Hi Jeff, I'm afraid I can't help much with those particular questions. The times I've been to Clear Lake the winds have been anywhere from nonexistent to way too much and everything in between. I have not explored the entire lake: it is huge. What I know is that it is a good sailor's lake because of its size and you can anchor just about anywhere you want. It is so large that swells develop and it is not over-run by stinkpots and jet skis (at least not when I've been there). The lake is surrounded by private homes and businesses mostly. There is at least one state park (don't know if there is a beach). There are boat-in resorts and restaurants (like Konocti) and there are several small towns around its perimeter. The part I'm most familiar with is quite pretty (the Konocti arm). The worst: The lake belies its name: it is not clear. It has high levels of mercury. The best: good sailing. It could take all day to sail from one end to the other. Not a lot of motorboats. Good fishing: just don't eat them (see mercury levels above). All in all, I'd recommend it to anybody who sails. Hope this helps George On Jun 18, 2006, at 7:06 PM, Jeff Royce wrote:
George,
Do you think Clear Lake would be a wise alternate choice this week? Are the winds predictably good? Are there good public beaches?
George Burmeyer <gburmeyer@mac.com> wrote: Hi Jeff,
As it happens I took my M15 out there this morning. It was cold and blowing 20 at 09:00 with predicted afternoon wind velocities to 35. Nobody went sailing, not even the big boys. That's pretty intimidating, too.
If you do go, don't worry about being sucked into the Pacific. The prevailing winds will blow you southeast and unless you're around the entrance on an ebb tide, no worries. Mostly a sticky mud bottom, so no problem with anchoring either although you may swing 360 overnight on on a single anchor.
I should have gone to Clear Lake. Maybe only a little less wind but a lot warmer.
George Burmeyer "Haiku" 1986 M15 #385 Santa Rosa, CA
On Jun 18, 2006, at 3:54 PM, Jeff Royce wrote:
Yeah, it's me again... the average sailor that has never sailed anything but inland waters. I am on vacation this week and the only wind i can find is on the coast. The SF Bay intimidates me so i am considering Tomales Bay. My biggest fear? Anchoring at night and finding myself being pulled by the tides into the mighty Pacific... any mooring suggestions? Any anchoring tips? Any other tips?
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