Fall is Sailing (and Racing) Time! After being a bit dazed by summer heat, spotty winds and the doldrums of being stuck at home this year, Fall makes a sailor’s pulse quicken. Fall means cooler temperatures, better winds and the return of weekend racing all sweetened with football (we hope), pumpkins and approaching holiday celebrations. In the South, it is hard to beat Fall and Spring for prime sailing weather (there are plenty of good days during the winter as well). The racing fleet managed to get in a good series of Wednesday night races over the summer and weekend racing is back. Even if you are a cruiser, fall is one of the best times to get the sails up and enjoy the lake. This month we highlight a few boats with serious racing and fun potential. Finot’s Open 6.50 is all about speed through, or mostly planing over, the water. Designed by Finot Groupe, this 2008 boat is built of pre-peg carbon fiber using their “autostruct” process allowing the hull to be formed as one piece. Its’ carbon fiber mast is light weight and with 43% ballast in the retracting keel it can carry a lot of sail. It has one of the highest sail area/displacement ratios in its class, exudes horsepower and planes with ease. It is the sport boat of choice for some of the world’s most accomplished sailors and is an absolute scream to sail. The boat will probably have to race PHRF in the USA and is in like new condition having only been raced about 10 times. Your competitors will come to know her as that bright red/orange dot way out front. The Mini Transat 650 is a semi-annual solo transatlantic yacht race from France to Martinique in the Caribbean in 21 foot sailing machines This race is sanctioned by “Classe Mini” and […]
Are you fantasizing about sailing off into the sunset? We have been approached lately by a number of boat buyers who are looking to cut the cord from their ordinary lives and sail off into the sunset, living aboard and leaving all the madness of 2020 behind them. It is not a new idea to be sure, but this renewed enthusiasm for it seems to be a reaction to the pandemic, racial conflict, heightened political division and a feeling that things are generally out of control and a little bit nuts. They have had enough. They are looking for a boat that can take them wherever their sense of adventure may lead them, be a cozy home on the water and survive the occasional gale, free from the madness of our current politics and life on the hard. The three boats featured in this edition of our newsletter were designed to do exactly that. Their descriptions speak to the unique qualities of each, but each was designed to help us realize a dream, exploit our sense of adventure, our desire to explore the world around us and seek inner happiness. Realizing such a dream takes much more than just buying the boat, but the boat often becomes the symbol of the dream. You can spend time getting to know the boat, learn and practice the seamanship skills that will enable your voyage, knowing that you can cut the lines whenever you decide to take the plunge and escape. Westsail 32 s are legendary for solid construction, seaworthiness, sea kindly motion, and good cruising performance in all conditions. With her numerous upgrades, KAREN FAYE is safe, comfortable, and equally at home, whether sailing on a freshwater lake or cruising offshore. Sailor and author Ferenc Mate wrote in “Best Boats to Build or Buy” that in fair […]
Snug Harbor Sailing News is a new monthly newsletter with topics of interest to the sailing community on Lake Lanier and surrounding Southeastern lakes. Issues will cover featured boats, sailing events, racing, seamanship, profiles of local sailors and advice on common maintenance issues. The Dehler 39’s German Engineering and Excellent Construction makes this a Strong, Seaworthy, Fast Yacht with a New England PHRF rating of 90. “Masterpeace” is an immaculately maintained single owner yacht with Excellent Sails, Hardware, Equipment and a Classy, Comfortable Interior that looks Brand New. The Non-Skid has just been refinished and looks fantastic. She is a great boat and ready to sail. People are out on the lake! Lake Lanier is open and people are getting out on the lake in record numbers. Last month we reported that the facilities of Lake Lanier are open and available to boaters as long as social distancing is observed. Families living together can be together on a boat or other facilities but should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. DNR boats are patrolling the lake and will be ticketing safety violations as well as people violating the social distancing guidelines on boats, docks or shoreline areas. They also strongly discouraged boats tying up together or “rafting up”. Now racing is back! According to the Lake Lanier Sailing Club (LLSC) Keelboat fleet, the Wednesday Night Race Series I will begin on June 3 rd. There are 4 races left in the series and results will be communicated by email and posted online as there will be no onshore gatherings for the time being. Series II will begin July 8 th and the Encore series is still planned to begin September 16 th, both barring any future Covid 19 restrictions. The Cal 33 is fast and comfortable according a review by Naval Architect Robert Perry. With a PHRF rating […]
Snug Harbor Sailing News Snug Harbor News is a new monthly newsletter with topics of interest to the sailing community on Lake Lanier and surrounding Southeastern lakes. Future issues will cover featured boats, news about racing, sailing club events, sailing schools and marinas as well as profiles of local sailors, advice on common maintenance issues and a future sailboat owners forum. Lake Lanier is open for boating! Lake Lanier is open and boating is a great recreational way for families to spend time together as long as appropriate social distancing and other boating regulations are being observed. On April 9 a virtual meeting was hosted by Lake Lanier Association (LLA) with Major Mike England of the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and Tim Rainey from the US Army Corps of Engineers. They advised that the facilities of Lake Lanier are open and available to boaters as long as appropriate social distancing (at least 6 feet between each person) is observed. Families living together can be together on a boat or other facilities but should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. Department of Natural Resources boats are patrolling the lake and will be watching for regulatory violations such as excessive speed, improper lighting at night and people violating the social distancing guidelines on boats, docks or shoreline areas. Violations will be ticketed. They also strongly discouraged boats tying up together or “rafting up”. It’s easy to observe social distancing while shopping for a boat Visit snugharborboats.com and check out our brokerage listings online. You’ll find lots of photographs and detailed descriptions of more than 40 sailboats of all sizes and price points currently available. If you see one or more that you like, call us at 770 831 0403 for more information and make an appointment to […]
“It has often been said in recent years that good service is dead or,at best, very had to find. Not so!!! All one has to do is travel to Snug Harbor Boats in Buford, GA to find exceptional service, professionalism and unsurpassed knowledge about sailboats and sailing. The internet made it possible for me to learn about this extraordinary firm tucked away in an upscale little hamlet just north of Atlanta. I had spent countless months researching which sailboat would let me get back into my favorite pastime after a hiatus of nearly 25 years (you know, rearing children, family obligations, job commitments, etc.). The Com Pac line of boats seemed to have the design and quality I wanted. Snug Harbor had the particulat model I was interested in. After a quick email and a phone call, I was making plans to go see the boat on their lot. Arnold Horn made everything about the process so easy. I asked for additional photos before making a 600 mile trip and he obliged. I asked for more information and he delivered. Throughout the entire process, Arnold was a model of personality and professionalism. Once we agreed on the purchase, Roger Aspinwall handled the test sail and assured that the boat and trailer were in perfect order and ready for the long trip home. If you are in the market for a boat that Snug Harbor carries, you will thank yourself many times over if you choose to do business with these fine folks. Thank you, Ann, and your fine team of professionals for making my purchase a delight. My family and I look forward to many years of enjoyable sailing on our Com Pac Sun Cat. Tom Bass, Elon, NC”