Lake #3: Crossing Lake Atter
by Selim E. on Fri, 21st, Sep 2018
Lake Atter It is still dark when I start the engine of my car and head for crossing of lake number 3 – Lake Atter (Attersee). Weather reports have told me that I must expect a base wind of 4-6kn from south and gusts up to 10kn. From my research with Google Maps and some phone calls to local harbors I found that a public slipway exists in Unterach (southernmost town) and a private one in Schörfling (northernmost town). When I arrive at Unterach, I am pretty alone at that time of the day. I buy a coffee at the Strandcafe and then I start preparing my Weta. Meanwhile some motorboaties have arrived at the slipway and start watering their boats.
Planned and actual track for crossing Lake Atter At around 10:30 I am in the water ready to start my South-to-North crossing of Austria’s third largest lake and the largest completely located in Austria (compared to Lake Neusiedl and Lake Constance which Austria shares with other countries). A breeze with around 8kn lets me get excited as I did not expect that much wind. A cool breeze is blowing from South and after a mile suddenly changes direction to North. It is magnificent to plough through the dark blue waters of Lake Attersee.
High mountains of southern part of Lake Atter, Sechserkogel Again, at that time of the day I am the first to sail -except the motor boaties. I extremely enjoy the unique scenery with sharp mountains surrounding this part of the lake. It is such a contrast to my first crossings where the shoreline appeared mostly flat and monotone. I proceed quite fast until I reach Buchenort – a small village on the western shore. While tacking against the wind I pass by the deepest point of the lake with around 170m. Then, wind decreases and I slow down to about one knot. The lull continues and I decide to paddle. I developed a technique where I set the rudder a little out of midships which allows me to paddle on one side of the middle hull. While paddling I achieve a speed at around 2 knots. Some intermediate gusts let me proceed until latitude Zell am Attersee. At this time of the day I have already spent around 3 hours on water and I am extremely disappointed when a complete lull sets in. I literally pray to god (I am an atheist!) to send me a breeze. Imagine how speechless I was when suddenly a motor boat with a white haired and bearded man (god?) appears alongside and offers me to tow me until village Attersee. In my desperate situation I say yes although I have the feeling that I disqualified myself from my own goal “to cross Lake Attersee by sail”.
God? ;) giving me a lift After fifteen minutes we arrive at latitude Attersee and I get dropped in the middle of a breeze which blows me towards Weyregg. There the wind increases suddenly to 10 and more knots. Now, I am able to run with wind abeam at about 6knots speed. - what a joy! Due to time restrictions I decide to head towards Litzlberg where I intend to draw my boat out from water at a public beach. As I approach the shore I spot a small sailing club near the beach with a slipway. Not knowing whether they let me ashore I decide to give it try and start steering my boat into the small and shallow harbor. Luckily, an extremely friendly club manager let me go ashore for free and even offers me a hand for pulling out my boat. At 4pm I call a taxi to bring me to my car in Unterach.
Rethinking the day and my prior crossings I decide to pay more attention with regard to the wind for future lake crossings. A stable and gentle breeze (wind force 3) is the minimum requirement for future crossing, especially for the large lakes ahead – Lake Constance and Lake Geneva. However, I am proud and satisfied to have accomplished the crossing of the third lake within two weeks.
Trip details
Trip length: 10.8nm (20.1km)
Hours on water: .hours (10:40 until 15:40)
Start location: Unterach Strandbad
End location: Litzlberg, Segelclub Kammer
Some more photos here..
Early morning drive towards Lake Atter, sails in the back Unterach harbor and slipway Me switching on GoPro High mountains of southern part of Lake Atter, Schoberstein and Sechserkogel Me and mountain Schoberstein in the back Meeting a gull on latitude Steinbach Mountainous east shore of Lake Atter Tacking in almost no winds Catching light airs with screetcher Read about the
"Seven Lakes Crossing" project..