New Waconia Beach?

[Chris]

Has anyone sailed at the new Waconia beach -- the beach on the southeast side? Is it permitted? How is the launch?

Chris.

[collinwood]

I hit up the new Waconia beach on tuesday. I setup on a little beach next to the marked swimming area. It was kind of a tough spot to set up on such a windy day, but it was a nice place to launch. I would suggest setting up across the road in a grassy little park. Overall a pretty nice spot, especially if you have a family that can use the beach/swimming area.

[Tom L]

I just read your post. Never heard about it. Is the same as the old SE launch or some new one? I'll have to check it. Walking across a road with 16m kite sounds a little sketchy.

[Portland Pete]

Had a chat with the sheriff at the New/old beach on the SE end of WAC
on Saturday and JohnZ and myself launched out of there.
He was extremely concerned about kiters ending up in the swim area.

I am sure it will only take one person to float into the swim area
to close the area to kites.

The launch is challenging to say the least.
the water gets deep (over 6ft) before your lines
are fully unwound when trying to launch.
So you have to swim out towards the middle of the
lake to get tension in your lines if your kite beoch
is standing on shore.

The new sod has not fully taken hold
and the grass has this fishnetting holding the sod in place
and it catches on everything.

There is a sharp metal post in the water marked
with a buoy to watch out for.

Also a couple of metal street signs are in the way
and prime targets for catching a kite and tearing it to shreds.

Depending on the water level there is little to no
shoreline for pumping up at the waters edge.

Oh, forgot about some power lines in the vicinity of the road
behind the ballroom parking lot.

I still launch there on a SE wind, even though it is challenging
to get the kite in the air when doing a drift launch when I go by myself.
Pete

[Tom L]

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.


Funny, you'd think Collinwood & Pete were at 2 totally different launchs.

[Chris]

OK.

Mike, Jeff and I sailed there yesterday (Friday). It was NE. Big improvement for lauching -- no nasty fences or rocks. But I think that, even on a NE, the wind is better in the northern part of the lake. The south part of the lake gets mushy. So I think that on a N or NE you are better off lauching from the boat launch and working out to the wind line.

But it was fun. Different is good. And I liked rigging near where the Monkeys once played (at the Waconia ballroom in the early 70's).

[collinwood]

I didn't realize I was dealing with a bunch of kiters I had no problem rigging up my windsurfing gear. However, I do agree that the wind is better on the North end.

Good Luck all.