Windsurfing near Lake Pleasant
- Canyon Lake (88 km)
- Apache Lake (102 km)
- Lake Ashurst (153 km)
- Lake Mojave (262 km)
- Boulder beach (333 km)
Lake Pleasant, AZ
Northwest of Phoenix is lake Pleasant. The lake has mountains bordering its north side which encourage thermal activity in the morning and evenings. In the morning warming air rushes up the mountains to the north and the lake gets a fairly consistent South wind up to 12-14mph. In the afternoon the cooling air causes the reverse.
Frequently, a light morning north wind will set in for a few hours before shifting south. With the appropriate weather conditions, this can set up for some quality wind:
"Dawn Patrols" usually offer the best winds at Lake Pleasant. These are north winds that build during the night and frequently increase at sunrise. They are the steadiest winds at the lake but tend to die out by 10am. To check for a dawn patrol, take a look at a weather map of the western US. If there is a pressure drop from the north to the south of Arizona (you should see multiple isobars going east-west over AZ and Utah) then there is a good chance for a dawn patrol the next morning. There is a weather station at the marina, its identification is KAZPEORI3 (see link below).
Also during the Fall, Winter and Spring frontal activity can add to the winds. There is definitely windsurfing in the desert. You just have to keep a keen eye on the forecast and have plenty of personal time saved up at work!! ;-)
Launch from the West side of the lake via the park entrance. Or sail from the East side of the lake via the Marina. They both charge a fee. Obviously check the forecast and see which side the wind is going to favor. The wind can be very up and down on the lake shore but as you sail toward the center the winds clean up and can be downright ripping on the right days.
Fees: The park charges a $5 fee per vehicle plus a $2 fee per watercraft. Unfortunately, they consider sailboards to be watercraft. Some gate keepers have charged $2 per board.
There are not too many stores near Lake P so bring what you need with you. There is a shopping center with the accompanying fast food restaurants about 12 miles East near the Hwy.
Rocky launches. Boats. Jetskis. Most of the year the lake is a very nice place to sail. In the summer (particularly after memorial day) it gets very busy. Shoreline access becomes difficult and there is a lot of boat and jetski activity everywhere.
The Phoenix sailing scene is largely based at Lake P. The people are very nice and are always eager to have someone else to sail with. Say "hi".
AZ Windsurfing Home Page (http://azwindsurfing.org/)
Pleasant Harbor current wind reading (http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KAZPEORI3)
