Lake Champlain

Updated on October 13th, 2020

We’ve been sailing on Lake Champlain for the last six years, and Andy grew up sailing the lake in the ’90s. We have seen it at its best and at its worst and have a lot of respect for what the lake is capable of throwing at even the most seasoned sailors. Here are nine tips to help you enjoy sailing on Lake Champlain as much as we have!

Safety and Navigation

Use Navonics or Garmin for Depth Charts

One nice aspect of sailing on Lake Champlain is that you don’t have to worry about tides, but you do need to worry about the seasonal fluctuations in water levels.  According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the normal variation between yearly high and low water levels is about six feet. This may not sound like a lot but when you are dealing with shallow areas, and a lot of silting from boat traffic it can make a huge difference.  Most of the charts of Lake Champlain use a water level of 93ft.  

We have found that the Navionics/Garmin has the most accurate depths for shallow spots because they have user-generated data.  It is especially helpful in the Mallet’s bay cut because the last time the government sounded that area was in 1974.

We’ve run aground in spots that according to charts we should have had 3-4 feet of water under the hull so err on the side of caution!

Never Assume the Other Boat Knows the “Rules of the Road”

While completion of a boater safety course is required for anyone born after 1974 in the state of Vermont and all operators in the state of New York, experience tells us that not many people pay attention.  It is generally a good idea to never assume a boater will take the proper action but we find it even more important on the sometimes very crowded waters of Lake Champlain.  

This also goes for knowing how to properly set an anchor.  This last summer we watched a boat attempt to anchor 14 times.  Watch your neighbors as the anchor, if they are dropping and then flying into reverse, you may want to consider a change of scenery.  

Reef Sails Earlier Than You Might Think

The phrase “reef as soon as you think about it” may seem like overkill sometimes but it’s no joke on Lake Champlain. Wind direction is usually pretty consistent and general out of the south, but wind speeds can ramp up or down in the blink of an eye.  The whole lake is in a valley between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. It creates something akin to a wind tunnel. We’ve gone from completely becalmed to 25 knots in 5 minutes or less with none of the typical signs of a storm. I’m not sure about you but it takes us longer than 5 minutes to put a reef in the main.

Be Prepared for Rough Water

When most people think of lake sailing, they don’t think of dealing with being tossed around by waves.  Lake Champlain is 120 miles long and the middle part of the lake has very few islands to create wind buffers.  This can cause pretty big and closely stacked waves. We’ve regularly seen waves in the 5-6 foot range. We also have had several occasions where we were unable to make forward progress in our Alberg 30 and have to use alternate routes or stay put and wait it out.  Our biggest piece of advice is to pay close attention to the weather forecast, especially if you see multiple days with winds out of the south.

There are Extra Rules Around Waste Discharge

If you have a toilet onboard there are some extra rules in place on Lake Champlain. As with costal water rules, you must have a holding tank, but you also must disconnect and cap all lines leading to overboard discharge. The Coast Guard, state and local police are able to check compliance and they can fine or prosecute you. If you are unsure how to disable your overboard discharge, your local marina should be able to help.

A couple of thought-provoking facts to keep you from discharging your waste:

• Lake Champlain provides drinking water for almost 200,000 people.
• The Lake Champlain Basin Program estimates the time water in the middle of the lake is retained by the lake as around three years. That’s right, your poo could be in the lake for three years.

Many Places Offer Free Pump-Outs!

The good news is that many marinas offer free pump-outs through Clean Vessel Act grants. There is even an app that gives you the locations and costs of pump-outs all over the lake! Check out the Pumpout Nav app. We haven’t paid for a pump-out in two years thanks to this great service!

Communication While Sailing on Lake Champlain

Learn a Few French Phrases

Even though only a tiny portion of the lake is actually in Quebec, the majority of sailors on Lake Champlain are from the French-speaking Canadian province.  Best way to tell? What flag are they flying? A Canadian flag almost always means a crew’s primary language is French. We’ve found it rare that our Canadian friends don’t speak English but it is helpful to know a few Quebecois phrases. It is pretty fun to hear multiple languages spoken in an anchorage!  

