We started the weekend by driving over to Truman Lake Friday evening after work. I had always seen satellite images of the Tebo islands so was hoping to gunkhole around those islands. Imagery show trees on the coastline so navigating those island the first time wouldn't be wise in the dark.
Regardless, we were able to rig and launch by the end of twilight. We were on the water less than 5 minutes before it got dark. We steered up the Tebo arm under the cover of darkness.
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| I held the camera up to the Night Vision Scope... didn't work so well. |
Trees in the water are pretty much invisible until you're right on them. There was a half moon but its light was obscured by heavy cloud cover. I was reducing speed and preparing to retrieve the night vision scope from below when the depth went from 50ish feet to 20ft. All in a split second, mind you, we were in the middle of the Tebo arm far away from shore when I saw a tree top materialize 20 ft ahead bearing roughly 280 degrees (our 1 oclock position). I swerved port and barely kissed the top of another shorter tree. Enough to hear it but not enough to even scuff the boat. Close call...feeling like an idiot who was negligent, I steered toward deeper channel while Angie ran below and retrieved the night vision scope.
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| Our Anchorage for Friday Night. Tebo islands about a 1 mile west. |
She took the helm while I first surveyed the water around us with the scope (worth the money to have). I next went below to check all the lockers and bilge. All was good. I dug out the paper charts of Truman and spent some time looking over the depth topology. We decided to slowly ease into one of the larger bays/coves near us and save exploring the Tebo islands for a weekend when we have more daylight to navigate there.
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| Morning at the achorage, lots of fish breaking the water... |
I got us into a bay and Angie idled us into a cove with me on the bows with the night vision scope calling directions to her. The first cove was too small to swing on anchor with a disturbing number of trees so we motored to the next, larger cove.
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| Morning dew covering the decks and intruments at the helm... |
Angie inched us in, steering to my direction with my with the scope and she calling out depths to me. We found a nice spot and I set the anchor. We had a late dinner and headed for bed.
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| Angie and I sailing east towards the main Dam. |
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| Relaxing morning sail |
We had an appointment to meet a young couple (Kyle and Kelly) from the Kansas City area who were negotiating to by a macgregor at the same marina where we purchased Galactica. John, from super sport asked if we would take them for an introductory sail on our 26M. We planned to pick them up at noon at the sterett creek marina. After a relaxing morning and breakfast of fresh fruit, oatmeal and bacon from Jennings, we raised anchor and as soon as we cleared the cove, we raised full genoa and mainsail.
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| Angie sailing Galactica down the main channel... |
We sailed to the islands at the entrance to the sterett creek arm and then furled our sails and opened Galactica up to power the last mile to the marina where we met both Kyle and Kelly.
They're a very nice couple who were appreciative of the chance to sail and power a mac before buying one. As soon as we passed through the islands, I gave the helm to Kyle. We sailed past the dam and started down the main arm where we could only go about five miles due to a bridge crossing the lake.
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| Angie and Kelly with Kyle at the helm. |
As we were sailing, winds were mounting and a thunderstorm was blowing in to the north. We sailed at times around/over 6 knots. When the wind started to pick up to the point that we needed to furl the foresail or put a reef in the main, I lowered the sails and let Kyle power Galactica towards the state park marina. I figured we'd tie up and each lunch if that marina had a restaurant. There wasn't one; all the MTL marinas have a place to eat. As we were heading out, Kelly's father's boss passed us on a pontoon. Small world.
I decided to call it a day as the thunderstorm grew. I didn't want to de-rig in lightning and rain again...
Angie popped below and made a light lunch of blueberry muffins and peanut butter & Jelly tortillas. My hopes of impressing them with my mad docking skills were semi-thwarted by current and wind. We docked at the ramp without incident and pulled Galactica into the parking lot to de-rig. Kyle and Kelly stayed to help us lower the mast and prep for travel which went smoothly and was great experience for him.
It took a bit longer to de-rig as I was talking a lot about different aspects, plus&minus, tips and shortcuts. Right as I put on the last trailer tie down, it started drizzling off and on. Perfect timing! We parted ways. Angie and I headed home.
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| multiple storms were rolling in... |
Here is my YOUTUBE Video of this weekend's sail:
