The joy of sailing

I love to sail. There’s something about the wind in the sails and the quietness of the water around you, the feel of control (or lack of it) when you’re easing out or trimming the sails, the way the tiller feels in your hands, I love everything about sailing.

Years ago, my friend Leigh introduced me to sailing, and I fell in love with it. We would go out often, and he would show me a few things, but I never really understood how to sail.

So, I decided to take a class. I’ve put it off for years, letting other commitments take precedence over the sailing class. But, this year, I was determined to take a class. Luckily, Truckee Donner Parks and Rec had a recent opening in the adult sailing class and I joined two other would-be sailors – Lauri Wall of Truckee and Martin Bessolo of San Rafael – for a weekend learning to sail on Donner Lake.

We met at West End Beach with instructor James Foster, for some class time on the beach. But, the best way to learn to sail, is to do it.

We loaded onto a pedal boat (yes, a pedal boat) to head over to the district’s 21’ Macgregor sailboat for class. The parts of a sailboat are many and each with a unique name, we discovered as class got under way. Fortunately, most people in Tahoe have spent time on a boat, so the basics of bow vs. stern (front of the boat vs. the back of the boat), port (left) and starboard (right) and hull are familiar terms. But, jib, headstay, mainsheet, boom vang, tack, luff, padeye and halyard had us all stumped at the start. James was patient and will we learned the parts, then moved on to practicing knots we would need to sail – the figure 8, the bowline, a square knot (to tie two pieces of rope together), the cleat and clove hitch, along with coiling rope. I never thought knots could be so much fun.

With our knots ready to go, we started to rig the boat. First, the jib sail to the jib halyard (attaching it to the mast) and the jib sheet (the ropes we’ll use to sail with). Next, attaching the mainsail to the main halyard (again to the mast), feeding the sail into the boom. Now, we were ready to get under way.

We used the motor to clear the shoreline and raised the sails. James started at the tiller directing us when to trim (tighten) and when to ease out the sheets on the jib and main. We each practiced when and how to trim and eased out on the sheets.

The constantly shifting winds of our first day on Donner Lake had us tacking throughout the day – changing direction to find the wind. For a small lake like Donner, we spent a good portion of the day zigzagging across the lake, tacking to change our direction to follow the wind.

With those basics down, the three of each took turns rotating through the positions: tiller, mainsail and jib, while James coached us. It’s a delicate balance of easing out on the sails to find the wind and trimming them to maximize your position. At the tiller, you’re at the helm, keeping your eye out for the wind direction, while watching out for obstacles and overseeing a tack or jibe (changing direction depending on where the wind is coming from).

When you’re working the sheets or the tiller, something comes over you. A serene peace on the water, that also is a thrilling adventure as you try to marry wind and water using sails and ropes to carry the boat. You have to learn to sail, but you also have to feel it.

We learned to watch the water, the wind and the sails. But, it’s the indescribable feel of the tiller when the wind catches the sail in the perfect spot, or when the sails start to luff and you have to navigate back to catch the wind.

Over the course of the two-day class, we spent 90 percent of our time sailing. From practicing Man Overboard drills – using a Figure 8 sailing maneuver – to jibing (changing direction with the wind behind you), to experiencing the bliss we each felt as we took the tiller and the wind filled the sails, the class was amazing.

I felt confident of my new-found knowledge and abilities, and am ready to spend more time sailing this summer. Now, if I can only get Santa to bring me a sailboat this year.

(Photo: James Foster)

Sailing classes

Truckee Donner Parks & Rec will be offering sailing classes for adults, families and children starting in June at Donner Lake. Sailing Camps for ages 8 to 17 will be offered in four-day sessions starting June 28 and running through Aug. 16, with sailing classes for adults and families running in July and August.

As well, sailing race clinics will be offered for all ages in July to correspond with the Wednesday Night Race Series open to everyone from June 30 to Aug. 18. All of the classes are offered on Donner Lake. To register or for more information, call (530) 582-7720.

Tahoe City Parks & Rec also offers sailing classes for adults, children and women on the North and West shores. Youth Sailing classes for ages 8 to 17 will be offered from June 21 to Aug. 16, with Youth Racing Clinics in July and a Junior Race Clinic on June 25. A Monday Night Advanced Race Team for 8- to 17-year-olds runs from June 28 to Aug. 16 on Mondays.

Adult sailing classes are offered in July, along with a Women’s Sailing course on July 9 and 23. To register or for more information, call (530) 583-3440, ext. 10.

Fuel leak cleanup

A tanker truck carrying diesel fuel overturned on eastbound Interstate 80 near Donner Summit around 6 p.m. on May 26 in icy road conditions. The tanker is estimated to have spilled about 2,500 gallons of fuel, with some fuel making it to Summit Creek at the western mouth of Donner Lake.

Emergency clean-up crews used booms, skimmers, absorbent pads and other methods to clean the spill, but the long-time environmental impacts were unknown. None of the local drinking water supplies are threatened by the spill. For the latest information, visit www.sierrasun.com

Kayak classes

Truckee Donner Parks & Rec will be offering beginner kayak classes, along with guided paddles on Donner Lake this summer.

Beginner kayak classes will be offered on select Fridays from May through August, with the first class on May 28 at West End Beach. The class covers all of the basics including rescue procedures. There will be Learn to Kayak classes for adults 50 and older on select Wednesdays from May to August, with the first class on May 27.

All ages are welcome on the Kayak Family Fun Paddles days on select Saturdays from May to August, and Moonlight Paddles open to ages 5 and older from May to August. See Events for upcoming dates for these paddles or call (530) 582-7720.

Kayak classes offered

Truckee Donner Parks & Rec will be offering beginner kayak classes, along with guided paddles on Donner Lake this summer.

