Captain's Log 2015June 28, 2015:
WooHoo! I finally get to add the 2015 button! The weather this year has been the most annoying I can remember in some time. I was so excited late February and early April. The temps were in the upper 60's and low 70's. Perfect for getting all the pre-season work completed. Chameleon got a thorough bath and wax job plus all the annual maintenance chores completed. It was the earliest I have ever been ready to hit the lake. Then things turned cold again and began to rain. Now, this is not unusual for early spring in Missouri by any means. What was unusual is it simply didn't stop once it got started. We managed to receive four days in May that it didn't rain or thunderstorm and none of those fell on a weekend when we could get the boat out. |
Photo courtesy of Paradise Point Yacht Club
|
Not that we had many lake options we could take the boat to. The docks at all local lakes are submerged. Smithville sustained a lot of damage to their facilities along with several power boats that sunk at the docks due to rain accumulating in the boats. June started out not much better. We also threw into the mix an awesome family vacation in Virginia which covered two weekends .
This weekend looked to be the first perfect weekend for sailing. Saturday was forecast to be 80* with 7-10 mph winds. Friday night I spent two hours getting everything prepped for an early start so I re-washed the boat, again (amazing how dirty it can get sitting in the boathouse), hooked up the trailer, checked all the tire's pressures and the Hummer's fluids. Everything was good to go.
I got up early Saturday and stepped outside to greet a spectacular day. The sun was shining. Temps were cool. Everything was perfect except... Absolutely NO wind! Nadda! Zip! I spent the whole day anticipating even a hint of something that could push me across the water but it never came. Oh well, there is still Sunday however they were predicting 70% chance of severe thunderstorms. Yeah, there's a surprise!
Sunday arrives bright and clear, WITH wind! They are still saying high chance of storms by 1600 this afternoon but that is several hours away so we are going for it. We get set up and are on the lake by 1045. The temp is 74 but forecast to reach 95 later today. They did get that much correct, however the predicted storms never arrive. YEA! Winds were pretty stiff at 15-18 mph sustained, gusting higher, so we sailed with only the main up. Caught a lot of spray because the lake was so choppy but that was OK because the temp was heating up and the occasional splash was refreshing. At one point I looked down and saw we were doing 4.0 knts. Not bad for just the main but we didn't beat our record of 4.9knts. I guess the Admiral had lost her sea legs over the winter and it was fun to hear her squeal whenever a gust would suddenly push us to a 20 degree heel. We heard that sound often today! Perhaps I'm becoming better at sailing since for some reason we were able to tack easily today unlike previous outings where we sailed with only the main up. For lunch we dined on roasted chicken with corn chips and humus prepared in our galley. For some reason everything is better when eaten in the fresh air. We continued to sail a few more hours until finally we could no longer stand the heat and pulled off the lake around 1500. There were so many boats at the ramp that we spent a good 15-20 minutes circling in the no wake zone waiting our turn to tie up. It never fails to amaze me how inconsiderate and/or just incompetent a lot of the boaters are who use Longview. You would think by now I would be used to it. On a positive side though, there was a young fella 10 to 12 years of age, who had just gotten off the boat on the other side of the dock watching our approach. When we came along side he offered to take our aft dock line. I was a bit concerned if the boat may pull all of his 90lbs into the lake if she should drift out but the wind was pushing us toward the dock and he still had his life jacket on so it was just a quick passing thought. I tossed the line to him. Not only was he able to catch my toss, he immediately pulled us in and tied us off with a text-book perfect cleat hitch. I commended him on his knot tying abilities and mentioned that 99% of the people here would not be able to replicate this feat. Kudos to him and his teacher!
Take down went just as smooth as the setup did. We may finally be getting the hang of this stuff! Hopefully I didn't just jinx out next outing. The only small problem I discovered was the fuel line at the quick connect on the motor seems to be leaking slightly. About a drop every 30-40 seconds. Hopefully it will only require a tightening of the hose clamp but I will check into that later this week. For now the crew and I will stick a fork in it (the day, not the fuel line (because that would be weird, and maybe dangerous)...). We are all sun fried and dog tired. It was a good day!
