Tried a different sailing venue yesterday

Posted By: Pehr Jansson (5.2 Austin, TX)
Date: 8/12/07 9:52a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

Yesterday was just a lazy low-wind day here in Austin. Summer has finally come in full force after much rain during June and July. I wanted to go out on my boat, but the wind was so low that it seemed hardly worthwhile. Well, if I was just going to sit and drift, I thought to try a venue that just lends itself to the slow progress when all one is really doing is showing off the light air excellence of the Harpoon. Most people in Austin keep their boats at Lake Travis and I am probably going that route one of these days. For now she sits in the driveway to make it easy to take anywhere. Yesterday I took it to Lady Bird Lake, our downtown Austin lake formerly known as Town Lake. Lady Bird Lake is the lowest of the lakes on the Texas Colorado river that collectively are known as the Highland Lakes. It is a narrow lake not much wider than a wide river. It snakes its way past the south side of downtown Austin. There are several first class hotels on the lake with lush park-like lawns reaching down to the water's edge. There is a beautiful walking trail on both shores. There is a very nice boat ramp just on the west side of the I-35 bridge. From there the lake is quite wide (relatively speaking). The lake makes a wide bend just upstream (west) and then you see downtown and the Congress Avenue bridge (known for having worlds largest urban bat colony). The Congress Avenue bridge has sufficient clearance for a Harpoon. It's hard to estimate from the boat, but it looked like there were several feet above the mast. However the bridge is composed of several arches. So one has to hit it just right or it could be a bit difficult. The next bridge upstream is the 1st Street bridge. No luck there. I sailed up next to it and actually ended up lightly brushing the mast against the bridge as I got a little closer than intended. Because of current and wind conditions and approaching sunset, I opted against comparing the mast to the I-35 bridge. I am suspecting, however, that it would be possible to sail under it because driving across that bridge you seem to be quite high over the water. A WORD OF CAUTION for anyone contemplating sailing that part of the lake. There are low-hanging power wires crossing the lake. Be very careful. While brushing the mast against a bridge to measure bridge clearance seemed a little dumb or careless, the same stunt with a power wire would be idiotic. A Four Seasons hotel is located a little east of the Congress Ave bridge. There is a nice little pier that I docked at. Strolled up the beautiful lawn and had a beer while sitting in their Adirondack chairs and keeping a close eye on my boat. After a while a large moslem family (the burkas was the give-away) walked up and started to board the boat. I was not too keen on that. So I walked down there looking at them as they were posing and taking family group pictures with my Harpoon in the background. Wish I'd had the nerve to take one myself. I was asked if the boat was for rent. Not. Could I take his family (at least 10) for a sail. Not enough life jackets. How many can I take? Well, I am not keen to take strangers on my boat even in light air. However, it would have been very unusual to have a lady in a burka on board. During the rains they open various dams and there was quite a current. Yesterday it was back to normal and the current was not really noticable. Inadvertently I discovered that the lake is quite shallow on the south side. There is a Joe's Crab Shack on the south shore (no dock). My centerboard hit ground quite far off shore about 100 yards upstream from Joe's Crab Shack. Let's just say that I will be installing Jay's automatic release cleat. It was a lazy lazy afternoon. Those can be so wonderful when on a Harpoon sailing on a beautiful lake.