A small group of local sailors would like to invite up others for a fun weekend of Lake Isabella Sailing Weekend - July 22& 23. Low key races, hull flying, camping on the beach. Warm air, warm water...usually lots of wind. We have a huge snowpack this year so we will have a wonderful lake this summer.

--
Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
--

The lake is going to be in great condition for the Lake Isabella gathering. We are going to be set up just to the east of the "south fork" boat ramp. We can actually camp right at the water's edge.

--
Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
--

I will be there with the Dart and the B-lion,should be a great weekend!

--
Carl

Dart 18x2
Nacra 5.8
Acat
Windrider Rave x2 for sale
--

I know this is an old thread but, Isabella/Kern used to be my stomping ground (before I started sailing I lived at China Lake) and just took my teen daughter camping near Johnsondale, we drove in from Ridgecrest and as we past Isabella all I could think was "how is the wind here, I need to get a Cat up here".

So, how is it? Steady winds? Shifting winds?

What beach do you stay at?

Thanks for any feedback

Pat

--
"Of course it's safe"
--

Lake Isabella's afternoon winds are powered by a thermal differential. The afternoon can get pretty strong. There are wind gauges online. A typical day is probably 15 to 20 with gusts to 25. It can be gusty and when you get near shore it can be shifty. With warm air and water, it is a good place to practice heavy weather sailing.

People use different beaches but we tend to use the area just east of South Fork boat ramp. The wind is straight off the beach usually which makes things easy. You can launch and camp with your boat at a few of the beaches.

--
Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
--

Sounds like fun, I may be picking up a 5.8 soon and eventually will take it to Isabella

--
"Of course it's safe"
--

I've seen pix of it blowing stink on those CA mountain lakes all my life and wondered how it could be so with all the mountains around (lake sailing here is generally mild). Drove by Lake Isabella back in April, and holy cow! Wind was blasting....solid whitecaps everywhere! Would have been a great double-trap day. But preferably on someone else's boat....I've got a friend whose mantra is that it doesn't get any faster above about 20.....just more expensive!

--
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
--

When I drove by from Ridgecrest to Johnsonville in July this year I could not believe how steady the wind seemed, That has always been my reason for avoiding lakes as I am used to heavy wind/surf sailing in the Pacific.

As soon as I get this boat sorted out I am off to Isabella

rattlenhum

I've seen pix of it blowing stink on those CA mountain lakes all my life and wondered how it could be so with all the mountains around (lake sailing here is generally mild). Drove by Lake Isabella back in April, and holy cow! Wind was blasting....solid whitecaps everywhere! Would have been a great double-trap day. But preferably on someone else's boat....I've got a friend whose mantra is that it doesn't get any faster above about 20.....just more expensive!

Edited by afvenom on Aug 27, 2017 - 03:47 PM.

--
"Of course it's safe"
--

Being comfortable in heavy winds is good practice as sometimes longer offshore trips as conditions don't always follow the forecast. The warm water and air are perfect for getting used to heavy conditions. And it is not always that windy. Yesterday was perfect solo conditions.

--
Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
--

Geno, you are correct, I often sailed way beyond my abilities and have been dismasted a H16 in 25+ Knots and 30 foot deep valleys/swells miles off Channel Islands Harbor, It took me 2 hours of almost being capsized to jury-rig a workable sail out of the main sail and the boom as a mast and make it back to the Harbor 2-3 hours later in total darkness, my wife called the Harbor Patrol about the time i was limping past the breakwater.

2nd time similar conditions on a H14 (This tome I had a portable vhf in a bag), I was sailing close hauled and riding up the 20+ foot swells and jumping into the trough (yes I pitched it a few times) I landed extra hard, a few minutes later I heard a pop/twang sound a saw my forestay was broken and only held by one wire, I nervously did a jib on the crest of a swell and ran back towards the beach maybe 2 miles, as I was sailing back I radioed the Harbor Patrol and advised them of my situation, they met me 1/2 way and "escorted" me in.

I replaced ALL standing rigging on my 3 boats with Murreys Heavy stuff, never had a problem since.

I say practice and have a plan always

--
"Of course it's safe"
--