Beginner Kayak classes will be offered on select Fridays from May through August, with the first class on May 28, at West End Beach. The class covers all of the basics including rescue procedures. There will be Learn to Kayak classes for adults 50 and older on select Wednesdays from May to August, with the first class on May 27.

All ages are welcome on the Kayak Family Fun Paddles days on Donner Lake on select Saturdays from May to August, and Moonlight Paddles open to ages 5 and older during full moons from May to August. For more information or to register, call (530) 582-7720.

Boat inspections considered for other Sierra waters

The Tahoe Conservation District, (http://www.tahoercd.org/), is considering a proposal to expand vessel inspections for invasive species from Lake Tahoe to include other waters in the Sierra Nevada for the 2010 boating season.

The TRCD received a $231,000 grant from the Truckee Meadows Water Authority to develop a plan to inspect boats being launched in other waters including Independence Lake, Donner Lake, and Boca, Stampede and Prosser Creek reservoirs. The inspections would look for the invasive Zebra and quagga mussels. Such inspections are mandatory on Lake Tahoe.

No funding for the inspection program's operation is yet available. The grant will cover the costs of researching and designing an inspection program.

Donner Lake & Beyond

While Lake Tahoe is one of the premier lakes in the Sierra, it is far from the only one. The Sierra Nevada is filled with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs that make boating and other water activities a popular pastime throughout the vast mountain range.

Locally, among the most visited bodies of water outside of Lake Tahoe are Donner Lake and Boca, Stampede and Prosser Creek Reservoirs.

Donner Lake

Donner Lake is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, and can get crowded on the weekends. But, you’ll find it a fantastic spot to put in for a glorious day of cruising. Donner Lake is just under 3 miles long and about three-quarters of a mile wide, giving boaters, kayakers, water skiers and wake boarders lots of room to spread out and have fun.

Unlike Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake does not require inspections for quagga and zebra mussels, although a ramp attendant recently remarked to me that “they might wish they had” if they spread to the alpine lake. Just remember that if you have your inspection sticker for Lake Tahoe and you visit Donner Lake, you’ll have to pay for your inspection again when you return to Lake Tahoe.

Donner Lake is a mostly residential area with a mix of locals, vacationers and second homeowners. The north shore is home to Donner State Memorial Park, the boat launch, Donner Lake Marina and what few services there are.

From Truckee, take Donner Pass Road, which runs along the north shore. You’ll find the public boat launch near the west end of the lake. If you want to stock up before hitting the water, stop at Donner Pines Market or enjoy breakfast or lunch at one of the area’s best eateries – Donner Lake Kitchen. They are both located on the North Shore, about 1.8 miles before the boat launch.

The Truckee Parks & Rec Department operates the launch, which is open 24 hours a day. Attendants are on-site from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily with fees $7 for California residents and $10 for out-of-state during those hours. Parking is $2. There are public restrooms at the launch site.

All boat traffic on Donner Lake goes counter-clockwise and the speed limit on the lake is 35 mph from sunrise to sunset; it drops to 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. The speed is 5 mph nears the homeowner’s beaches – Donner Lake on the west end and Tahoe Donner on the east end – as well as near the public West End Beach. These areas are off-limits to boat traffic, so don’t enter the swimming areas.

If you want to rent water toys, kayaks or personal watercraft, Donner Lake Marina on the west end (just west of the boat launch) and Donner Lake Watersports on the east shore can help. There are no fuel, pump or launch services on the lake, however.

What the lake does have in abundance is public piers – there are 35 public piers on the north shore. You can use them to sunbath or picnic, but please be courteous of private piers. Also, the only restrooms are at the boat launch or Shoreline Park, which is about midway on the north shore and can be reached from the beach. And there are no public piers on the other shores.

The Reservoirs

Boca, Stampede and Prosser Creek reservoirs are great places to visit for a day on the water just outside Truckee. They also offer many camping options, so you can plan a prolonged trip to these area waterways. And, there are no launch fees on any of the reservoirs. However, there are no services near the reservoirs, so stock up in Truckee or at United Trails General Store on Hirschdale Road right off Interstate 80.

Prosser Creek Reservoir, the smallest of the three, is closed to power boats and personal water craft. The speed limit is 10 mph, making it a great spot for fishermen. From Truckee, take Highway 89 to Prosser Dam Road. You can launch from several unimproved locations.

Boca Reservoir is the most easily, and quickly accessible from Interstate 80. You can take the Hirschdale exit or continue on the dirt road from Prosser Dam Road off Highway 89 North.

The Boca area was once a booming industrial area providing ice to railcars carrying goods to the east and lumber to the gold and silver mines from the mid-1860s. There was also a former town near the present-day reservoir and the area was home to the Boca Brewery, said to be “warranted to keep in any area.”

Today, Boca is a favorite spot for personal watercraft and ski boats. There are about 14 miles of shoreline with the depth ranging from 50’ to 80’, with the deepest part near the dam. You can reach the paved boat ramp by taking Boca Lake Road off Hirschdale Road and crossing the dam.

There’s a 45 mph speed limit on Boca from sunrise to sunset, and only 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. In the coves, the speed limit is set at 5 mph.

The largest of the trio is Stampede Reservoir, located a few miles north on Hirschdale/Stampede Road. With about 25 miles of shoreline, the amoeba-shaped reservoir has lots of coves, inlets and spots to get away from the crowds. Stampede averages 90’ to 120’ of depth.

There’s a 45 mph speed limit on Stampede from sunrise to sunset, and only 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. There’s a 5 mph limit within 200’ of the boat ramp, near moored boats, swimmers and the swimming beach. The launch is located on Dog Valley Road off Stampede.