Sailing on Lake Sakakawea

[Doug W]

Has anyone here sailed on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota? Looking at it via Google Maps triggered my wander-meter... It looks like it would be a fun lake to drag my boat to and sail. Wide waters and a very different environment than our normal cruising ground.

I found it mentioned in this 2007 post: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/s ... hp?fid[]=9

I found this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3MzfRm9gf0

Doug

[baldbaby2000]

It can be an incredible place to sail; especially if you don't like much company. I used to live in Williston at the north end of the lake. Also consider Lake Oahe in South Dakota; also on the Missouri. The Army Corps controls the lake levels so best to check ahead of time to be sure which launches are good. I'm more familiar with Oahe and have launched at Cow Creek and Spring Creek near Pierre. Make sure you're self sufficient because there isn't much there for facilities. I think Oahe is about 300 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide. There is no significant current. There are several dams along the missouri (no locks and so no commercial river traffic) Other good lakes along the Missouri in SD are: Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case. Be prepared to duck in a bay if the wind comes up. I've been out there when the wind came up and the waves got so big it was almost impossible to motor.

[dlandersson]

I was going to say - there are what - 12 people in all of North Dakota?

It can be an incredible place to sail; especially if you don't like much company.

[Doug W]

Thanks! I was wondering if wind affects would get heavy there.

My son is currently snowed in at williston and the city is without power for the next week!

[baldbaby2000]

Hahaha, maybe a few more than 12 people but not much!

It wouldn't surprise me about your son being snowed in. Strangely enough I have fond memories of Williston. I was there during the oil boom in the late 70s and early 80s. The summers were hot, dry and windy but that's what I like. Being so far north the summer days are pretty long so we'd be on the lake until 11:30 PM. There's a place they called "Little Egypt" downstream from Williston and probably south of the Tioga or White Earth area; it was a beautiful sandy beach. Then in the winter time the ice would be about 5 feet thick and we'd go driving around or ice skating for miles. Had to watch out for the ridges where the ice buckled. I remember one winter morning it was -50F; my VW bus actually started but wouldn't go anywhere because the transmission oil was way too thick. It's kind of like being in Canada; they talk funny, play curling and drink beer!

The lake got pretty low a few years ago and since Williston was upstream of everything there wasn't much left there but I think it's up to normal again.

It's a big lake and it does get windy so one does have to be careful.

[Doug W]

Thanks!

At first he was complaining about how dusty it is there and was ready to return to south dakota...but then he met two local girls.... chuckle
Is it more windy across the lake during particular summer months?

Doug

[baldbaby2000]

Funny how girls can change a guy's plans!

There may be some variation but I don't really remember any month being particularly more windy than another. I think it's just a cyclical pattern of weather moving through the area. The hot summer days frequently result in locallized convective storms that are impossible to predict; you just have to be prepared--especially if on a boat or a motorcycle.

[longtian006]

Thanks a mil Summer...very helpful...I painted her on the trailer and it was tuff...turns out the marina has 4 jacks they would have loaned me...I will use them tomorrow to get at the places the trailer cradle hides









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[Doug W]

It can be an incredible place to sail; especially if you don't like much company. I used to live in Williston at the north end of the lake. Also consider Lake Oahe in South Dakota; also on the Missouri. The Army Corps controls the lake levels so best to check ahead of time to be sure which launches are good. I'm more familiar with Oahe and have launched at Cow Creek and Spring Creek near Pierre. Make sure you're self sufficient because there isn't much there for facilities. I think Oahe is about 300 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide. There is no significant current. There are several dams along the missouri (no locks and so no commercial river traffic) Other good lakes along the Missouri in SD are: Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case. Be prepared to duck in a bay if the wind comes up. I've been out there when the wind came up and the waves got so big it was almost impossible to motor.

We did end up sailing Lake Oahe three years ago. It was fantastic and is rated up there with Flaming Gorge Lake as one of our favorite "sail-cations"! Although fellowship of other sailors in a raft-up and sailing together is fun--we do that in our home waters-- we absolutely enjoy relaxing, exploring and sailing to remote locations that most people never get to experience. Sakakawea is still on my short list for destinations...so is Fort Peck Lake!

Who knows where we'll end up this year now that I will have a new dual axle trailer in a couple weeks!

Galactica is generally over-provisioned and self sufficient.

Doug & Angie
Galactica

[Doug W]

Funny how girls can change a guy's plans!

There may be some variation but I don't really remember any month being particularly more windy than another. I think it's just a cyclical pattern of weather moving through the area. The hot summer days frequently result in locallized convective storms that are impossible to predict; you just have to be prepared--especially if on a boat or a motorcycle.

After reading Sumner's awesome blog years ago on their trip down Lake Powell, I spend quite a bit of time in the months preceding a large western lake trip plotting potential anchorages that look like good holding and protection from storms for each direction. It eliminates the stress of dealing with a large storm system in unfamiliar waters! It really paid off last summer on Flaming Gorge! I try to get a chart prior and utilize the heck out of Google map's satellite view.

Doug & Angie
Galactica -