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DESTINATIONS AROUND WABAMUN LAKE |
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INDEX - Poole Sail Club, Coal Point, Seba Beach, Sunshine Bay, Rosewood Bay, Sundance Canal, Iron Head Bay, Village of Wabamun, Wabamun Canal, WABAMUN SAILING CLUB, Whitewood Bay, |
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 AOSA
MOORING BALLS - In 2002 the AOSA installed twelve strategically
located moorings around Wabamun Lake to promote overnight cruising. Each 1.5 ft diameter white mooring
buoy is marked "AOSA" and
has a blue reflective stripe to make it easier to spot at night. For
a current weather report from the Highvale meteorological station just South of Wabamun
Lake click on today's
weather. While the AOSA has made every effort to ensure that each mooring can handle the largest boat on the lake, the AOSA assumes no liability for use of these moorings. The ballast consists of two 130 pound Kenworth truck drums that settle very quickly into the ooze and sand on the bottom. About 10 to 15 meters of 3/8" chain is bolted to them. The chain surfaces through a 1.5 ft diameter white hard shell mooring buoy as shown at right. At the top of the buoy is a steel ring to which you may tie your mooring line. All in all this creates quite a safe mooring that a vessel may use to ride out a storm. This is the first priority of use for these moorings. For social functions we installed the moorings in pairs, about 30 meters apart, so two boats can raft up by pulling their sterns together while remaining tied to the moorings. This technique permits a quick safe release in the event of a storm. Simply release the vessel to vessel lines and your boats will weather cock to ride out the blow. The mooring chain slips freely through the center of the ball to terminate on a 4" diameter steel ring on top of the ball. Use your mooring pole to pick up the ring. Attach YOUR line to the steel ring using two turns to minimize chafe. A single turn through the ring will likely chafe through during a stormy night. Leave a bit of slack in the line. When the wind picks up, the extra pull will lift the chain and the cantery effect of the rode will help to dampen the motion of the hull. NOTE: While we designed each mooring with sufficient weight to hold a large power boat, there is NO guarantee of safety as Mother Nature has a way of behaving to her rules, not ours! While the moorings are built to handle the largest boat on the lake, they are NOT designed to handle a string of boats rafted up between two mooring balls or for several boats rafted to the same mooring ball. This exceeds the designed limits. If you drag or break a mooring it will eliminate a safety valve for another sailor trying to escape a storm. Also, when you are done with the mooring, please lower the steel ring and chain GENTLY. DO NOT drop it. Dropping it will split the ball. Thank you.
USAGE - You must be an AOSA member to use an AOSA mooring. No reservations allowed, first come first serve. Time is limited to an overnight stay, 12 hours max. Please observe protocol and fly your AOSA burgee and/or have your membership card with you. Proper identity goes a long way towards maintaining the peace should you find a nonmember using a mooring. Wish to become an AOSA member? SPONSORS - Many people have privately sponsored an AOSA mooring in the past. In recognition of their generous support they have each received a five year AOSA membership. I you would you like to sponsor a mooring, please email the webmaster. We think you will appreciate them. Each buoy meets CCG regulations with the following requirements:
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AOSA
CARDINAL BUOYS - In 2005 the AOSA deployed 4 cardinal buoys
around Wabamun Lake to keep boaters away from underwater hazards. We think you will appreciate them. Each buoy meets CCG
regulations with the following requirements:
LEGAL STUFF - It should be noted that each buoy is e/w a 30' of stainless steel cable rode, 10' of chain and a 20 pound navy anchor. It is unlikely the anchor will move in a storm. However, since the buoy will drift with the wind, we positioned each anchor so a buoy floats in a minimum of 10' deep water. This was done to ensure safe passage on the designated deep water side. We made many passes with a tracking depth sounder to determine the final resting spot of the anchor. A tricky maneuver with no coordinates or reference mark at the end of a reef. Imperial units are show here to match those on the AOSA chart. There is no guarantee of location expressed or implied by the AOSA. For instance, if you slide alongside a buoy to "kiss" it with your hull, you are on your own if you hit bottom! If you use a buoy as a race marker, then pass the buoy with at least 10M radius on the designated deep water side. If you damage a buoy, the internal web camera will record the event and you can expect to receive a bill in the mail!
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MAJOR DESTINATIONS |
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 WHITEWOOD
BAY - Located on the North shore of Wabamun, just east
of Poole Sail Club. Very quiet with great weather protection from SW
around to NE winds. Nice secluded sandy beach. AOSA maintains two
mooring balls here.
Any cell service here is a local call to Edmonton.
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 POOLE
SCOUT CAMP - As of 2009 the Poole Sail Club no longer
exists, citing a liability issue with volunteers on the
property. Poole Scout Camp is located on the North shore of Wabamun Lake, about 2 KM east of Coal Point. Drop in if you want an idyllic spot to rest your weary bones while cruising the length of the lake. Please keep in mind that the old mooring chains are stretched along the bottom (pointed to shore) of the anchorage making this a poor place to anchor. Snagging your anchor on a mooring is a sure bet you will loose your anchor. To guarantee a clear mooring free bottom, anchor in 20' of water. Bring your dinghy if you want to use the shore facilities. The beach is soft sand. On shore is a small gazebo and a fire pit. There is usually enough fire wood around. The steps lead up to a parking lot. The flush outhouse is no longer operational and neither is the pressure water from the tap adjacent to the outhouse. This water was useable for hand washing only. It has too much soda to make it potable. Please stay away from the Warden's cabin to respect their privacy. Cellular service is available, albeit weak, about 200' from shore out on the lake. Any cell service here is a local call to Edmonton.
