Clear Lake, Texas Advice

[jbliss]

My step-father just built a 15 foot sailboat we're planning to launch on her maiden sail on Clear Lake, Texas. This will involve me teaching a sailing lesson or two to my step-father. Can anyone recommend parts of Clear Lake for these lessons? Typically less wind and chop?

Parts to avoid?

Thanks!

[Jetexas]

Stay in the lake itself, and you should be fine. Most of traffic is in the middle going up and down the channel, so as long as you have a shallow draft you can sail along the edges mostly undisturbed except for the swells from wakes.

I'm assuming you don't have much draft on the boat. It's 9' in the channel, but if you get much outside of the channel it's only around 4'.

[jbliss]

Thanks. I have an idea to launch at Clear Lake Shores Island boat ramp and then, for the lessons, use the same waters this place uses for their lessons: Sailing Classes - Charter Courses - BayAreaSailing.com

Does that make sense as a starting point?

[capn_billl]

What's your draft? There are some shoals, and spoil banks, but most of the middle of the lake is fine for a boat of 4' or less draft.

If you follow the weather shoreline there will be less wind from the buildings, Not neccessarily a good thing as it can get spotty and unpredictable. I would just wait for a calm day. We'll have some soon. You'll get wakes from the channel, so stay on the other side to avoid them

[Mimsy]

Ditto to what Capn' Bill said. You might check the ramp on Nasa 1 by the park, depending on your draft. If more than 4 feet, skip it but at 4 ft or less this is a much less busy part of the lake. Mostly dinghies and kayaks on that end.

[Tony B]

Wow, 6 of us Clear Lake people together.
I'm at Waterford Harbor Marina.