Utah Windriders Association

I got up early (5AM) to possibly hit Little Dell being that NOAA was forecasting 20-30 out of the east... But I don't know enough about the wind up there for it to have drawn me out of bed... Probably a good thing I didn't go up there...

Mountain Dell Golf course said it was blowing very hard early this morning but that it had mellowed out a little after 9AM... But it was still blowing...

Who has sailed Little Dell with success again? And what are the circumstances that justify heading up there?

It's kinda hard. Canyon drainage winds are helpful but there is more to it. It also sounds like they aren't opening the gate until later but John or Dimitri might know more. It would be great to get it figured out but so far the forecasting formula has been elusive and there is no accurate real time indicator.

Does anyone know what time the gate is open at Little Dell? Does Mtn. Dell have an anemometer?

Gate gets opened at 8:00 AM. No anenometer. Helps to check Parleys Summit to see if the East winds are really there. SW winds you can check mouth of Parleys. Last Saturday, a week ago, it sounded like Grant got better sailing there on the SW than the gang got at DC. It can happen. Works even on a little NW component, but it'll still be big sail stuff. Outrageously pretty and peaceful up there in the mornings.

I'm curious abount Little Dell resevoir also. I've never sailed in Utah but used to lie in the SF area and sail Crissy Field. Does anyone have a web site address of an anemometer that might be representative for Little Dell? Would a 5.5 sq meter sail be enough on a short board that can float me okay. Is there any place sailable that would catch the canyon wind coming out of Parley's? I take it folks use a dry suit like their sign says? John K

Hi John, and welcome to Utah sailing. Dimitri and John Freed are the masters of Little Dell prediction, but a strong high
pressure rebuilding over Colorado after a cold front, sets up the unusual East to West gradient though our local Wasatch front. Sometimes the backlash from an appropriately positioned low pressure and storm swirling through can also set up a NE to SW gradient which also creates these canyon winds. Even with this set up, Little Dell is sometimes windless. I can't predict it and so I rarely include it in the forecast. East canyon winds are nearly useless for windsurfing around here, but there is a correlation between East canyon winds and Kiteable PM winds later that day at Rush lake.

The drysuit thing is because of the waters intended purpose (it might ultimately end up potable), but
I doubt the rangers would recognize the difference between a drysuit and a full wetsuit ;*)

You'll be wanting a much larger sail than a 5.5 for typical sailing most of the time around the Wasatch Front.
You might start thinking 8.5.

-Craig

JohnKnoblock wrote:I'm curious abount Little Dell resevoir also. I've never sailed in Utah but used to lie in the SF area and sail Crissy Field. Does anyone have a web site address of an anemometer that might be representative for Little Dell? Would a 5.5 sq meter sail be enough on a short board that can float me okay. Is there any place sailable that would catch the canyon wind coming out of Parley's? I take it folks use a dry suit like their sign says? John K

Ditto to what has already been said about Little Dell... at best it is usually a "gust and slog" location. Most of my sailing has been on a south wind forecast although I have sailed the east a couple of times. When the wind comes up over the dam it can really get holey and gusty. I have been on a 5.7 (once), but most of the sessions I have had have been on a 6.7 / 7.5. The mud can get really bad on both banks, which makes your first launch a messy event. However like Dimitri said, very peaceful and quiet, usually the only company you may have can be a moose watching you from the south side of the reservoir.

Grant and I have also sailed on normal up-slope canyon winds, even with some north to them. It's lighter than Deer Creek, but you can plane when there's a strong westerly flow. Like others said, 7.5-8.5.

The easterly call is best, already described in this thread. Gotta get there early. Dies by 10:00. Another indicator that assures you've got a good chance of planing is a bank of clouds running along the top of the Wasatch crest. Think cloud bank over the SF penninsula. Same effect. Rare event, though. For some reason September seems to be a good month, meaning possibly a couple days.

One thing to note is that it's hard to tell how much wind is on the water since it's so small that whitecaps barely get going. Also, with the wind from the east, the waves are backlit and it's tough to estimate from looking at it from the road high above. Usually the guard will let you in "to check out the wind" first, then you can come back and pay if you're going to stay.

It's such a nice place, though, I'll make any excuse to get up there. Reminds me, the Paddle Fest is up there today. All kinds of water craft to try out. Sponsored by Utah Rivers Council. Great fun and worthy cause: http://www.utahrivers.org/index.php?opt ... Itemid=193