Welcome to March! As I write this edition of the “Log,” I can hear multiple power vessels (mostly fishing boats) skimming across Keowee. As
we get closer to spring, the lakes see an uptick in water events. Additionally, the “see-saw” weather really starts to take hold. We’ve already seen our first beautiful 80-degree day….and more are coming!
March also provides weather that is well-suited for sailing, and there are a surprising number of sailing opportunities in Keowee, Hartwell,
and Jocassee.
Personally, I’m not a sailor. I’m a powerboat guy. My brother, on the other hand, is an avid, passionate sailing enthusiast. Which pastime is “better” is one of the very few things my brother and I disagree about. Since I am the youngest of the two siblings, I will be the brat that I am and blame this disagreement- completely- on our Dad.
Dad envisioned teaching his sons to become “rugged Chesapeake sailing champions,” but, unfortunately, the fact that our dad didn’t know how to sail presented the first of many obstacles to his grand vision. So Dad read a book about sailing and then bought a 17-foot “Loflander Picnic 17”. This vessel was manufactured in the same year that I was, and like many mid-century leisure boats, it was designed to be used as a sailboat or be converted to a power boat. (Loflander wanted to be all things to all boaters, I guess). Dad slipped the boat near Annapolis, MD, and set about teaching us to sail on weekends.
I learned a lot about sailing back then, with the top three things being:
- That heeling over at 90+ degrees in a tack is quite scary when your brother and dad are arguing about how to sail while in the tack (as you gaze into the immediate prospect of capsizing in the Chesapeake Bay and having to swim with jellyfish)
- You can’t pull a sailboat out of the water on its trailer using a manual 6-cylinder Chevy II station wagon. (Because the boat then falls off the trailer onto dry land on its side- no, I’m not kidding-this happened)
- If it’s July, there is NO WIND on the Chesapeake Bay; if you are on a sailboat, you DON'T MOVE. July is extremely hot and humid in Maryland.
After learning so much about sailing, I tried to persuade dad to convert the Lofflander into a power boat, using all of my youngest child’s persuasion skills. This effort did not go over well, and after my brother went off to boarding school in Massachusetts (where he was taught to sail!), my dad gave up and sold the Lofflander.
Fast forward to adulthood-My brother has an awesome 42’ Manta Mark IV Catamaran, the feature image on this blog, that we sailed together from Ft. Myers, FL to Annapolis when he bought it.
Big catamarans don’t heel over when you tack. I like that.
As I mentioned earlier, there are fantastic sailing opportunities in Upstate South Carolina, and here are but a few:
On Keowee - click here to check out Keowee Sailing Club, "...located...on one of the most beautiful lakes in the Southeast....members love wind, water, and the magic of sailing. We share this magic by engaging in sailboat racing, pleasure cruising, skill building, social functions, and club maintenance."
On Hartwell - click here to check out the Western Carolina Sailing Club, a family-oriented sailing club on Hartwell Lake. Racing, cruising, and junior events offer a full slate of sailing activities for about 280 club members. WCSC is located on the eastern shore of Lake Hartwell, near Anderson and Greenville, South Carolina.
Jocasse - BYOB, which in this case means "Bring Your Own (sail) Boat," and enjoy some of the most scenic sailings around. That's because the mostly undeveloped Lake Jocassee is fed by mountain springs, encompassed by the Jocassee Gorges, and features waterfalls accessible only by boat. As such, the only public access point to the lake is Devils Fork State Park.
Whether you're a power boater or sailboater, there's something for everyone here - even the non-boaters. And while I like to share my thoughts about boating, I happen to know an excellent real estate professional, Sandy (pictured beside my brother on his catamaran), if you want to learn more about the magnificent area we call home.
________________