This weekend looked to be the first perfect weekend for sailing. Saturday was forecast to be 80* with 7-10 mph winds. Friday night I spent two hours getting everything prepped for an early start so I re-washed the boat, again (amazing how dirty it can get sitting in the boathouse), hooked up the trailer, checked all the tire's pressures and the Hummer's fluids. Everything was good to go.
I got up early Saturday and stepped outside to greet a spectacular day. The sun was shining. Temps were cool. Everything was perfect except... Absolutely NO wind! Nadda! Zip! I spent the whole day anticipating even a hint of something that could push me across the water but it never came. Oh well, there is still Sunday however they were predicting 70% chance of severe thunderstorms. Yeah, there's a surprise!
Sunday arrives bright and clear, WITH wind! They are still saying high chance of storms by 1600 this afternoon but that is several hours away so we are going for it. We get set up and are on the lake by 1045. The temp is 74 but forecast to reach 95 later today. They did get that much correct, however the predicted storms never arrive. YEA! Winds were pretty stiff at 15-18 mph sustained, gusting higher, so we sailed with only the main up. Caught a lot of spray because the lake was so choppy but that was OK because the temp was heating up and the occasional splash was refreshing. At one point I looked down and saw we were doing 4.0 knts. Not bad for just the main but we didn't beat our record of 4.9knts. I guess the Admiral had lost her sea legs over the winter and it was fun to hear her squeal whenever a gust would suddenly push us to a 20 degree heel. We heard that sound often today! Perhaps I'm becoming better at sailing since for some reason we were able to tack easily today unlike previous outings where we sailed with only the main up. For lunch we dined on roasted chicken with corn chips and humus prepared in our galley. For some reason everything is better when eaten in the fresh air. We continued to sail a few more hours until finally we could no longer stand the heat and pulled off the lake around 1500. There were so many boats at the ramp that we spent a good 15-20 minutes circling in the no wake zone waiting our turn to tie up. It never fails to amaze me how inconsiderate and/or just incompetent a lot of the boaters are who use Longview. You would think by now I would be used to it. On a positive side though, there was a young fella 10 to 12 years of age, who had just gotten off the boat on the other side of the dock watching our approach. When we came along side he offered to take our aft dock line. I was a bit concerned if the boat may pull all of his 90lbs into the lake if she should drift out but the wind was pushing us toward the dock and he still had his life jacket on so it was just a quick passing thought. I tossed the line to him. Not only was he able to catch my toss, he immediately pulled us in and tied us off with a text-book perfect cleat hitch. I commended him on his knot tying abilities and mentioned that 99% of the people here would not be able to replicate this feat. Kudos to him and his teacher!
Take down went just as smooth as the setup did. We may finally be getting the hang of this stuff! Hopefully I didn't just jinx out next outing. The only small problem I discovered was the fuel line at the quick connect on the motor seems to be leaking slightly. About a drop every 30-40 seconds. Hopefully it will only require a tightening of the hose clamp but I will check into that later this week. For now the crew and I will stick a fork in it (the day, not the fuel line (because that would be weird, and maybe dangerous)...). We are all sun fried and dog tired. It was a good day!
Saturday Oct. 3rd 2015: So far the summer of 2015 has been just about useless for sailing. It has rained constantly, been hot, or devoid of wind. Not to mention our oldest going off to college and the very busy schedules on everybody else's part. After two weekends of absolutely perfect weather, sans wind, we finally catch a break. Today is sunny, somewhat cool with a high of 65, and comes with a 10 mph N-NE wind. Another 5-10 degrees and a more easterly wind would be the only things that could make today any better but we'll happily take it.
|
The excitement starts right away on the boat ramp. Our youngest crew member, now 15, elects to ride in the back seat as we back down the ramp not realizing that the rear door is now over 6 inches of water. She steps onto the running board intending to quickly step into the water and then onto the ramp. I offer my hand and tell her to just jump and swing onto dry land. She asks if I can hold her and I assure her I can. Instead of swinging out, suddenly I find myself holding her entire weight which I wasn't expecting to do. About half way through the arc, our grips fail and she lands on her back in about a foot and a half of water with a tremendous splash. Let me tell you that kid can MOVE! Not only was she out of the water before anyone noticed, she managed to extract herself before getting very wet.
