Post by Windydoug on May 6, 2008 12:21:23 GMT -5
I am hoping That Wind Kid Bill and Non Member Ken will drop their five cents into this thread. This was Bill's brain child and a good road trip if you have the (retired) time.
This was a fun place to windsurf or kite. we sailed 6.5 in what we though was a west wind. Marginal wind on this day, but I think I enjoyed it all the more because of the change of venue and the fact that I felt like I was discovering a cool new site.
The location:
Fair Haven is a state park, and entrance is $6. The drive took me just under an hour from Fairport, door to beach. Route 104 to 104a.
The Beach/Launch:
the beach is half sand, half football sized round rocks. Plenty of room for launching windsurfing gear and kites. The whole set up had a very Durand feel if you were to remove the houses between Durand and the Summerville Pier.....and keep the Pier. The beach is oriented to the NNW and the Pier (300 yards away)calms the water a bit on the inside. Pictures are available on the 2008 photo website.
The Wind and Water:
From my experience at Webster Park (5.8 a couple of times) I would say Fair Haven was fairly similar but a little more subdued. The three of us agreed that it was not nearly as "swelly" as Hamburg, and much more ramp/wavey. The waves on the outside were head high when we sailed. We believed we were sailing in a West wind, but upon looking at Google earth and looking at the line we were sailing I would say it was more NW (Bill, Ken, agree?). West would be best, and WSW may be a reality as well, as the shore makes a pronounced northern turn to the east. A couple of wind blocking buildings may interfere with WSW. Little Sodus Bay may be sail-able in a N wind....but driving that far to sail a "Long Pond Clone" may not be desirable.
I'd sail here again.
Windydoug
This was a fun place to windsurf or kite. we sailed 6.5 in what we though was a west wind. Marginal wind on this day, but I think I enjoyed it all the more because of the change of venue and the fact that I felt like I was discovering a cool new site.
The location:
Fair Haven is a state park, and entrance is $6. The drive took me just under an hour from Fairport, door to beach. Route 104 to 104a.
The Beach/Launch:
the beach is half sand, half football sized round rocks. Plenty of room for launching windsurfing gear and kites. The whole set up had a very Durand feel if you were to remove the houses between Durand and the Summerville Pier.....and keep the Pier. The beach is oriented to the NNW and the Pier (300 yards away)calms the water a bit on the inside. Pictures are available on the 2008 photo website.
The Wind and Water:
From my experience at Webster Park (5.8 a couple of times) I would say Fair Haven was fairly similar but a little more subdued. The three of us agreed that it was not nearly as "swelly" as Hamburg, and much more ramp/wavey. The waves on the outside were head high when we sailed. We believed we were sailing in a West wind, but upon looking at Google earth and looking at the line we were sailing I would say it was more NW (Bill, Ken, agree?). West would be best, and WSW may be a reality as well, as the shore makes a pronounced northern turn to the east. A couple of wind blocking buildings may interfere with WSW. Little Sodus Bay may be sail-able in a N wind....but driving that far to sail a "Long Pond Clone" may not be desirable.
I'd sail here again.
Windydoug