Amenities:
The marina features 106 slips (plus some mooring buoys when the lake is full enough). No electricity or water at slips. Covered floating picnic area with six picnic tables and two gas grills. Dockhouse with solar-powered VHF radio. Pumpout machine (being re-installed). Vault toilet on shore nearby. Approximately one mile (shorter via boat and trail) to full bathhouses with hot-water showers within park at the Blanco campground.
Heron Lake Marina pavillion and A dock, with the Narrows to the west beyond.
About 90% sailboats (mostly 22 to 26-foot keelboats with cabins), 10% pontoon or other boats occupy the marina. The slip rental fee of about $440 covers the entire season of up to about six months. Slip renters are obliged to serve as a "dockmaster" for a half week during the marina season. Dockmasters camp in their boats or on land adjacent to the marina during their half week and provide security for the marina, information to prospective members, slip rentals to overnight guests, and minor marina maintenance and upkeep.
Heron Lake Marina view toward Willow Creek boat ramp.Ramps, boat and trailer storage
Willow Creek Ramp, mast-raising pole, parking, mast-up boat storage
End of Willow Creek boat ramp with Heron Lake Marina beyond.
This is the ramp closest to the
The fenced mast-up boat storage area above the parking lot has room for about 30 to 40 boats and presently is about 40% occupied. It is operated by the State Park; rentals are approximately $40 per month. One of the Buccs has spoken with park ranger Siscily Ledermann to make arrangements for temporary overnight rentals of the mast-up lot.
La Laja Boat Ramp
This ramp is located near the southwestern corner of the lake, west of mile 11. It is also surfaced with concrete. During very low water levels at the lake, a primitive boat ramp (unsurfaced) can be used. It is near the dam, about near mile 10.5 on NM Hwy. 95.
Boat rentals, guides
Dunc’s guide and boat rental service – pontoon & fishing boats, located behind Heron Store.
Don Wolfley. Heron
Stone House Lodge,
No visible wake
NM Boating Safety
Skippers who were born after
New Mexico Sailing Club members enjoy the peace and quiet of no-wake
History
The NMSC was first formed about 35 years ago at
Drought and sedimentation grounded and closed the marina from August 2003 until the 2005 season brought abundant water to improve lake conditions. During 2006, the NMSC made a significant investment by entirely replacing a third of its slips (A dock) with a new, larger dock that is designed to withstand damage from grounding. Slips in the new dock are longer than the old slips and offer other amenities and advantages compared to the old structure. In 2007, the marina cove reached a depth of about 29 feet, with portions of the main lake well over a hundred feet deep. The club is continuing to rehabilitate and improve the marina; in 2007 most of the connecting walkway between the three main piers was widened and "knee braces" were added to strengthen B dock.
Calendar, activities
During the marina season of May through October, most NMSC meetings are held at the marina, along with pot lucks, an ice cream social, and regattas. During the cold-weather months, the club meets approximately monthly, alternating venues between the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas. During the off-season, meetings are most often held on the fourth Friday evening of the month. Last year's NMSC Christmas holiday party was held at the Coronado Grill, on the Rio Grande in Bernalillo, NM.
Racing
The NMSC is rebuilding its tradition of racing and has held races for a variety of boats in 2007. Most racing is conducted with two fleets in a common start; the A fleet consists of racing boats and the B fleet is the cruising fleet. Summer racing is conducted under Portsmouth handicap, without wind modifiers. Especially popular at Heron Lake are longer-course distance races in which the fleet sets out from the marina cove, tacking up the Narrows to the main body of the lake, thence to various marks and back.
Fourth of July Long Race. The Long race begins within the marina cove, then takes a course out through The Narrows to circle around the wind warning island on the west side of the lake, then circles around various marks as the boats do a tour of Heron Lake. Eventually, the sailors get to head back through the Narrows to the marina, finishing at the same line off the southwest corner of the marina where they started.
Challenge Cup. The club won the last inter-club challenge between the NMSC and RGSC, and hopes to host the RGSC for a repeat engagement. This will be racing between several pairs of matched one-design boats.
Summer Season. Various regattas add up to a season of racing fun, with trophies for the most successful and persistent (and perhaps a few other categories).
Race Management
Race chair, Lisa Carlson
Club principal race officer, Pat Byrnes
People
The NMSC is led by a board comprising twelve members, including club officers. Officers serve one-year terms (two terms maximum). Other board members serve two-year terms, with half elected each year.
Sister Clubs, Sailing and Boating Organizations
SAIL, the Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes, is the regional sailing association for US Sailing and is headquartered in the
Sailors from the Rio Grande Sailing Club (RGSC) mostly sail at
The San Juan Sailing Club, consists of southwestern
BOC, the Boat Owners of Cochiti, are the no-rules sailing club. What they lack in facilities, they make up for in spirit. In a BOC “race”, a boat and crew that fall behind are allowed to use a motor to catch up with the rest of the fleet – and, presumably, with the supply of refreshing adult beverages.
See the link section of this web page for a link to the discussion group and site.
Buccaneer Fleet 30, Colorado
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