Whats happening at Castaic Lake?

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post. It has been many years since I have sailed. Bought a used 1980 H16 back in 1984 and sailed quite a bit during the mid to late 80's at Castaic lower lake in Socal. Also tried Silverwood, Big Bear, Mission Bay and once a scary jaunt out of Dana Point. The boat sat for a few years in the early 90's then did a little work and went out several times in the mid 90's. My son was born in 96 and the boat has been sitting in the yard ever since. So now 13 years later and I have the bug again. Have been working on the tralier for the past few weeks and will tackle the boat when the trailer is done. So last weekend my son and I took a couple of kayaks out to castaic lower lake to get a feel for the sailing crowd (all 3 days). Seems to be no one sailing there anymore. I asked the young lifeguard if he saw many cats out on the lake and he honestly did not know what a hobiecat was. So what happened in the last 12 years? Very few boats on the lake at all, and this was memorial day weekend. Castaic is close, only about a 30 min drive for me (I am in the La Crescenta area). Were does everyone go in los angeles county or are there just not many of us left here? Just curious.

Thanks, and this is a wonderful forum by the way. I have been going thru post after post realizing that I have forgotton so many things.

Some of the problems are lack of storage for the boats, the playstation games, soccer and baseball for the kids. There are just fewer boats being bought right now. Much less congestion in all the areas to sail.

I store my boat and sail out of a Yacht Club in Long Beach, easy and fast to be in the water. There are still quite a few boats on the beach at the launch ramp put there for catamaran sailing at Claremont Ave. Some lakes no longer allow us to sail on them, like Cachuma.

Just make a day of it and come down to Long Beach.

Dan

Kite boarding is enticing me. While rigging the H18 and spending the better part of an hour just getting it to the water, I watched as a kiter moseyed up with his board and a backpack and was skipping and jumping in the water in less than 20 minutes.

Sailing has lots of competition when it comes to recreational activities. Like you, though, this old dog is hooked on cats, after all, how many bikini-clad girls and beers can you take on a kite board? (That's a rhetorical question meant for Hobie's marketing department in selling the dream, so don't let my wife and kids know I wrote that.)

The best rec sailing is at long beach in la county . When I was there I launched several times there with a group that sailed every 2nd sunday. Dan and the boys at ABYC are also great.

Skipshot aren't you on a leaner this weekend? I seem to recal a threat of Water Balloons for and cat that got too close. Your cat priveleges are revoked till further notice.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

If I ever figure out how to rig and sail the spinnaker on my 18SX I'll make you pay for that. On the other hand, since I have an 18SX my cat privileges have been revoked by the Hobie racing class (more bitterness from me about that later).

See ya this weekend I'll be there What boat you going to be on?

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

You'll know what boat I'm on when water balloons are splashing around you (out of frustration for not being on a cat) if you pass too closely. I know what your boat looks like - Tiger with a blue spinnaker, sail number 2209.

I'll see if my wife will let me off the leash to join Fleet 20 at Woodward 6/20.

Bring the wife and the little one.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Thanks for the tips guys. Maybe I will try long beach. Don't know about the yacht club though. We seem to be on a very limited budget these days. Is there a public launch ramp in this same area? Unfortunately, I don't see us getting on the water more than 3 or 4 times this summer.

Don

Yes there are a few on the beach easily acessable with cat wheels. Check with the ABYC for a guest launch price they are very nce people there.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

In LB you can launch at the Claremont Beach Ramp off of Ocean Blvd. I think the gate fee is $5 or $10. When I'm there I usually see other catamarans launching so you shouldn't be alone. At this location there's parking, bathrooms and outdoor showers. From the end of the concrete ramp it's probably 150' to the water so bring your beach wheels.

_________________
Greg Thomas
Hobie Factory Team

Please explain this, hopefully in another thread so as not to derail this one or in an email to me. The 18SX has class rules, I don't know of any regatta that would turn you away. Usually if there are either 3 or 5 of the same model boats you will get your own class and own start. If not more than that # of the same boats you should be able to race in an open class with other Hobie sailboats that do not meet the minimum # for their own class. Now if you show up at a regatta with 20 Hobie 16's, 20 Hobie Tigers and 1 Hobie 18SX then I can see an organizers dilema. I don't have an answer for this but they should not be turning you away from any regatta. If that's the boat you sail and you want to race get involved with the fleet or division in your area as well as other individuals who sail the same boat as you and get organized so you can have an "open" Hobie fleet or a Hobie 18SX fleet.

You can send me an email at gthomas at hobiecat dot com if you'd like to discuss offline.

_________________
Greg Thomas
Hobie Factory Team

What is happening at Castaic Lake? The Water Safety Team is happening! The Water Safety Team will be at Castaic Lake June 13 & 14 for the team bass tournament. They will be handing out sun care kits and FREE Stearns Life Jackets. They will also be providing water safety tips for Boaters and Anglers. If you want more information check out http://www.BoatResponsibly.com. Take the 2-minute Safe Boating and Angler Quiz to test your knowledge. You’ll then get a chance to win a week-long Houseboat Vacation or an awesome 16ft Tracker Pro fishing boat with a trailer, trolling motor and even a GPS fish finder! Hope to see you there this weekend.