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Lighthouse Point Overview
There are two launches in the park: one faces south, the other faces west. The south-facing launch sails like other Connecticut beaches. There is no parking here, so drop off your gear and then park in the lot about 400' away. Northerly, offshore winds are sailed from the west-facing boat launch into New Haven Harbor where there is a clear fetch for several miles to the north. Parking at this lot is exclusively for vehicles with trailers (read jet skiers). While park officials have been working with windsurfers on this issue and have tended to "look the other way," this certainly won't be the case if the trailer parking spaces become scarce. If you wish to park here, please double up with other windsurfers. This will show that we, as a community, are sensitive to the park's parking problems and will help park officials to continue "looking the other way."
Parking fees (Mem Day through Labor Day): $25 Ct residents, $30 out of state!
Surfactants can make your board slippery as the WPC Facility is 1/2 mile up bay. Avoid heavy rainstorm periods if you can due to an combined storm-sanitary sewer system.
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Regional Directory
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April-October |
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| Launch: |
sandy beach |
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Maps & Directions
From Route I-95 north, take exit 50 (Woodward Avenue). At the second light, turn right onto Townsend Avenue. In about two miles, you'll see signs for the park to your right.
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Sensor Notes
The sensor is true for onshore and sideshore conditions. Northerly winds are offshore to the meter; the reported gust will be only slightly less than the highest winds you'll find on the water, but the reported average will be much lower than the true average. During northerlies, a good approximation of the on-the-water average might be the midpoint of the reported average and the gust. For example, if the report is "north at 18, gusting 10 to 30," actual conditions might be closer to "24, gusting 30 to 32."
From member Gregg Healey:
Best wind direction for LHP is NW. In fact, it is really the only site
in western and central CT that works well on a NW (long beach works in
WNW, but if it clocks to NW, forget it) because it is an on-shore beach
that has a couple of mile fetch over new haven harbor to steady the
wind. However, the meter reads low whenever there is any N in it
(WNW-ENE). My rule of thumb on a NW is that the average gust value is
equal to the average wind speed on the water. i think the same thing
happens in an easterly, but i never sail LHP in an E, so i can't really
confirm that.
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