Sailing/Learn to Sail parks? (Durham, Cary: rentals, new house, camps)

[annesg]

I was excited to see that Lake Crabtree park, which is near my new house, has sailboat lessons and rentals. I haven't been able to sail in many years and love the little sunfish sailboats. I would LOVE for my kids to learn. Then someone told me Lake Crabtree is polluted.

Is this so? If so, are there other parks for this kind of boating fun?

Thanks!

Anne

[toot68]

I wouldn't eat fish out of Lake Crabtree, but I also wouldn't think twice about taking the kids boating on it or worry if they fell in. Great, fun place to learn to sail.

[J_Lurk]

Yes, Lake Crabtree is contaminated with PCBs, but the warnings are generally against eating the fish, not against boating. Here is an article with some of the history: Independent Weekly: Wake PCB warnings spread

There are also boat rentals at Bond Park in Cary, which has a much smaller lake.

[Dire Wolf]

I enjoy sailing and have sailed at Lake Crabtree and Bond Lake many times. I greatly prefer Crabtree. The size and level of wind just makes for a more pleasant experience. I wouldn't worry about the pollution as you should be in the boat most of the time and aren't going to be drinking the water anyway. Shelley Lake and Lake Johnson also rent, iirc. I've seen info on classes at the various lakes in the newsletters they have out. You might find that info online.

[durhammom]

Last summer my kids took sailing lessons from the Carolina Sailing Foundation on Lake Crabtree. I think the lessons were given in conjunction with Wake County. They had a ball. If I remember teen and adult classes were also available. I can't post the link but if you search on Carolina Sailing Foundation you should find it.

[MrsSteel]

Here you go, DurhamMom.
Carolina Sailing Foundation

And here's the sailing class schedule for Lake Crabtree.
WakeGOV.com - Sailing Classes and Camps

Looks like there are a lot of sailing classes coming up at Lake Crabtree, both for kids and adults. Hmmm ... tempting ...