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It affects wind, cloud formation, and precipitation patterns several miles inland during summer, and exerts far more powerful "lake effects" in winter. For snow enthusiasts the Tug Hill region lake's east end sometimes boasts the highest seasonal totals on the east coast.

The lake's south shore offers a variety of habitats to tourists with an interest in nature and a few days to explore here. There is

excellent hiking by its beaches at several state owned sites between Sodus and Fair Haven Bays and at Fair Haven State Park and public access to protected waters at the large south shore bays between Rochester and Oswego. Kayak and canoe enthusiasts find calm waters among the marshes, forests and scrubland of several public areas near my home. I've seen basking turtles by the score, beaver, muskrat, heron and osprey in south shore creeks and marshes here.

A life long lake watcher, I find sailing is an especially satisfying way to interact with the lake's natural forces. Slipping away for a sunset, then enjoying the gentle night breeze under a star filled sky is a favored August ritual. Earlier in the summer, while winter's chill still lingers in the lake's depths, strange horizons appear as looming mirages shift and change. And late in the sailing season after the summer tourists have gone, is the time of migrant ducks, geese, coots, mergansers, and increasingly often , tundra swans. (October is also an excellent time for paddlers to enjoy marsh areas here).

I began my sailing career in 1967 with a small elderly sloop, a wooden 19 foot Lightning and I still enjoy messing with little boats. Later I "graduated" to the 23 footer described in "Ariel's World". More recently a 32 foot Chris Craft Cherokee has been our "magic carpet" to take us to special places like Dutch Man's Bay and Main Duck Island.

Perhaps some of the charm of sailing is that it helps us see ordinary things as anything but. It's easy to take a body of water that seemingly changes little from day to day for granted. But as you travel its waters under sail, you see the lake for what it is, constantly changing, dynamic, full of mystery, intrigue and challenge. This great lake is also a great place!

If you are an out of town resident reading this who would like to sample the lake with Silver Waters Sailing we can send you a list of nearby accommodations and other things to do during a vacation in the area. Or visit the chamber of commerce website for Fair  Haven Two B&B’s that my sailing students  have stayed at recently are Maple Grove B & B in Sterling, a 65 acre farm with goats, gardens and more, and the Pleasant Beach Hotel and restaurant in Fair Haven