About

Established in 1956, the Folsom Lake Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the Sacramento Region. FLYC's clubhouse overlooks the Brown's Ravine Boat Ramp at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in El Dorado Hills.

Mailing Address: Folsom Lake Yacht Club, 1290 Barrister Ct., Placerville, CA 95667

About Sailing on Folsom Lake

California State Parks charges $12 to drive into Folsom Lake SRA and $10 to launch a boat. A Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass (Good at 112 State Parks, including Folsom Lake SRA) with add-on Boat Use Annual Pass, costs $225. 

The best put-in location for sailing on Folsom Lake is Brown's Ravine in El Dorado Hills. No others are as well set up to accommodate sailboats. Both ramps at Brown's Ravine and Hobie Cove are located away from the wind, meaning that you will launch into the wind and return with the wind astern. Returning requires dousing sails well away from the dock, then drifting or rocking the boat to the dock. In light air, motoring in or paddling is recommended. In heavy air, it is advised to reduce sail and sail as slowly as possible while maintaining control, then turn 180° into the wind at the dock when it is clear of other boats.

Folsom Lake winds are best in daytime during spring and fall and in the evening during summer.  That is why FLYC schedules its races as it does ... to avoid still air and midday heat during summer, and cold air and water during winter.

As is typical of inland waters, Folsom Lake wind patterns are affected by: air pressure differences (low filling high), time of day, sunlight, cloud cover, geographic features, and weather fronts. Wind typically blows from the south, southwest and west (marks 5, 6 and 7).  Less common are winds from the northwest/north (marks 8, 1) and southeast (mark 4). Infrequent are winds from the northeast and east (marks 2 and 3); these mostly occur during mornings and evenings when the Delta Breeze isn't a factor. 

On Folsom Lake, three  principal geographic features affect wind: the Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley and the Delta. On summer mornings, light breezes will often spill out of the Sierra Nevada, but will shift 180° as the Valley warms. Conversely, the Delta is a conduit through which moderate breezes pass to cool the Valley on summer evenings. Nicknamed the Delta Breeze, this breeze actually originates in San Francisco Bay on summer days when it is hot in the Valley.

Wind shifts are common, any time of day at Folsom Lake. To accommodate for shifting wind conditions, FLYC employs an Olympic Circle for race courses. Eight marks are arranged in a circular pattern on the lake with Mark 1 being due north. This is shown on the Course Chart, seen on the Links page. 

Water temperature - In summer and fall, Folsom Lake's clear water is swimming pool warm. In winter and spring, Sierra snowmelt is ice cold. Capsized crews should be rescued as soon as possible in winter and spring, particularly if there is a breeze, as hypothermia can happen quickly.