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Sailing Sites

 

Sailing sites listed below are shown in an easier to more difficult progression.  Any of the sailing sites listed below given the wind and water conditions can become challenging.  That said, with the proper conditions windsurfing and kitesurfing (for the most part) can be safely and enjoyably learned on almost any body of water.

 

Long Pond

 

            Located in Greece NY, it IS a pond!  This site is suitable for beginners through advanced and offers shallow and warm water for learning.  The best wind to sail Long Pond in is a WSW wind.  Long Pond is considered a “flat water” sailing spot, but during a good blow it can present some decent chop for jumping.  Access to “The Pond” is through a small break in the guard rail.  Homeowners near the launch site are understanding about Sailors rigging on the fringes of their property.  Park along the guard rail though.  Booties or water shoes are strongly recommended.  The Rochester Airport wind meter (used by most weather websites) is a true indicator of the wind strength at Long Pond.

 

Canandaigua Lake

 

            In Canandaigua NY the preferred wind is directly from the south or southeast.  Sailing Canandaigua is possible when either east or west wind mix in with the south but the wind becomes gusty and the water quite choppy.  Launch from the Parking lot located at the east end of Kershaw Park, at the northern end of the lake.  Canandaigua Lake is a great lake to learn to sail on.  The launch is gradual, and the lake stays shallow and sandy for a good distance from shore.  Kiting may be possible there as well.  Canandaigua Sailboarding (on western end of Kershaw Park) offers lessons throughout the warmer months of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Durand Beach

           

            A long sandy beach is a huge asset to Durand when it comes to learning, a huge blue lake can make it intimidating.  Go for it anyway!  Durand is the best site to learn kitesurfing on since it provides ample room to fly the kite.  Durand is sailable in WNW, NW, and ENE winds, with NW being the best.  Don’t sail her in an offshore wind, if you do then you better know how to sing Oh Canada! 

 

Seneca Lake

           

South winds are awesome on Seneca.  Launch either at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce parking lot, or the state park depending on the addition of East or West into the South breeze.  Seneca is the premier bump and jump site for Rochester windsport enthusiasts.  When it gets blowing the water gets rolling and is a playground for sailors and kiters.  Weeds can be an issue in the summer months as they clump together on the surface. 

            An additional launch in a rare north blow is located in Sampson State Park, on the East shore of the lake.  This location is sailed infrequently by Rochester sailors, but can go off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montana Beach

 

            This beach is located at the outlet of Irondequoit Bay in to Lake Ontario.  Waves set up and bend around a breakwall providing some wave sailing/kiting conditions in the rare northeast wind.  When it is blowing, this site can be challenging to get out in.  Kiters have used this beach successfully in the past, but I am not sure of the difficulty of this launch for them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Webster Park

 

            This is definitely the most difficult place to sail on the Rochester windsports scene.  When the wind and lake are going off this is where you’ll find the area pro’s.  There is a parking lot and grassy rigging area that border the rocky beach.  The most challenging part about Webster Park for the average sailor is the Pier.  It is necessary to pinch upwind for a while to get out past the Pier.  For the most part Webster is only sailed when the wind is from the west.  If you want to see some big air on a windy day, go check out Webster Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Bay Road (and other eastern sailing sites)

 

East Bay Road (EBay Rd. for short) is a 45 minute drive to the east from Rochester.  Follow route 104 to Lake Bluff Rd in Wolcott and then wind your way to the E Bay Rd.  The sailing launch is located on the eastern boundary of scenic Chimney Bluffs Park.  While this location has been sailed in the past, it is experiencing a renaissance with the masses.  EBay is a friendlier launch in west wind featuring nice waves and lots of room to sail. 

 

For the Kitesurfing bunch EBay is a difficult launch, so they tend to head either a couple of miles to the west near the Sodus bay light house/pier, or further down route 104 to Fairhaven NY.  The conditions are said to be great at these locations and the launches are mostly clear of trees and other kite killing obstacles.

 

 

 

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