Friday/Saturday on Superior

[JimW]

I heard on the weather radio, a good forecast coming in on Superior for this Friday/Saturday - 30+ knots. Keep your schedules free.

[dave t]

The forcast for open water says SE turning through SW for Friday until Saturday night. How far up the shore would you have to go to find a good launch for that?

[JimW]

I pulled out a chart of Lake Superior and here is what I can approx. deduce with my handy compass (Print this one and save):

MINNESOTA
Lester River/Brighton beach (6 mi up the north shore from Duluth) 245 d (SW) to 180 d (S) to 45 d (NE)
Park Point (lakeside): 315 degrees (NW) to N to 135 d (SE)
Park Point (harbor): 135 d (SE) to S to 315 d (NW)

WISCONSIN
Brule River: 250 d (W - SW) to N to 45 d (NE)
Port Wing: 270 d (W) to N to 45 d (NE)
Cornucopia: 330 d (N - NW) to N to 30 d (N - NE)
Sand Island Point : 270 d (W) to 0 d (N)
Bayfield: 245 d (SW) to S to E to 45 d (NE)
Big Bay (Madeline Island): 45 d (NE) to 180 d (S)
La Pointe (Madeline Island): 180 d (S) to 315 d (NW)

Putting this together has been fun - I never would have thought of sailing a south or southwest wind at Lester/Brighton Beach. There are other beaches up the north shore that would work in the same winds. The southern winds don't always blow that well up here - the lake effect tends to stifle them (time to head to Mille Lacs). The predominant winds off of the lake in Duluth are NE.

A good (Wisconsin) coastal run would work best in a northwest wind. I think all sailors who live here in Duluth have that one on their fantasy list. Port Wing takes westerly honors. Another good place that truly shines is Bayfield. I've been there before in a southwest - it howls. There are places between Sand Point and Bayfield but the Apostle Islands can really twist up the wind. Madeline Island is a great get-away with all direction options.

[Chip]

Jim - I've often thought about sailing the length of long island some time - but that calls for NE, not sure about SW - in which case there are lots of places to choose from.

For a SE, the only place I can think of is that bay just short of stony point?? Problem is, not of them are really "beaches". I'd probably stick to the bay..

Remember though, SE rairly means SE in Duluth. The wind will get pulled around to someother direction. Or, we get one of those very, very rare side shore days with the tops of the waves coming off!.

[Dave Z]

Side-shore at Park Point???? Has that ever happened Chip? That would be like Mana from Heaven

[JimW]

A side - shore day sounds pretty dreamy to me. We should consider a windsurfari cruise up in the islands some time. Looks like the forecast is now NE for tomorrow - hopefully the rain will hold off. Chip, have you ever launched up at Lester in a NE? The trick would be timing between waves. The landing would be exciting - coming in on a breaker and landing it in the mouth of the river. It might be fun to try. I think Randy sailed up there last year. Give me a call tomorrow if you get out - my cell # is 590-0826.

[dave t]

Even if the wind went sideshore, wouldn't the waves just be small? Can Superior's waves push very far into an area of altered wind near shore without getting blown down?

[Chip]

Sometimes, if the wind is strong enough, we can get a NW or SE wind that will generate 5 or 6 foot rollers coming straight-on at Park Point. This is means straight side shore with the tops coming off the waves. Usually it is associated with strong low that passes to the South of the lake which whips up a good northeaster, then the cold front comes through and with quickly backs to NW. It looks like Hawaii when that happens; unfortunately, it is usually about 20 degrees outside at the time……