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              Eastern New York Windsurfing Site Guide
              =======================================

    This FAQ highlights the local sailing spots in Central-Eastern New York,
Massachusetts, and Western Vermont.  If you would like to add your favorite
sailing spot or make corrections to the current list please send it to:

    S-Mail: Marc Lefebvre
         9-1B Windingbrook Drive
         Guilderland, NY 12084

    Fax:    (518)452-0956

    Phone:  (518)452-5800

    This FAQ will be posted on a monthly basis, courtesy of the Adirondack
Boardsailing Club (ABC), the Eastern New York Windsurfing Association
(ENYWA), and the Rochester Sailboard Club (RSC).

    To submit an entry onto this site FAQ, please use the form below.

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Name of Site:

Location:   (Give simple clear directions)

Access:     (Site must be available to the public. Give fee if any.  
            Describe parking, rigging and water entrance conditions.)

Faces:      (Direction the beach faces)

Winds:      (Favored wind direction)

Lodging:    (Camping, Motels or other accommodation that you can use.)

Notes:      (Include any useful info not covered above)

Cautions:   (On or off the water.  ie.  PFD req.,   SHARKS  ;-)

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Area: Eastern New York
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Name of Site: Northville Bridge (Sacandaga Lake)

Location:   NYS Thruway to exit 27 the Rt. 30 north to about 8 miles past
            Mayfield.  Bridge is on the right. Take first right before the
            bridge

Access:     Fees: free.  Parking is on the side of the road.  Grassy rigging
            area and a sand and pebble beach.

Faces:      E

Winds:      N, NE, S, SE

Lodging:    Camp sites available in the state park.

Notes:      Best winds are until mid July, they kick up again around
            September.  This place is a like a mini gorge when the wind N
            or S. South is best.

Cautions:   None.

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Name of Site: North Hampton Beach State Park  (Sacandaga Lake)

Location:   NYS Thruway to exit 27 the Rt. 30 north to about 5 miles past
            Mayfield.  Look for a DEC sign on the right hand side of the
            road. Right at the sign about 2 miles to the park.

Access:     Fees: $3.00 off season, $5.00 on season (5/31-9/1) per car.
            Plenty of parking.  Sandy beach for rigging and launching.

Faces:      Beach faces the north.

Winds:      N, NE, S, SE

Lodging:    Camp sites available in the park.

Notes:      Best winds are until mid July, they kick up again around
            September.

Cautions:   None.

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Name of Site:  Granview Marina  (Sacandaga Lake)

Location:   NYS Thruway to Amsterdam exit, north on Rt 30 till Mayfield.
            Take  right on to School House Road  (this road may be unmarked
            but it is the next street after Vandenburgh Road, look for sign
            that says, "Mayfield Business District and turn right"), right
            onto Lake Side Drive, Granview Marina is the fifth marina/club
            down on the right hand side facing the lake.

Access:     Fees: $5.00 per car.  Grassy knoll rigging area with picnic
            tables. Small sandy and rocky launching area.

Faces:      South East

Winds:      All accept NW

Lodging:    Local motels in village of Mayfield.

Notes:      This site is directly across from Vandenburgh Beach.
            Best winds are until mid July, they kick up again around
            September.

Cautions:   Water drops off sharply early in the season.

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Name of Site:  Vandenburgh Beach  (Sacandaga Lake)

Location:   NYS Thruway to Amsterdam exit, north on Rt 30 till Mayfield.
            Take right on to Vandenburgh Road.  Beach is on the left.

Access:     Fees: $5.00 per car.  Sandy rigging area and launch.

Faces:      NW

Winds:      ALL accept SE

Lodging:    Local motels in village of Mayfield.

Notes:      This site is directly across from Granview Marina.
            Best winds are until mid July, they kick up again around
            September.

Cautions:   Steep launch area.

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Name of Site:  Million Dollar Beach  (Lake George)

Location:   I-87 (N) to Lake George Village exit.  Grassy area between
            Million Dollar Beach and the Steel Pier.

Access:     Parking is $5.00, grassy rigging area and sandy launch.

Faces:      N

Winds:      N, NW, NE

Lodging:    MANY motels in the village.

