Delta Sailing Association

The beach in front of the DSA lot at Hernando Point on Arkabutla Lake is undergoing extensive remediation by the Corps of Engineers.

The uneven sand and mud humps are being smoothed out and the heavy vegetation that has crept onto the beach in the last few years of low water is being removed. A small crew of DSA volunteers removed the Association’s docks on December 1 for the season.

DSA representatives met with local Corps officials to discuss the problems that weeds and sand ridges had created for recreational sailors. The Corps was very agreeable to undertaking work to make the beach on the west side of the ramp as user friendly as the beach on the east side of the ramp, and work was begun in mid-December 2007.

Additionally, the Corps shared some long range plans that envision a greater recreational role for Hernando Point and a possible doubling of the launch ramp width. No timeline can be given at this point. In meeting with the Corps officials, one of the goals of DSA’s elected officers was to stress the importance of a good sailing season in 2008, water permitting.

The water level is out of the hands of both the local Corps and the DSA, but the Corps was as eager as the sailors to see the physical facilities, including the beach, in as good a shape as possible for the 2008 sailing season.

RAIN REQUIRED, that is the current state of sailing at Hernando point.

2007 is first year that the regatta known as Hernado Desoto was canceled out of 52 previous events due to lack of water. We plan o­n having water o­n hand for the Cotton Pickin Regatta this September. The Docks will be launch as soon as we have a water level of at lest 216.Hope to see everyone at the lake soon

The Commodore

WANTED: RAIN! April 16, 2007 -- What Arkabutla Lake needs now is rain – lots of it.

As of mid-April 2007 Arkabutla Lake’s water level was at least five feet below what is needed to launch a boat at Hernando Point. Also as of mid-April the whole Mid-South was about five inches short of the rainfall normal for this time of year and that is on top of a shortage in 2006. The Corps of Engineers normally does not close the gates at Arkabutla Lake Dam to accumulate a recreational pool until May 1, and there is no indication they will do any different this year. Manipulating the gates prior to then will depend on rainfall amounts and the Corp’s mandate to control flooding in the Yazoo Valley.

Whether there will be enough water for sailing events planned by DSA for mid-May is fully dependent on how much rain we get. Sailing is a connection of faith with nature anyway, so based on that, we’ll look forward to getting on the Lake sometime this year. Meanwhile, some DSA members are trailering their boats to venues in the area that have water.

DSA's docks were disassembled and moved up onto the lot on December 9 and should be safe from winter storms and water fluctuations until sailing season starts next spring.  Thanks to all the stalwart members who showed up in the sub-freezing temps.

By the time next season starts, Delta Sailing Association hopes to have a new standing seam steel roof and new skylights installed on the head.  In early 2006 we had the same kind of rugged roof put on the pavilion.

The sailing season has ended at the DSA lot at Hernando Point on Arkabutla Lake with the water at a low pool with lots of beach. The off-season has its own attractions on bright fall and winter weekend afternoons. Delta Sailing Association's annual business meeting will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 7:00 PM in Room C of the Memphis Central Library on Poplar Ave. All members are welcome as we plan for 2007.