Lake Pontchartrain sailing?

Any cat sailing fleets or yacht clubs or launch locations or cat sailors on Lake Pontchartrain?

Looked at District 15 at hcana and no find. Got relatives in NO that got a kick out of Wave but can't find cat people there.

All oily jokes need not apply...

I know that there are races on LP from time to time,but if you wanna just go sail, head east 90 min to Ocean Springs Yacht Club (just past Biloxi) and they are a good sized Catamaran Club with Hobie 16s, 17s and Waves. The Commodore is an I-20 guy and they are all very friendly. Check out their website www.osyc.com HCA-NA is having a large event there in June.

I lived in Covington for 6 years as a kid and went out on Lake Pontchartrain several times fishing with my dad. One thing I do remember is that when the wind came up the waves would become huge very quickly due to the shallow nature of the very large lake. I'm talking 5 to 6 footers with just a moderate wind. Should make for a fun ride.

I windsurfed there many times in the early 80's. You are correct the swell would get huge. If you stay too close to the southern wall the waves bouncing back into the lake would create a perculator effect and wa a nightmare.

Good consistent wind. Coastal bays are way better.

When I was in high school (Mandeville High), on the northshore, we could also get some of those big swells when the wind was right. We'd float on inner tubes, and try to be in the right spot where the incoming and "bounced-back" outgoing swells would meet.

I've taken my Adventure Island out of the Mandeville Harbor a few times. I was always sure to check "weather.com" for any potential changes in the weather while I'd be out. I know things can change quickly.

I'd love to see more AIs on the lake. I'm thinking of bringing one of my Maryland-based AIs to Mandeville, hoping to sell it just to get another AI on the lake. Massey's Outfitters (Hobie dealer) is right outside Mandeville, so it'd be nice to get something going.

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joanie / Hobie enthusiast: 4 H-14Ts, 2 Waves, FloatCat 75, 4 Adventure Islands, and my DUNE Tandem Island!
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What can I say? I never met a Hobie I didn't like . . .

You can set up your boat in the parking lot and launch at the Pontchatrain Yacht Club in Manderville, there is a sandy bottom in only 1' of water right behind the launch...you can put up your sail there if you have someone holding the boat. I'm a member of Ocean Springs Yacht Club in Mississippi...great place to sail...sandy beachs, lots of cats and friendly people. It's only an hour and half from New Orleans. Hope to see you there!!!

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Tiger 1047

Soooooooooooo... Does the OSYC have any way for a prospective cat sailor to visit and/or test drive? This seems to be the $64K question for just about everywhere there are prospective new cat customers.

JJ,
Go to the OSYC web site and email Ken Altman our vice Commodore and let him know when you plan on comming over. It shouldn't be a problem. The more cat sailors the better.

Glenn Bolner
H-18
Ocean Springs, MS

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H-18
Ocean Springs, MS