Notes:      Yes, you can actually drop your board off on the grassy area by
            the Million Dollar beach and have a hassle free launch.  No
            swimming by the grassy area but sailing is permitted.  Swimming
            but no sailing at the state park.

Cautions:   A lot of jet ski traffic.

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Name of Site:  Hague Town Beach (Lake George)

Location:   I-87 (N) to exit 25.  Take Rt 8 east until Rt. 9N take right
            beach is 100 yards on the left.

Access:     Parking is $5.00, grassy rigging area and sandy launch.

Faces:      E

Winds:      N, NE, SE

Lodging:    MANY motels in the village.

Notes:      None.

Cautions:   None.

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Name of Site:  Saratoga Winds Launch  (Saratoga Lake)

Location:   I-87 (N) to Saratoga Lake exit.  Take Rt 9 (S), Left to Saratoga
            Lake.  Right once you reach lake (Rt 9P).  Launch is on the left
            side.

Access:     Fee: $25.00 per person, or $200.00 per year. Grassy rigging area
            and sandy launch site.

Faces:      W

Winds:      N,W,S

Lodging:    Motels on Rt. 9

Notes:      Home of Adirondack Boardsailing Club.

Cautions:   PFD's req.  or $50.00 fine.

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Name of Site:  Bev's Place  (Saratoga Lake)

Location:   Same as Four Winds.  (Two houses down from Four Winds Launch)

Access:     Fee: $5.00 per person, grassy rigging area, sandy launch.

Faces:      W

Winds:      N,W,S

Lodging:    Motels on Rt. 9

Notes:      None.

Cautions:   Be careful of the docks. PFD's req.  or $50.00 fine.

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Name of Site:  Browns Beach  (Saratoga Lake)

Location:   Same as Four Winds.

Access:     Fee: $7.50 per day, grassy rigging area, sandy launch.  Shallow
            launch area and is great to learn your water starts.  Picnic
            and Volleyball area is available as well.  Beach has a life guard
            and a swim area which is great for children and the
            non-windsurfing persons with you.

Faces:      W

Winds:      W,SW

Lodging:    Motels on Rt. 9

Notes:      Call Susan 587-8280 for more info.

Cautions:   PFD's req.  or $50.00 fine.

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Name of Site:  Crystal Lake Beach    (Crystal Lake, Averil Park)

Location:   Rt. 43 Averil Park about 15 minutes from Albany.

Access:     Fee: $5.00 per person.  Grassy rigging area and launch.

Faces:      All

Winds:      All

Lodging:    None known.

Notes:      Lessons and windsurfing shops on the lake.

Cautions:   None.

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Name of Site:  Lake Taghanic State Park   (Lake Taghanic)

Location:   Ancram, NY, Columbia County on Taconic State Parkway.  About 40
            miles from Albany.  Easy drive by Mass Pike and Taconic Parkway.

Access:     Fee: $4.00 per car and a few bucks to launch

Faces:      W

Winds:      NW, SE

Lodging:    Camping at the park.

Notes:      It is a "V" shaped lake  with the launch area being at the bottom
            of the "V" on the East.  No jet skis or any motorized crafts
            allowed.  Large bath house with snack bar and restrooms.  Nice
            place to camp.

Cautions:   None.

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Name of Site: Ossining, NY       (Hudson River)

Location:   Ossining NY, on the Hudson River.  Ossining is located 7 or 8
            miles north of the Tappan Zee bridge on the east side of the
            Hudson River.  To get there, take Rt. 9 north from 287 just at
            the end of the TZ bridge.  Go left in town on Main St.  If you
            see a turn to the right for Rt. 133 you just passed Main St.
            Take Main to the river, cross over the train tracks on the
            bridge and go to the extreme southern end of the commuter
            parking lot.
...

read more »

A couple of minor corrections to the FAQ.  Ninigret Pond is in RI, not western
MA.  I double-checked with the bartender at Bev's when we were there Wed.
night, and she is definitely charging $10.  Also, Vandenburgh Beach is charging
$7.

Keep up the great work!  Your efforts on this FAQ are appreciated.

- Marc