Enjoy the most beautiful stretch of water in the Sierra Nevada

Sailing on the lake is not that common. The lake covers an area of 500 km2, and gusts of wind, and even storms, are not uncommon, especially at the change of season. So you need to be an experienced sailor before embarking on this type of boating.

For the same reasons that San Francisco is windy, so is Lake Tahoe. The heat of the valley creates a depression with the coolness of the lake, which generates violent winds. As a result, the wind picks up every afternoon as soon as the valley warms up. You need to be aware of this as soon as you set sail on the lake, especially with a sailboat.

You can hire a sailing boat with or without a skipper. They are generally smaller than motorboats. So if you're in a group, it's worth weighing up these two means of navigation.

Rentals start at $140 for a sailboat with skipper for an hour, and from $500 for a day. There are plans that can cost you less than a hotel and still deliver on the promise of an entire stay on the water and, from time to time, in it too. It's up to you to find them.

We love Lake Tahoe for its tranquillity. That's why motorboats and jet-skis are frowned upon by holidaymakers, whether American or foreign. So be careful to keep noise pollution to a minimum. The advantage is that motorboats are faster and you don't need to master the art of sailing. That said, there are a number of rules to be observed:

• Firstly, two-stroke carburettor engines are prohibited. You won't have to worry about this if you hire a boat.
• Secondly, you must respect the no-wake zone, which extends six hundred feet (183 m) from the shore all around the lake. In this zone, speed is limited to 5 MPH.
• In the waterways of the lake, you must not make any noise. If you play music, it must be kept as low as possible. Shouting is also prohibited in these areas, but also if you are close to other boaters outside these zones. Remember that on the water, sound carries.
• In theory, you could be inspected by the rangers for the presence of harmful lake animals such as the quagga mussel. If you tell the authorities that you have hired the boat on the lake and can produce the hire contract, it will be quickly seen to.
• As on the road, it is forbidden to drink alcohol on the lake. Drinking is a federal offence punishable by prison sentences and fines. So be serious. If you drink, it's because another driver is behind the wheel.
• Filling up on the lake is frowned upon because of the risk of pollution. It's better to fill up on dry land. Here again, if you have hired your boat, it is the responsibility of the hire company, which knows the customs of the lake.
• It is, of course, forbidden to empty into the lake.

Another option is to hire a pontoon-boat, which you can also hire for several days. These are good-capacity boats capable of accommodating up to ten people, depending on the model, at attractive rates, with sliding scale prices over several days. They are relatively easy to handle, fast and comfortable, and you can of course hire a skipper. As an added bonus, this vehicle can carry paddles and wakeboards, and even kayaks because of its capacity.

With this in mind, let yourself be tempted by the Floating Waterpark Pontoon, a pontoon boat equipped with a slide (accessible from the roof) and a trampoline that will allow you to do an aerobatic manoeuvre before ending up in the water. Holds up to 12 people.

Several providers offer charter-style cruises. The crew tell you what you need to know while you are served a glass of champagne. It's a pleasant, perhaps even romantic way to admire the sunset, perhaps over a good meal.

Tahoe Sailing Charters, for example, offers its 50-foot Tahoe Cruz, a sailing yacht capable of taking 25 people out on the waters of the lake. It sails 7 days a week and offers all the guarantees of a successful outing, with music on board, quality beer, chardonnay and soft drinks included in the package. The captain is a US Coast Guard-certified skipper. Standard trips are two hours during the day. Outings are also available at the end of the day.

The Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club, based in South Lake Tahoe, organises races in summer, which are open to non-members.

A popular excursion is the VIKINGSHOLM BY BOAT! from mid-June to the end of September. The tour departs from ROUND HILL PINES BEACH RESORT, in Zephyr Cove (west shore), crosses the lake and then plunges into the formidable [merald Bay, ending up on dry land to visit the Vikingholm mansion.