Turnback Canyon — Avoiding the Windless "Black Holes"

Here are a few tips for a faster sailing passage on the Turnback Canyon courses. If like many sailing to Lago Vista, whether racing or cruising, this long distance sail is more fun when you can avoid some of the seemingly inevitable slow, wind sheltered spots along the way. While nearly the entire length of the Turnback Course has shorelines that shelter the wind somewhat, over the years many sailors have built a mental list of sections that are particularly important to avoid to reduce the passage time for the trip. Described here are four of the spots that have proven to most frequently be "traps" that can be hard to escape once captured.

In late May the most frequent wind direction on Lake Travis is SSE but the wind strength varies greatly from light (<6 knots) to heavy (>18 knots). The tips provided here are for winds that are predominately southerly (SE to SW). In heavy winds while the sheltering effects still occur, their effects on sailing time is small. However in moderate winds the effect can be significant, and in light winds the sheltering effects of these areas can become a "black hole" with the only escape a change in the unsheltered wind direction or strength.

Here are the four wind shelter areas considered by many to be the most significant on the Turnback course and the most important to avoid:

1. The Southern shore between graveyard point and LCRA mark #15. This shelter only extends a short distance into the lake but is on the shortest rhumb-line course. As a result it frequently attracts many boats.
2. The Eastern shore under the largest hill between Anderson Bend and Thurman Bend. In light winds the sheltering effect in this area can be a "black hole" and can extend as much as half way across the lake.
3. The Southern shore under the dominate group of hills just west of Thurman Bend. This area is considered by many the worst at trapping unsuspecting sailors. A very wide passage on this shore is advisable. The sheltering in light and even moderate winds can extend well over half way across the lake width.
4. The Eastern side of the "Island" Resort which is about mid way between Baldwin Bend and the Lago Vista, Bar - K Park. This shelter area is not particularly long but can extend as much as half way across lake and can be hard to escape in light winds.

Over the 56 year history of Turnback Canyon event many sailors have been caught in these sheltered areas or "black holes" and watched longingly as other boats only a few boat lengths away sail quickly by them. Only a few boat lengths away from a sheltered area can mean the difference between no wind at all and reasonable sailing breezes. If you are fortunate and have other boats leading the way for you, watch their courses and relative boat speeds to help you gauge how close to pass by when you arrive. As you approach these areas, plan ahead to sail a course that will avoid these spots as much as possible, especially when the sheltering object is directly between you and the predominant wind direction. Without other boats to observe, watch your speed as you pass by and if you begin losing speed, steer a little wider passage.