NEWS 2005
Hodges Report
Lake Hodges. It’s been a while, 3 years in fact, since my Bro, Erik, and I sailed there. We used to be regulars, blasting BAF almost every weekend. Hodges was minutes from home with consistent wind. Good old days!
Last Saturday, August 20th, my Brother and I packed the van and headed off too Lake Hodges. We weren’t too sure of what we’d find, but off we went with mixed expectations.
We parked below Hernandez Hideaway. There’s a small loop extension to the left of the parking lot there. Parking was tight and limited on that loop, maybe space for a dozen cars, but there was plenty of room for us. Beware that as Hodges becomes more popular, the limited parking WILL BE AN ISSUE.
Just 15 yards below this parking loop is a small inlet cleared of reeds and debris. There’s enough room there to rig a sail or two, but not much more. This inlet is our meeting spot for the Ranger, Crystal; from whom you must purchase your $5 Lake Use Permit. Crystal graciously offers her skiff to taxi sailors and their gear to and from the old sailing area. Crystal can accommodate two sailors at a time and the trip is about 5 minutes one way.
That’s the easy way, and someone of right mind would take the ride without question. No me. I had to do the Iron Man and sail out.
The inlet is on the leeward side of a mountain, sheltered from wind, and surrounded by trees and reeds. The water looks like glass; there’s that much wind. Taunting you just beyond the inlet is wisps of wind that build to whitecaps towards the far shore. I figured that I’d pump out 20 yards or so to just beyond the inlet, and then I’d be fine. It was just 20 yards.
For about 5 minutes I provided comic relief to those fortunate enough to watch me from shore. While there was no wind on the water, there was wind 10 feet up. Some from the left. Some from the right. Some from behind and some from ahead. You get the picture; just enough wind to play with my rig and send me on a small semi-controlled slow motion spin to every nook of the inlet. Everywhere but out. A very long 5 minutes.
Much to the disappointment of my growing audience on shore, I did manage to get out. Once clear, I coasted out into the growing wind and was soon planning away and beating to the sailing area. This was about the same time as Crystal was ferrying my Bro and another upwind as well. It was pretty mush a wash and we made the half-mile to the sailing area at about the same time. I definitely had more fun getting there though. I also had regained some of my dignity.
After that it was typical Hodges; a consistent, semi-capping 10-15. Erik and I had rigged Formula boards and 11.7 race sails. We were mostly comfortably powered and we practiced all points of sail for about 2 hours. There were a few others out on smaller gear. They were on and off planing.
We ended our session by beating high and the taking a few deep reaches back to the launch. We were flying the whole way and surprisingly planed back all the way to the inlet. Once there, we simply jumped off and swam our rigs in the final 20 yards. Not a big deal.
Note that I see a need for us to get a crew together to clean debris from the shores of the old rigging area. While the benches are still there, there are way too many pointy things lying around to safely bring your gear on shore. You can lug a cooler along if you ride with Crystal. I highly suggest it. While I did leave one small outhouse unexplored, there are no luxuries waiting for you at the old rigging area!
If you sail Hodges, please, be respectful of the barriers in the old rigging area. Abusing the area or boundaries can only hinder any chance of us getting better access. Keep in mind too that Crystal is there for our benefit and protection. Be respectful and courteous. She deserves it.
Final thoughts.
Was it worth it? Definitely!
Going again? Absolutely!
Robert Van
