I'm a newcomer to windsurfing and have no experience sailing Washington or Waconia. I want to try one or the other tomorrow.
NOAA forecast is showing winds out of the South for Friday. Which lake would you recommend? TIA for any advice. Binx
Washington vs Waconia
Moderator: MK
Re: Washington vs Waconia
Washington see's less traffic than Waconia and has waist deep water further off shore if your at the Rod and Gun club launch. More windsurfers will typically hit Waconia so if your looking to watch and pick up some skills from others Waconia would be a good call, if your looking for little traffic and shallows then hit Washington
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Rob Hyland
Cabrinha Shop Rider / Lakawa Team Rider
Cabrinha Shop Rider / Lakawa Team Rider
Re: Washington vs Waconia
Washington looks like a double header for me tomorrow. I have to break away at lunch to mind the store. Plenty of room.
Peter
Peter
Re: Washington vs Waconia
Washington is quite a bit farther west so it may be getting different wind than Waconia. Call the Litchfield Airport to see what’s up at Wash and Glencoe or Hutchinson to see what’s about to happen at Wac. I suspect Washington typically gets a little better wind but then again I’m a Waconia guy and the grass always seems greener!
Some have said Washington has cleaner water and for sure a nicer launch at the Gun Club. You should get a sticker at the gas station (can’t recall which one) for parking there.
Another question is wind direction. Wac works fine on true S, but as it shifts more SSE and especially SE it starts to go over some hills and slows the wind down and makes it crazy gusty the more east it clocks. Washington also gets weird on a SE, but I don’t know which one is better on SSE. If it’s true south (like it hopefully should be today) both will be fine.
Some have said Washington has cleaner water and for sure a nicer launch at the Gun Club. You should get a sticker at the gas station (can’t recall which one) for parking there.
Another question is wind direction. Wac works fine on true S, but as it shifts more SSE and especially SE it starts to go over some hills and slows the wind down and makes it crazy gusty the more east it clocks. Washington also gets weird on a SE, but I don’t know which one is better on SSE. If it’s true south (like it hopefully should be today) both will be fine.
Mark F
Re: Washington vs Waconia
Here's a link for some real time WX from Cokato High School which is pretty good for Washington.
http://web.live.weatherbug.com/Broadcas ... code=z4592&
http://web.live.weatherbug.com/Broadcas ... code=z4592&
Re: Washington vs Waconia
Thanks to all for the good advice.
Took a vacation day on Friday and drove all the way out to Washington. I couldn't believe how nice it was. Strong, unimpeded, steady wind from the south. Looked like my 7.0, or even a 6.5, would have been perfect. Never found out, though, since I left my fin screws at home. Drove all the way back to the metro and sailed my 9.5 on the little lake where I taught myself to sail. Can't believe how much stronger and steadier the wind was out at Washington. S and SE winds on my little lake are super squirrely. Hopefully all the on-again, off-again wind makes me a better sailor.
The link to Cokato HS's live weather is a gem. Many thanks for that. Binx
Took a vacation day on Friday and drove all the way out to Washington. I couldn't believe how nice it was. Strong, unimpeded, steady wind from the south. Looked like my 7.0, or even a 6.5, would have been perfect. Never found out, though, since I left my fin screws at home. Drove all the way back to the metro and sailed my 9.5 on the little lake where I taught myself to sail. Can't believe how much stronger and steadier the wind was out at Washington. S and SE winds on my little lake are super squirrely. Hopefully all the on-again, off-again wind makes me a better sailor.
The link to Cokato HS's live weather is a gem. Many thanks for that. Binx