Lakes bay

1) Comfort Inn on U.S. Rt 40

FIG. 1 view of the Lake's bay launch area looking West on a late summer afternoon (to view a photo: if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed. To zoom back out, use "control -". If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo and then select "View Image")

There are actually two windsurfing launches into Lake's Bay, the Primary 
one being behind the Comfort Inn in Rt 40.  This primary launch is best for 
seabreezes when the wind is Southerly, but works in most other wind 
directions as well.  This primary launch at the Hotel is worst in a N or NE 
wind, which is offshore.  When the wind is N or NE, one should consider 
launching into Lake's Bay from the boat ramp at the end of N Dorsett Ave 
in Ventnor Heights (see at the end (FIGS. 9 and 10) for a description of 
the Dorset Ave launch) 

Venue faces SSW out through a channel that eventually leads to the ocean.  Site
 is renown for thermals (i.e., seabreezes), which occur in hot afternoons, often
 in the months of May, June and July.  Even in low tide, water is usually deep
 enough for a 50 cm fin. Site is near coast and can work in other wind
 directions too, such as W or NW.  Must pay parking fee of $10/day or $40 per
 year to owner of Extreme Windsurfing (and he does not make money on this, it is
 required by the owner of the Hotel) The shop "Extreme Windsurfing", which
 is on site and open during the high season of May thru early October, can be
 handy if you forget something or something breaks.  Or, if you are so 
inclined, you can come without gear and rent gear or take lessons from Extreme on site.

Directions:  The primary Lake's bay launch is located behind the Comfort Inn in West Atlantic City.  
Do Not use US 40 from Delaware Memorial Bridge.  Take either NJ
 Turnpike to exit 3 or I295 North 26 miles after Delaware Memorial Bridge.  Get
 on NJ Rt 42 South to Atlantic City Expressway (ACE) (easier said than done for
 first timers---consult mapquest!!)  If exit 3 is taken off NJ turnpike, may
 use NJ Rt 168 S/E to get to NJ RT 42  to take you to the ACE.  If I295 north
 is taken from the Delaware Memorial Bridge, at about 25 miles north, you may
 have to first catch an expressway heading west towards Philly, and then turn
 around at an exit interchange while still within NJ, and come back east to
 pick up NJ Rt 42 south.  NJ Rt 42 is an expressway that leads to the ACE. 
 The ACE begins at its western end at mile 44 and then decreases towards
 Atlantic city.  Take ACE east to mile 7 exit for Garden State Parkway South. 
 Stay in right lane and immediately exit GSP.  Follow signs for US 40 East
 (Blackhorse Pike). Drive to near mile post 61 on Blackhorse Pike (about 5
 miles) to where there is a Comfort Inn on the right.  Turn into the Hotel and
 proceed to the back thereof.

FIG. 2A view of Lakes Bay launch area looking East on a busy hot summer afternoon

FIG. 2B view of the Hotel in front of launch from US Rt 40

FIG. 3A View of the Extreme Windsurfing storefront @ Lake's bay with owner Jim Karabasz saying "Hi",

FIG. 3B view of additional storage sheds and the Extreme van--figure out why the store can offer 20% off discounts?

FIG. 4A aerial views respectively of the Lake's bay launch area

FIG. 4A aerial views respectively of the Lake's bay launch area As of 2008, there is no shower facility on site. It is therefore recommended that you bring a sun shower. However, you are allowed to use the restroom inside the Hotel.

Just as Dewey Beach DE is a best choice in early Spring and in the Fall, Lake's bay is a "best choice" on hot afternoons in Late Spring and Early to Mid Summer. Can often get an afternoon of planing in at this time of year. Consult a forecast engine or engines such as iwindsurf, the Atlantic city press or whatever before making arrangements to come. Site is so good that many a Canadians forget about the OBX and Hatteras and instead catch the seabreezes at Lakes bay.

FIG. 6 view of sailors on a starboard tack returning to the launch on a late summer thermal Lake's bay is suitable for Kiteboarding, but not at the Hotel, but at PT point 1/2 mile east of the Hotel. There is a locked gate crossing the road about 100 feet short of the launch. Kiteboarders may carefully park outside the gate and then enter on foot, or join the LBRA by becoming a member and paying a fee. LBRA is a non-profit that seeks to make sure that PT point remains accessible to windsurfers and kiteboarders and to prevent the proliferation of garbage at the point. LBRA members can then get through the gate and park their cars just feet from the launch. Also the business "Extreme Windsurfing" does not rent gear to and does not support Kiteboarders and is a separate entity from the LBRA.

FIG. 7 view of the launch area and the Extreme business on a busy summer afternoon On iwindsurf.com the sensor's name for Lake's bay changes, and was last moved to PT point and is labeled "PT point" for the ships that were there during WWII. Lake's bay is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from DC and about a 3 hour drive from Baltimore. Lakes bay is situated about 3 miles from central Atlantic city in or near Pleasantville, NJ or West Atlantic City, NJ. Travelers from Baltimore and Washington are strongly encouraged to subscribe to EZ pass and attach the sensor to your car as there are a lot of toll booths along the journey.

The other Lake's Bay launch is located at the North end of N Dorset Ave at Burke Ave in Ventnor Heights. At the North end of Dorset Ave is a parking area and a boat ramp. This launch into Lake's Bay is best when the winds are out of the N or NE and it is not low tide. To launch, one must sail between two islands to reach the open water. In low tide, this can be difficult as the water is shallow and the bottom is very muddy.

FIG. 10 view of the parking area for the boat ramp into Lake's Bay at the end of Dorset Ave (to view a photo: if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed. To zoom back out, use "control -". If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo and then select "View Image")

Additional Notes by Felix Cabrera circa 1990: "This location is a favorite for the Atlantic City area. A rental shop is situated on site. They sell from screws to boards just in case you break down and don't have spares. Sail all day and drink all night for free at the casinos! Cautions [include] low tide [that] can be tough on fins near shore. Watch out for channel markers close to shore. They look like broomsticks in the water standing straight up. The bottom is muddy so you may experience a quicksand effect if you fall in a standing area. Beware of crab traps as well. Otherwise a pretty good place to sail a 5.0m² summer thermal which is very common here. Past the channel, [the] average depth is 3-5 feet."