The winds weren't as strong as predicted but much better than we've had for some time. The biggest issue is that they are out of the north and north east. With Longview oriented to the north and south it is a quick ride down to the southerly end but requires many tacks to make your way back to the north end. On our long ride back to the marina we took a page from Phineas and Ferb (yeah, I know you know what I'm talking about...) and discovered something that doesn't exist. Who would imagine finding seagulls in Missouri? Well, according to the Missouri Fish and Wildlife website "seagulls" don't exist here or anywhere else.
|
Gulls however, have many different species found throughout the country. The ones that visit Missouri apparently migrate not from the coasts but from the great lakes in an attempt to escape the frozen north when they can no longer acquire food due to the ice. I hope this isn't a harbinger of things to come this winter because these guys were everywhere. Flying overhead in great swarms, forming massive floating islands on the water's surface and sitting atop every marker and buoy. Is anybody else thinking about Alfred Hitchcock?
With the cooler weather and lateness of the season we had the lake primarily to ourselves. The only exceptions were a few fishing boats that kept mainly to the shorelines.
With the cooler weather and lateness of the season we had the lake primarily to ourselves. The only exceptions were a few fishing boats that kept mainly to the shorelines.
We had packed everything needed to dine on board, however, once the sun began to set the temperature dropped rapidly and we decided our best option was to pull out early around 1900 hours and have dinner at home. As usual, we had ample snacks and beverages aboard to stave off hunger so a late dinner was acceptable to the crew.
Chameleon performed flawlessly and tightening the hose clamp took care of the fuel leak we experience on our last trip out. All in all it was a spectacular day and a slow, easy sail. We never exceeded 3 knots and several times found ourselves in irons and not moving at all. This was OK. It's fall and we are in no hurry to get anywhere in particular. Everyone is happy with the here and now, with no deadlines or commitments. Another outstanding day on the boat!
Chameleon performed flawlessly and tightening the hose clamp took care of the fuel leak we experience on our last trip out. All in all it was a spectacular day and a slow, easy sail. We never exceeded 3 knots and several times found ourselves in irons and not moving at all. This was OK. It's fall and we are in no hurry to get anywhere in particular. Everyone is happy with the here and now, with no deadlines or commitments. Another outstanding day on the boat!
Oct. 10-11, 2015: Saturday dawns bright and beautiful, light winds, 5-7 mph. with a predicted high of 75. A perfect start for a weekend overnight. Originally we had picked Stockton as our destination but a quick check on Windfinder.com forecast an unfavorable wind for Sunday with gusts reaching 30+. It's too bad but we scratch our #1 choice of lakes for the weekend. The forecasts are more favorable on our northern lakes and it looks like Perry has the best predicted winds of all. Sadly, a quick call to the marina confirms they are now on their off season schedule and the marinas are not open on Sunday nor is there a single restaurant open on the lake. What gives people? It is early October, not November. Scratch #2. I know and really like the marina/restaurant at Long Shoal Marina on Truman Lake so we call down there just to confirm they are open. A very pleasant and eager to help voice answers the phone and confirms that yes they are indeed open and would love us to come visit. At least Missouri understands there are plenty of people who want to enjoy the lakes during the best days of the year! Although Long Shoal is known for their weekend breakfast buffet and had slips available, they are short of the critical (at least for me) shower facilities. Because of this, we opt to put in at State Park Marina which allows you to use all the campground facilities along with the marina. All of this for the low cost of $16.00 per night. Due to numerous things that needed attending to Saturday including a very pleasant lunch with friends at Longhorn Steakhouse, we started out quite a bit later than I would have liked. The hour and a half drive down plus setup time put us in the water at sunset. By the time we were ready to untie from the ramp's courtesy dock it was completely dark which made me very nervous finding our way to the slip in unfamiliar waters. The docks have a little age on them but are in good repair and very sheltered from all directions. My only complaints were an odd clunking noise that went on all night long and kept me awake for most of it and the vast amount of mosquitoes. I think the floating docks two or three fingers down from us were binding somehow and the waves would cause them to break loose only to bind up again. The mosquitoes covered everything that was white inside and out of the boat. They were uncharacteristically slow though and didn't appear to have an appetite. Perhaps due to the low temp at night. This made cleaning them out of the cabin fairly easy once we were sealed up and ready to retire for the evening.
