Doug Don't mean to change the thread here but I'm curious about how well your boat (M17?) did without it's mast up. I've read that the mast needs to be up to prevent balance problems. Anyone else motor without their masts on the boat? thanks Pam Port Townsend On Dec 27, 2012, at 9:38 AM, douglas kelch wrote:
Hi Dave,
I made a 5 day trip on Lake Powell in October and really enjoyed it. The wind forecast was so light I actually left the mast at home. I launched at Halls Crossing and went North. This area is more narrow than the SW end of the lake. There was very little competition for the nice little sandy beaches and I was able to beach on one every night. It is a great trip regardless of the winds but as Tom said, anchoring can be a problem as the water is deep and the rocks are close.
There may be a group cruise next year. Doug Ames is thinking about sponsoring a one way cruise from the SW end towards the NE. It would be users choice on duration( but would be planned for week or two) as it is thought to be a scenic exploration cruise rather than a point to point max distance per day.
You may hear more about this at Havasu.
Thanks
Doug
On Wed, Dec 26, 2012 at 6:12 PM, Tom Jenkins <tjenk@gte.net> wrote:
Dave, IMHO, Lake Powell is as beautiful as any place on Earth, but our multi-day trip there was in a 12' skiff with a little outboard. Two problems for sailboats: the winds are highly variable--as we all know--and the canyons (=coves) are so steep-sided that the winds are as likely to be howling on the nose as dead behind (if there is any wind), and tacking would be challenging in close quarters. The other challenge is deep water and questionable holding ground for anchoring in case the wind comes a- howling at night; better is grounding on tiny beaches where the trib streams dump into the lake. I think a Potter 15 with lots of gas would be good craft, and the ability to get the sails up and down very fast would be key.
No doubt Powell should be on everyone's bucket list, and a keel boat should be okay with a beach anchor and another one in the the water, but vigilance is key. I will be disappointed if I don't get to return with our 17.
We went to Powell at spring break, and the weather was ideal. I hear gusts are more intimidating in summer with all that thermal energy kicking around, and winter is pretty cool.
Tom
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 26, 2012, at 4:00 PM, W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote:
hey ho folks -
i'm looking at doing some sailing in places i've not been before.
one place that is close and has been talked about ... lake powell.
so, what is the collective experience out there? good, bad, ugly? best time(s) of year? best place(s)?
just working on my bucket list.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com