Sailing Stockton Lake with Brian and his dad.

Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, I took my buddy Brian and his dad sailing out on Stockton Lake. After a quick bite to eat at a mom 'n' pop in Willard, MO, (just outside of Springfield) we made it up to the lake about 9:20am. I think we got on the water about a quarter till ten.

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

The weather was cool, in the 40s-50s much of the day. The water was still much warmer, so we didn't feel too threatened to be out on such a gusty day.

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

I think the winds were 15-20MPH with some heavier gusts at times. Enough that after we snacked in a leeward cove, we pulled the masts to row out of it. We couldn't fly enough canvas to safely go to windward at the time. Things died back enough once we were out in the main channel that we popped the masts back in and got back to sailing.

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

I got to learn a lot about reefing the Sea Pearl early and how it handles in heavier wind and waves. We surfed white caps with the sails wing on wing, got to experience being blown onto a brushy leeward shore and filling the boat with spiders from the half submerged bushes. We figured out how much effort it would be to row into a strong headwind and got to pull and place the masts while underway. We also saw Canada geese make a huge splash landing, purple martins skimming inches above the water, osprey hunting, blue herons loping through the air, and bald eagles chasing each other across the lake. And at the end of the day, we ran into Tom Parker and his daughter, who as far as I know, is the only other Sea Pearl 21 owner in this part of the state.

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Before heading back to Springfield, we hit up this BBQ joint in Stockton. Highly recommended.

Sailing Stockton Lake - Oct 6, 2013

Comments

Bruce B said…
Looks like a pretty good trip. How dry does the SP do in that chop?
Trevor said…
It does pretty well. I found it only really took on spray from certain angles of sail. Of course I was too busy keeping the boat upright most of the time to mentally record them. Mostly I think when going to windward. We got maybe a couple of gallons on board throughout the day, but I pulled the drain plug when we coved-out to eat/drink a snack. Most of the water ran along the side decks, down the small channels at the leeboard pennants and into the rear cockpit. The drain is just above the water line, so it's easily emptied in calm water. The forward cockpit coaming keeps out any runoff on deck. It has to really splash hard to land in it.
Robert G said…
I stopped to say hi to you on the ramp as you were pulling your boat that day in October. My wife and I own the Precision 28 in the background of a photo in one of your earlier posts. I know Tom Parker from an SMSU Art Class he taught years ago and see I him occasionally on the lake in his boat. Our boat is on the trailer in the parking lot for maintenance this winter but will be back in the water this spring at D dock, come by at say hi. It would be nice to talk sailing and maybe exchange a sail on each other's boat. Robert
Trevor said…
Robert! Thanks for posting! I'll certainly look or you when the weather warms enough to get back on the water. I'd welcome the chance to trade boat rides. That'd be great!

Popular Posts