Also, the Lake Champlain Sailors facebook group in French is the most informative and active!

Cell Signals Can Be Low or Non-Existant

Even in really popular anchorages like Valcour Island or Burton Island, a cell signal can be hard to come by. You shouldn’t rely solely on your cell phone for communication and should have a radio. Also, if you use your phone or a tablet for navigation, be sure to download any charts you may need before setting out.

Anchoring on Lake Champlain

Wind Effects Water Depth

We’ve already covered that there are no tides on Lake Champlain but there is a phenomenon known as seiche. This is essentially when the wind piles water up in one part of the lake. This is most typically seen in the North, but useful to keep in mind in most areas. If the wind has been out of the same direction for an extended period, it could raise (or lower) the water level by up to a foot.

Most Anchorages Have a Mud or Clay Bottom

Once you set the anchor you are typically set, so much so that it can sometimes be hard to get yourself unset!  Our Bruce anchor loves it, but it can make a serious mess when you’re pulling up the anchor.  You’ll want to fire up your deck wash and give your chain and anchor a spray down while pulling up the hook.

You Can Go from 10 Feet to 100 Feet Depth in the Span of a Boat Length

Lake Champlain was carved by glaciers, which means that where it’s deep, it is deep and gets so quickly.  This can make anchoring a challenge.  You could be 30 feet from land and in 80-100 ft of water.  Med mooring can be really useful in certain anchorages. Willsboro Bay, Sloop and Spoon on Valcour, and the smaller New York side anchorages in the south just to name a few.

Enjoying the Lake

Check the Water Quality Before Swimming

The water in Lake Champlain is typically safe to swim in, but during the summer there can be times that the lake experiences cyanobacteria blooms.  This is especially common during August as the warmer temperatures can contribute to the issue. The cyanobacteria love nitrogen and phosphorus which are two main ingredients in fertilizer.  When run-off from farms ends up in the lake it causes the perfect environment for the bacteria to grow.  The State of Vermont offers a water quality map that is updated daily during the summer months. 

Never Let Your Dog Drink the Lake Water

You should never allow your dog to drink untreated lake water, as they can be just as susceptible to cyanobacteria as people. We bring extra water for Aiden when we go on hikes because he is a big puddle drinker. We just clip his collapsible water bowl to our day pack and stop regularly to allow him to drink from that.

Watch out for Invasive Species

Lake Champlain has not been spared the proliferation of invasive species in US waterways.  The two biggest issues while sailing on Lake Champlain are Zebra Mussels and Euroasian Watermilfoil (commonly known as just milfoil).  

Zebra Mussels arrived on the lake around 1993, and have been causing problems ever since.  They will cut your feet, stick to your boat, anchor chain, and dingy. It can also be a problem with water intakes so be sure to inspect seasonally.

Euroasian Watermilfoil is a plant species that grows very densely.  This can cause issues for while anchoring. What may feel like setting your anchor into the lake bed, may actually be just tangling it in milfoil.  We recommend back down on a set anchor just a little more than you think necessary. On multiple occasions, we’ve broken free and pulled the anchor up to find it covered in milfoil.

It is really important to prevent the spread of invasive species.  Whether you are bringing a boat to or from Lake Champlain, be sure to follow all recommendations for boat washing.  It is the single best thing you can do to stop invasive species spread.

Helpful Links:

• Lake Champlain Marine Forecasts
• Lake Champlain Water Quality
• NOAA Lake Champlain Chart Booklet
• Lake Champlain Basin Program
• Coast Guard Lake Champlain Facebook Page
• Lake Champlain Sailors Facebook Page
• Pumpout Nav App
• Navionics App

We love sailing on Lake Champlain and hope you will too! Check out our Lake Champlain Sailing videos on our YouTube Channel!