Memorial Day Weekend Sail

Mark Twain Lake (Saturday)  Winds S/SSE 9 mph Temp 91 degrees

11 Miles sailed.

Galactica prepped and waiting to leave...

By Friday afternoon, Galactica was prepped and ready to begin the weekend.  I invited a couple friends from my work to go on a day sail with us on Saturday or Sunday, whichever worked into their schedules.  

Angie, Aaron & Robyn waiting to cast off...

Angie and I got a late start Saturday morning but had Galactica rigged and on the water by lunchtime.   We steamed over to the Blackjack marina where we were scheduled to meet with Aaron and Robyn.

A local BBQ shack from Perry, Missouri had opened up a marina BBQ so after loading Aaron and Robyn's gear onto Galactica, we ate lunch at the BBQ restaurant.  Pretty good BBQ!

Aaron

Robyn

After sailing around for a couple hours, we sailed into half moon cove and splashed the danforth.  We swam and relaxed in the cool water much of the afternoon. 

Angie and Robyn

At 6pm, the sailing association was having a dock walk at Blackjack.   A couple boats were providing meals for current and alumni sailors. 

Swimming break in half moon cove...

After socializing for a couple hours, Aaron and Robyn headed home while Angie and I motored over to Ski cove in an attempt to set the anchor before it got too dark out.   It would have been perfect for a sunset sail!

Dock Walk, some boats hosted dinner, others hosted dessert!

Long after dark, the 32' Oday, Wild Goose, arrived and set its anchor in a little side cove in Ski cove.

MTL (Sunday)  Winds S/SSE 14-17mph with gusts up to 24.  95 degrees

19 miles sailed.
We piddled around half the morning, relaxing and reading.

Looking at the mast from the vberth...

Breakfast outside!

After a late breakfast, Angie and I went for a swim.   When she got out to layout on deck, I grabbed my waterproof camera and swam down the cove to where Wild Goose rode at anchor.

Galactica sitting at anchor in Ski Cove...

  Jeff and Liz were reading and relaxing on deck.  I swam around the boat taking a few pictures as the got underway to sail over to the Florida pool which was about 7 or 8 miles away. 

Swimming up to Wild Goose!  ( I like this picture )

After about a 1/2 hour, we also got underway.   It was a long beat up to the florida pool but with the winds, it was a fabulous sail!   We were close hulled for several hours with the mainsail reefed and the 150 Genoa fully deployed.

Angie totally relaxed and enjoying the great sailing!

This much sail in those conditions was a bit much and had us heeling 25 to 35 degrees.  I could have reduced sail but both Angie and I were having too much fun.  I spend the whole time trying to point her as close to the wind as she could possible sail!

Doug and Angie, sailing was phenomenal!!!

We rounded up a few times during particularly strong gusts.   Angie had battened everything down quite well that morning knowing that the winds were going to be strong.  Even so, during one gust, the corningware bowls slid over the shelf fiddle and broke on the deck/wall of the boat!

There were 7 or 8 other sailboats playing in the wide waters of the florida pool.  This area is great for sailing however, there is a long shoal sticking quite a ways out  from shore and must be avoided.   Wild Goose went in to Indian Creek Marina for ice cream.   Angie and I did too.   The only place for us to dock was at the end of the gas pump dock.   We went in for Ice cream.   It took about an hour to get ours.   The marina was extremely busy.

Galactica docked at the end of the fuel dock. Indian Creek Marina

Florida pool, Mark Twain Lake

After we left Indian Creek's harbor, we  powered then power-sailed under full Genoa to Cathedral cove where we me up and rafted Galactica alongside of DragonFly, Higher Porpoise, Wild Goose.

Capt. Doug...Cathedral cove

Cathedral Cove raft up

After another evening swim, chicken and brocolli grilled on Galactica's magma, I loaded pyrodex into Galactica's signal cannon and mounted it onto the bow.  I called everyone's attention and fired a large sunset salute!

Liz and Angie swimming in Cathedral Cove

4 of the 5 boats to raft up that night in Cathedral Cove.

As darkness approached, Steve and Hazel on Rogue a.k.a. 'Blown Away' arrived with their 34' Hunter.  The 8 of us boarded as she came alongside, leaving Stormy on Higher Porpoise to guard the fleet.

Winds were back down to 9 mph out of the SSE and the moon was waxing half full.   This make for a wonderful night sail under Rogue's Genoa.  She's a fast boat!

Upon returning, we each returned to our boats and Tom brought out his guitar to sing old sailing songs and make up new ones!

MTL (Monday) Winds S/SSE 17-21 mph

In the morning, after breakfast and some time reading,  weather reports showed a massive thunderstorm skirting across the west and north.   Things turned foul with ligtning as we powered back to the ramp some 12 miles away. 

Fleeing before the storm..

 
After a short wait at the ramp, we docked Galactica and loaded her back onto her trailier.

I needed a dodger to avoid the spray...

 

I was soaked, good thing it was warm!

The storm blew past as we drove home.   On highway 70, the left trailer tire lost about 1/3 of its tread, shattering the fiberglass fender on the left side so that it now matched the one on the right which was damaged in Georgia last fall.
 
Changing the drivers side tire on interstate 70 with no real shoulder and Memorial Day drive zooming by at 70+pmh just a few feet away teaches you the meaning of 'haste'.   I changed it quite quickly... with the boat wobbling on the jack as 50,000 lb 18 wheelers sped past.

Not fun changing a tire in traffic!

 
I've bought new radial 10 ply trailer tires to replace the cheap factor biased tires.
 
Here are a pair of videos that I put together.
 
Saturday, Part 1

 Sunday & Monday, Part 2