October 18-19 is the weekend for the longest running windsurfing regatta in the country. The Atlanta Boardsailing Club and Lake Lanier Sailing Club co-host this fun event again this year. There is free camping at LLSC and everything is provided including top-notch racing, fabulous door prizes, 5 meals and exotic beverages from all around north Georgia. And it's all so cheap you can't afford to stay home!
This has traditionally been a longboard regatta with Sport, Open Limited and Unlimited Classes, but we welcome and strongly endorse Formula, Kona, Prodigy or any other one design class. Five entries are needed for a trophy group.
Kona Charter boards are available this year at a bargain price- charters are $50, $25 deposit. Just show up with a harness and you're all set! Contact Mike Rayl directly to arrange a charter:
565 Palmetto Dr.
Melbourne, FL 32935
For the non-racer, come on out and sail or take in the action from the clubhouse overlooking the racing area. Got gear to swap or sell? Bring it! Families are welcome too. (Sorry, pets are still not allowed at the club). Non-racers can buy a "meal deal", just the Saturday night dinner or if you like, bring your own and use the club's grill.
For registration or more information contact Chris Voith.
or 404-386-8505.
(No need to register if you're not racing, but let us know if you plan to camp or want the meal deal or dinner).
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How is the camping at the sailing site? I'm bringing the wife and she doesn't want it too rustic.
It's not too rustic, but "rustic" is fair. There are tent pads with a picnic table at each site, no power or water (or cable tv or hot tub). Sometimes, late into the night, you can hear banjo music wafting down from the hills. :shock:
I added some photos to the Fall Classic foto gallery that show the rigging area. The camp sites are in the distance of that shot. There's a portapotti you can see. It is the nearest convenience. You can see a bit of the beach on the left in that photo. It's huge now w/ the water down and we recently put 1000 yds of sand on it. A 'real bathroom' is ~100 yd walk to the clubhouse. Showers are ~200 yds. The lawn at the clubhouse in the other photo is a good viewing spot (and near the beer and other comforts).
A Corp of Engineers campground adjoins the club property and is a good place for an easy walk and interesting views of the lake. The COE c'grnd is a bit more civilized and still pretty close. The Nugents camp there if their dogs come along (no pets allowed @ LLSC).
Also, there's the Pine Isle Resort that appears to be considerably more civilized... I bet she'd like that.
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-358422-renaissance_pineisle_resort-i
The wife and I are going to some of the wineries in the northeast part of GA after the race and some rafting. Anyone recommend any of the parks for camping in that area?
Others probably know more than I, but I've heard the Lodge at Smithgall Woods is nice (but no tent camping I think). Good trout fishing at Dukes Creek if you're into that... also Vogel S.P. (yes camping) has some elevation and leaves should be close to peak color. The problem might be finding a spot to stay... leaf season could make it harder. You might want to look into reservations just in case:
http://www.gastateparks.org/net/content/page.aspx?s=139843.0.1.5
Okay so the pre-registration deadline approacheth. If you're thinking of maybe coming but can't decide, here's a little extra carrot:
• If you've never come to the Atlanta Fall Classic, deduct $10 from the entry fee. That's 20% off.
Or,
• If you're a first time racer in a regatta, deduct $15 That's uh... more than 20% off.
So, let's review. For a newbie, "invest" $35 and you get: a swell Lycra commemorating this historic event, Five meals, free camping at the race site, exotic adult beverages imported from several north Georgia counties, killer door prizes from Windsense, WhiteCap Windsurfing, Ezzy Sails, Aerotech Sails, Epic Gear, Chinook & The Atlanta Fall Windsurfing Classic Foundation, a top notch racing experience and all the usual debauchery that goes with these things.
That's quite a return on your money and I bet that's better than you're doing anywhere else right now.
Hey don't forget the bargain deal on Kona Charters– a harness is all the equipment you'd need to bring. (Maybe a wetsuit too. The long range f'cast is showing a honkin' Saturday).
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/9mh.gif
Chris - I will be attending - Richard Genet - of course I have not mailed in the registration :-(.
Oh good. We can use the late fee to offset the newbie discounts... kidding. Since there's no USPS today and the deadline for receipt of registrations is Wednesday, if you will let me know via email or phone (or here RG) I will consider you pre-registered. This is really helpful in food planning. Just let me know. 404-386-8505
Updated who's coming list:
Bill "Big Gear" Herderich
"Double Naught" Dan Burch
The (3) Lost Boys of Charleston
His Holiness Randy "Serenity Now" Falkenberg
Gregg "In a Class by Myself" Cattanach
"Indy" Joe Quigley
"Other Indy" Jenny Quigley
Steve "I got yer Real Estate right here" Bogan
Mike "Kona" Rayl
Chris "HWIC" Voith
"Lightnin'" Pam Barron
Pat "Watchout for that guy" Nugent
Reggie "I was at the first one" Strickland
Richard "Zoe's Dad" Genet
William "Webguy" Fragakis
Dan & Marty Gutting
John Jordan
Phil & The Blanks (FSU guys)
OMG! Sat & Sun NW 15-25. This could be epic. Might even have to try the Formula (Big Stuff) equipment.
Bill Herderich
Had to pick up the Konas last weekend, I have one more for charter. If interested let me know.
Chris I already mailed my entry, Can I still get $10 off for first time?
Hey Chris,
Was wondering if I could stop by (Happy to pay the $35) with my kids like the year before. They had a blast and loved feeling like daddy won something big in the door prize. Let me know, they are already asking when it is. I will bring some adult bev's and kid friendly bev's. Not going to race, just hang out and if people are swaping or selling things I can offload some gear as well. Thanks, Trey
That'll be great. Bring some gear to sail too. They keep upping the #s for Saturday... could be a little frisky:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=wc&w3=sfcwind&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=thunder&w8=rain&w9=snow&w10=fzg&w11=sleet&AheadHour=0&FcstType=graphical&textField1=34.30814&textField2=-83.81669&site=ffc&unit=0&AheadDay.x=47&AheadDay.y=13&AheadDay=48
The 30th Fall Classic was awesome! Thank you to Chris and LLSC for having us once again. We had ~26 racers - there is a dedicated core that keeps hanging on. I think we could get that # a little hither if people had higher expectations for the turn out. I think Crhis should write the synopsis - and post the results. I think also that we should figure out how to spread the effort to see if we can keep this going. Maybe Crhis could be chairman next year and direct volunteers?
Kudos to Chris and all those who helped put this year's event on. Another great year!
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.