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COAL
POINT
WARNING - There is a shoal area that extends about 3/4 of a KM SE from Coal Point. The bottom consists of sand with some weeds on the Eastern side. The shoal shifts slightly each year due to wind and ice. It's just over a meter deep at the tip, after which it drops off sharply to 8 meters or more. To demonstrate how much the sand shifts, there used to be a deep water passage close to shore around 1985. It is now filled in. As of 2005 the AOSA installed an illuminated South cardinal buoy here. It floats in about three meter deep water. Don't use it for a race marker. It is a navigational hazard and should be given a wide berth to the South, through deep water.
The
Challenge - 50 roundings in a year of this
"fearsome peninsula" qualifies a skipper or crew for an ear
ring. All roundings MUST be within 10 meters of the cardinal buoy and the
keel must not touch the bottom.
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 VILLAGE
OF SEBA
BEACH - This summer village is located at the west end of the lake.
The sandy beach extends along the entire water front of the village, from the
north to the south shores. It's very relaxing to cruise the length of this beach, watching the beach
traffic while they're watching you! There is plenty of water depth. After you're totally mellowed out,
anchor at EYC and walk into town for an ice cream cone under the cool trees. Sure
sounds tempting. |
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 SUNSHINE
BAY - A small bay tucked into the
south west corner of the lake. This bay offers good weather protection
for all wind directions except from the west. In this case, if it really
decides to blow, it's best to move
to the small bay west of the creek, adjacent to the Seba
Beach shore.
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 ROSEWOOD
BAY - Rosewood Bay is located on
the south shore of Wabamun Lake immediately to the east of Mold Point
and Beaver Bay.
The bay provides natural shelter from the southeast through
northwesterly wind directions and the average water depth in the west
half is about 8 feet. This is where Beaver
Creek
flows into the bay, from the southwest. The east half of the bay
is shallower, about four and a half feet deep, and better left to the
local boats that moor here. There is a long rock reef that extends across the
eastern mouth of the bay and ends at about the center. Fixed keel vessels should proceed with caution
when entering the bay. It is safe to
make your approach through the west half of the bay, adjacent to the Mold
Point side.
The bay is flanked by the cottage communities of Beaver Hill Estates to the west and Rosewood Beach to the south, both of which are very active in the summer. It is the seasonal and year round home to several cruising sailors. You will note one of our members' San Juan 23, "SIESTA", is tied to its orange mooring ball deep in the bay where the depth in 2001 was about 5.5 feet. Local residents are quite approachable and willing to help in the event of a problem. The reeds around the bay are home to loons, herons and many other birds. They also offer some of the best pike fishing in the lake.
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| SUNDANCE
POWER PLANT CANAL
- South Shore, (likely closed till 2010)
There is a small dock adjacent to the launching ramp and an outhouse and picnic tables are only a short walk away. The ramp has a drop off at the end which makes it very difficult to retrieve a larger sailboat. So keep your trailer wheels on the cement slabs, don't let them drop off the end. The public ramp at the Town of Wabamun is much longer and is sheltered from a west wind. WARNING - The best way to tie your boat to shore is to drive a stake in the ground, over the top of the berm well down the slope on the far side. Another method is to carry your anchor over the berm and set the flukes into the dirt. Your choice.
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| IRON
HEAD BAY -
This bay affords surprisingly good protection from north east winds.
Tucked in just behind the east of Iron Head Point are two AOSA moorings that are used quite
often by Wabum Marina boaters. Cell service here is a
local call to Edmonton.
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VILLAGE
OF WABAMUN
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| WABAMUN
POWER PLANT INLET CANAL
- (North Shore)
WARNING -
With the decommissioned Wabamun Power plant there is negligible current in
the
Wabamun inlet canal. However
you should enter the canal with caution
and manoeuvre with a warm engine. As soon as you pass the mouth of the
canal cut your throttle to idle to maintain speed. The standard technique for turning is
to nudge the bow into the bank, let the current push the hull around,
back off from the bank and throttle up to manoeuvre to your spot. Use the
current to your advantage, don't fight it. In addition, have your anchor
ready so you won't be swept downstream under the bridge with a stalled
engine. Now that would be a nasty way to end a day! Use a couple of long mooring lines to tie your boat around the base of the most substantial bush you can find. One at the bow to keep the boat pointed slightly into the bank against the current and one at the stern to pull the cockpit to shore for boarding. If your lines cross the foot path, keep them on the ground so you don't trip any sleepy early morning fisherman. Better yet, mark them to improve the visibility. To say there are mosquitoes here is the understatement of the year, so use a bug net in the companionway and hatch. Yet there are lots of times when you can't find a bug in the place. Welcome to Canada. Cell service here is a local call to Edmonton.
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| WABAMUN SAILING CLUB - Located on the North shore of Wabamun about 1 KM east of the Wabamun power plant. This club launches its dinghies from the each. The water at the end of the pier is not deep enough for a cruiser. Best to anchor and row your dinghy to shore. WSC web site. Cell service here is a local call to Edmonton. | |||||||||||||||
The
Wabamun inlet canal is a great place to
"tuck into" during a storm or to spend a peaceful night. Make
your approach straight down the center, even if you have to
"crab" to buck a side wind.
