Sailing the St Croix
Moderator: MK
Sailing the St Croix
I have lived in Hudson for 8 years and in this time I have found that the St. Croix is not very user friendly for windsurfing. The beaches and boat launches recieve little wind. Locals have used the North Hudson launch site but I have heard the their vehicle was ticketed. I have sailed off of Clyde's in Bayport but new, No Tresspassing signs have been posted so I'm not sure this site is an option. I have sailed off of St Croix beach but from May15th to Sept 15th you will need to pay for parking. South of Hudson off Crove rd. is the Troy township boat launch. This use to be a good launch site but now you have to buy a season pass for your car and pay a daily usage fee. The best place to sail is if you buy a season pass for $15 to Troy Township beach which is located next to the YMCA on the St Croix. You park your car at the far end of the beach and walk your equiptment around the fence. You will find that you are standing on 1000 ft. of virgin shoreline that is owned by the YMCA. I wish there was some way to developing a non-motorize boat launch from this site. It is the widest part of the river and could be sailed on days of North, South and West wind. I have sailed off this site twice. I had to make alot of phone calls to get the ok. If anyone has any other ideas please let me know.
the wind was pretty good yesterday from the park by dq. but you're right in that i couldn't judge the wind from shore. i ended up sailing a 7.3, and was way overpowered. should've been on a 6.3.
it's not ideal, but it's close to home.
i live in troy twnshp and drive past troy beach every day (chg - it's south of the dog track on F about 1 or 2 miles). you can launch here? i thought coach said he was turned away last year. who did you call to get permission?
also, isn't the river a bit dangerous once the boats are out (weekends)? lots of drunks out there. which makes the park by dq a good choice since it's a no-wake zone. (if you don't have the time to drive to a good spot like white bear).
-trent
it's not ideal, but it's close to home.
i live in troy twnshp and drive past troy beach every day (chg - it's south of the dog track on F about 1 or 2 miles). you can launch here? i thought coach said he was turned away last year. who did you call to get permission?
also, isn't the river a bit dangerous once the boats are out (weekends)? lots of drunks out there. which makes the park by dq a good choice since it's a no-wake zone. (if you don't have the time to drive to a good spot like white bear).
-trent
I have seen people sail off Brown's beach but when I have gone down there to check it out the lines of wind seem short. I have never seen strong winds coming into the boat launch. I have thought to park behind the Edina Reality and launch from there again catching a breeze might be difficult. Troy beach is off Co. rd. F just south of the Dog Track. The beach will open Memorial weekend. You can buy your yearly sticker at the beech house at the bottom of the road that enters into the park. Before you get your hopes up and shell out any money You should talk to the head of YMCA land managment and get the ok to sail off of their property. Good Luck
Ferry Landing
I drove down to Farry Landing last night. I have been told it's a good spot on a North wind day. You will need to dump your gear at the shoreline and park up in the lot up the hill. Across from Ferry Landing is Clyde's in Bayport the south wind site.
St. Croix access
There is a state law that we can credit to former state congressman and avid sailor, Bob Milbert. Several years back we were going to lose access to Mahtomedi beach with a renovation project. Bob got a law passed that requires space to launce smaller nonmotorized watercraft from all public beaches that have received state monies (i.e. kayaks, canoes, windsurfers). We carefully brought this law to the attention of the city council and they ended up giving us half the beach for fear they'd lose funding. We didn't want to challenge the law and adjusted it to the smaller 15' section we now have. Working with locals for access is a very delicate process and knowing when to pull this card out is critical to how your negotiations go. We used to be able to park and launch right from St. Mary beach and lost access when a sailor let emotion get ahead of reason. We used to sail Clyde's all the time until their insurance agent was having lunch with the owner one day when we were sailing...end of story for sailing from Clydes. But I still drive down behind the condos and launch from the NSP property...yes, No Trespassing signs everywhere, but I've yet to be chased away...and it's a spectacular launch site....haven't been there this year, so maybe things have changed.
We also like to launch from the Wisconsin side, directly across from Clydes. Go to North Hudson and take a left at the last convenience store and this should get you down to the park. Again, signs everywhere say to park at the top of the hill, but we've always driven down to water's edge and graciously paid the $5 parking ticket when it's been noticed...maybe the fine's gone up.
We've had several good SE days at Beannies launch ($3) and it's not that hard to work upwind to a great spot in the river if it's more southerly.
Hudson's great in early spring 'cause it opens up a month before the lakes, but it can be pretty gusty. I think Don Wills is the king of knowledge for St. Croix access....pick his brain and you'll have all your access issues solved.
We also like to launch from the Wisconsin side, directly across from Clydes. Go to North Hudson and take a left at the last convenience store and this should get you down to the park. Again, signs everywhere say to park at the top of the hill, but we've always driven down to water's edge and graciously paid the $5 parking ticket when it's been noticed...maybe the fine's gone up.
We've had several good SE days at Beannies launch ($3) and it's not that hard to work upwind to a great spot in the river if it's more southerly.
Hudson's great in early spring 'cause it opens up a month before the lakes, but it can be pretty gusty. I think Don Wills is the king of knowledge for St. Croix access....pick his brain and you'll have all your access issues solved.
Ride...just be it!
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