Destination Sailing


One of the challenges of sailing on a small lake is that there is 'nowhere to go' Unlike larger lakes, there are no ports of call, marinas or bars on Lake Harriet, and we seem to spend a lot of time just sailing back and forth. On our Beneteau 235, we have chosen to stop often and drop an anchor on the lee side of the lake. For dinner, drinks or a swim, it brings a sense of adventure and purpose to our sailing. The picture above was taken after dinner on warm September day, after an afternoon of sailing. Good times  Anyone else?

-Tech Note:
I cannot overstate the importance of having an anchor on your boat, and having it easily accessible. It seems there is a direct correlation between ease of anchor access and actual use. Beyond the safety issue, it makes impromptu stops much more likely. If your anchor is stuffed in a cabin locker under a berth cushion, you are much less likely (and able!) to pull it out. For our 20-23 foot boats, a 10lb Danforth anchor with a chain and 150 of rode will be fine. Remember the lake is over 70 feet deep in the middle, so you will need to be close to shore. This also helps with wind protection.

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