Introductory Sail and Tebo Gunkhole...

Truman Lake - 11&12 May, 2012

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.



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. 

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.

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.

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.

Angie and I sailing east towards the main Dam.

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.

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.

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. 

multiple storms were rolling in...

Hopefully, Kyle can buy his mac.  We can meet up on some lakes and sail the two macs together.

Here is my YOUTUBE Video of this weekend's sail:

http://youtu.be/W3Yjp6l06vY (Introduction to a 26M, Galactica)

Sunday Sail, Truman Lake

38.294551,-93.367943, Truman Lake Missouri

My son Derek came home from College in South Dakota this weekend. We headed out early Sunday morning for a day on the lake. This time, I drug Galactica to Truman Lake.

We put in at Sterett Creek Public Access at Sterett Creek Marina. The parking lot was packed. It was difficult to find a place to park to rig the boat. The spaces are tight.

After rigging Galactica, we put in and immediately out of the no wake zone, Derek took the helm while I pulled the boots off off the Genoa and Mainsail. We putted out away from the cove and dropped all three fins: two rudders and the dagger board. rounded up into the wind and hoisted the mainsail then the Genoa.

I took the helm, shut off the motor and let the boat fall off the wind until we were on a starboard tack and moving pretty well. The wind was around 14 knots. We beat to windward for the next 4 or 5 hours.

Eventually, the wind began picking up. I'm comfortable with 15 to 20 degree heel. I admit, when it pops over to 30 degrees lean, I get a bit exhilerated with one hand tight on the main sheet. As some catspaws became more and more visible, we furled the Genoa. The Main Sail alone was enough and we went from a constant 20 degree heel to 10.

We ended up at the main channel not far from the Truman State Park Marina. I wanted to check out that facility before heading back home so we lowered the main sail and started up the motor. I saw a number of masts in the marina so we ghosted into the marina and explored, looking at the sailboats and for other Macgregors. We headed over to a cove dropped the anchor and swam for a short while before we needed to be back at the ramp, de-rigging so we could get home for Sunday family dinner.

As we approached Sterett Creek, I dropped to a slow crawl and helped Derek put the black main sail boot on. We let the boats clear out from the ramp so that we had our choice of docks. There was a very strong current pushing towarded the ramp at a slight angle with a very strong wind at our backs. We put Galactica up to the ramp dock and secured a couple of spring lines. While I ran up to get the tow beast, a lot of boats rushed up. Ominus storm clouds were building and rumbling in the distance; yet the ramp was hot and sunny.

I had to wait a while in line to get onto the ramp as there were boats dropping off and picking up.

Conditions were deteriorating. I noticed that in the close park spaces, someone bumped the new starboard fender and broke off my new running light. sigh. We loaded Galactica onto her trailer and began de-rigging. As we were disconnecting the Genoa furler, the storm started blowing in. The Lake was white with thousands of catspaws. Thunder and lighting began as close as 2 miles away as I lowered the mast. As I tied the mast down and we secured the boat for travel, stinging rain hit.

Poor Derek was sun-burned and he said it was hurting. We had pulled our shirts off to keep them dry. A front hit with 40-50 mph winds as I finished securing everything. We couldn't see as we hopped in the truck. I had to do a brake-bump twice to seat the boat forward enough. I have removed rollers from my old trailer and will install them on Galactica's trailer to eliminate the need to bump the boat forward.

At least all the heavy rains as we left cleaned the hull off! All in all, it was a GREAT day on the water!

Here is a video Sailing Galactica on Truman Lake with Derek manning the Genny Sheets!

Planning next sailventure! Truman Lake!

Although this weekend would have been perfect sailing, my honey-doo list is long. Having to stay home and work around the farm.

Hopefully, the weather will hold and stay great for next weekend. I want to put in at Sterett Creek Access on Harry S. Truman reservoir and sail up to the Tebo islands to gunkhole there.

Truman lake is one of my favorite Missouri lakes!