A friend of ours followed us down with his jetski in tow thinking a day on the lake sounded like an excellent idea. His plan was to do a little fishing off the dock and then camp in his truck, meeting us in the morning for a day on the lake. The fishing was unsuccessful except for a 13" channel cat but the conversation was good and he did join us on board for dinner. It was a spectacular night. No wind and a low of about 52 degrees. Apparently around 0130 he decided he wasn't going to get any sleep and headed back home to bed. The wuss (it's ok, he'll never read this. Sailing isn't his thing!)!!
After a not-so-restful night's sleep, Sunday dawned in all its glory. I had added a 3" memory foam topper to the king berth which made the bed very comfy. However, I like to move around , a lot, when I sleep and kept waking myself up every time I would swing an arm into the cockpit floor. This did give me an excellent idea for a mod to the V-berth which I will explore in-depth this winter. The highs today will reach 83 degrees with ample wind at 17mph gusting to 20. We can't wait to untie the lines and head out. Right after I get my shower!! We motor out into the main channel and raise the main intending to sail the 5.5 miles to Long Shoal for Breakfast. As the main goes up, the wind drops down, to nothing. And stays that way... OK, drop the main, we will motor to breakfast. As soon as we come around the point we find the wind, and lots of it. About 18 mph of it in fact. And it's coming straight at us. Punching us right on the nose. We keep motoring...
We arrive at Long Shoal around 1100. For normally servicing a bunch of fishing boats and run-abouts, these guys think they are a big boy marina. Four dock handlers come rushing out to take my dock lines and tie us up! Now that's service! We step off the boat and head inside to be seated. There is ample seating inside, or outside on the dock where we can see our boat and all the others coming in. We choose the outdoor option and order the renowned breakfast buffet. I ate so much I am surprised the boat didn't sink when I stepped aboard. None of us begin to get hungry again until 1900 that evening. A quick stop at the fuel docks and we are on our way, this time with the sails up since we are heading back the way we came. It's a fine run downwind with only one accidental jibe and one intentional (kinda). It is so relaxing to be able to set a sail and not have to tend to it for long periods of time. Something you can't do on a small lake. As we come around the arm we find the wind has shifted directions and we now have a nice supply on this stretch, although lighter and it is blocked in some areas by the surrounding hills. The Admiral suggests unfurling the Genoa. Something we haven't done yet this year because on the little lakes it is just easier to have one sail to deal with. I unfurl about 2/3rds of the 150% and we take off like a shot. WOW! I had completely forgotten how much power the foresail adds. Even with only 2/3rds sail out I can tell we are too close to being overpowered when the hills aren't blocking the wind so we furl even more sail in to where we have maybe 1/2 the genny flying. This seems to be about the right balance for today and we leave the sails be for a long stretch down the lake.
We only encounter one other sailboat on the lake today and it is relatively small, I'd estimate a 19-22 footer. We were too far apart to ID her make, but everyone aboard seemed to be having as much fun as we were. There was also a huge fishing tournament going on sponsored by a group called "Fishing for Freedom". We were told there were 130 bass boats on the lake above and beyond those that were just out there for fun. Truman is truly a sportsman's paradise. Not only does it have many species of game fish but we encountered 7 white tail deer and over a dozen turkey.
|
We experienced a lot of firsts this weekend. We had our first overnight on Truman. First time sleeping in the aft berth (previously had used the V-berth). First Breakfast at Long Shoal Marina (AWESOME!!). AND, first SNAKE on board! When we were getting ready to pull out Sunday we found about a 3' black w/ three yellow stripes snake in the motor well. I was literally face to face with this guy when I reached down to open the ballast valve. Gave me quite the start... After that experience and getting Chameleon road ready once again it was time to celebrate with an ice cream bar from the marina. AWESOME WEEKEND! Can't wait to do it again!