New Year's Sail - Little Wind, Less Water

[JTMeissner]

Finally getting around to posting about the last sailing trip the family took.  Just in time to get ready for another weekend trip, which unfortunately will be the last one for a while...

Our home port is at Pointes West Army Resort, on the GA-SC border in Clark's Hill Lake/Strom Thurmond Reservoir.  Due to the drought conditions in the southeast, and the competing need for power generation, lake levels are down significantly.  The picture below is of the GA-47 bridge over part of the lake.  At normal levels, the water should be at the white painted level indicator, but we were 15' below normal pool which allows me to sail under the bridge (11' normal height).  



So, while opening up new territory for sailing, it's not without drawbacks.


The primary ramp is closed, but there is another on the property and several others nearby.


This marina pier hasn't been open for some time, it's on the other side of the bridge where I normally can't go.


Water should be by our feet... Secondary ramp is in the top right, primitive but useable.


We did get a good look at the shoreline hazards, and now have a good idea of the best places to anchor the boat while visiting.  For those with Department of Defense affiliation, you can reserve cabins, cottages, campers, or camping spots (with and without hook ups for water/power) at good rates. Gets pretty busy around the Masters golf tournament since it's close by.  Facilities are nice.

Some of the cabins by the water.  Tie-up dock in the background usually is full... The CP-16 allows me to get right up to the shore, wherever that might be.  Biggest issue on this trip was blowing fuses on the trolling motor power cable when it bogged down in the weeds. Had to rig a bypass on the water; now I have spares and the appropriate tools should something like that happen again.




For winter, the weather was pleasant enough.  Bundled when there was a bit of wind, chance to goof off when there wasn't.




Finished a grueling sailing day with cocoa, cookies, and a campfire.


With December precipitation above normal, the next trip has a forecast three more feet of water.  However, the temps will be a wee bit on the chilly side, so likely another quiet few days on the water.

Fair winds,
Justin

[ahmch]

Great pics.  Nice spot. Beautiful family.
I will think rain today.
andrew

[skip1930]

"...blowing fuses on the trolling motor power cable when it bogged down in the weeds." Yep anything above zero rpm's on an electric motor will draw full load currant until the motor rpm achieves the motor's rating. Had a ball dropping the hammer on an electric fork lift truck with 6,000 lbs of iron in totes on the forks and breaking the wheels loose and listening to the contacts fry and sizzle with really interesting green bolts of smoking hot lighting curling up from under my hand on the speed control.  That was full load amps till we got rolling and things calmed down. The wet cell battery was 5 foot long, 4 foot wide and 5 foot high. Craned it out and put in a recharged one every day.

Low water indeed. My wife just had a text message report from our Door County United States Power and Sail Squadron Commander who is down in Texas with his wife while visiting the grand kids for the winter in his goose neck R/V. Bob Sterna reports that the reservoir they are camping at is 37 foot down from the normal.

Here at home we exceeded the record low water mark in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by several inches...and the ice pack that only formed last week when it was below zero will be going away next week and opening up the Lake to additional evaporation to the tune of an inch per week. It's going to snow and rain this afternoon and be 35 degrees....looks like your all having fun hanging out at the pond and cabin. Nice bonfire. Enjoy. Looks like a great lake for the CP-16.

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