allowing my presence on their precious waterfront. Like Lake Bowen for instance. 

[Don Silsbe]

Chick, I didn't mention Lake Adger, because it's so shallow at the launch site, with a narrow channel. Besides, the surrounding hills make for lousy air. It's a better paddling/powerboat lake. Julian looks good, but I agree that it's smallish. Hey-- a small group of us are building a variety of boats in the basement of the Polk County Ag Center in Mill Spring. We'd love for you to drop in some time. Call me (828) 817-2586.

[Chick Ludwig]

Thrillsbe, sounds good. I'll give you a call.

[Don Silsbe]

Don't rule out Lake Bowen. It's a great sailing lake. Just bring your oars, and leave the motor at home.