Sailing isn’t one of Ozarks Walkabout’s normal outdoor activities. In fact, despite looking a few years ago, I didn’t know that you could rent a sailboat in the Ozarks until last week.

If you have an American Sailing Association Basic Keelboat sailing certificate you can rent a choice of Frank Butler designed Catalina 22 or Catalina 25 sailboats from Stockton State Park Marina. If you’ve haven’t got an ASA certificate, they also run a two day certification course.

Sailing on Stockton Lake

I went along to help out my Friend John who has just got his ASA Certificate, and wanted an experienced sailing buddy to go with him on his first sail without an instructor.

We had a great day on Stockton lake, sailing a total of 23.5 miles. We took it very easy with a reefed mainsail, so it wasn’t quite the workout hiking, backpacking, or Kayaking would have been. However, keeping balanced on a choppy lake is good for those core muscles.

Call those waves? In John’s defence it does look very flat in this picture

Catalina 25 – Cornucopia At Stockton State Park Marina

Catalina 25 – Cornucopia At Stockton State Park Marina

Catalina 25 – Cornucopia

Masters Island, Stockton lake

Sailing on Stockton Lake

Sailing on Stockton Lake

It wasn’t all cloudy, later in the day we got some sunshine

Sailing on Stockton Lake

Arty shot…

I could have done a better job on raising the mainsail. Oh well.

Not everyone reefed…

Edge Island on Stockton lake

Cap’n John at the helm

I think I might have to get my ASA certificate – you can do a shorter ‘challenge’ training course if you are already experienced. I quite fancy mooring up for the night in one of the secluded coves of Stockton and enjoying a relaxing night on the water, instead of camping beside it. I challenge any of Stockton’s raccoons (or squirrels) to try and raid the food box on board!

Our GPS Track for the day 23.5 Miles.

If you’ve never been sailing our course will look a little odd. The wind was coming up the lake from the south / south east. Not being able to sail straight into the wind we had to sail backwards and forwards (tack) across the lake to get upwind to Stockton State Park Marina, which explains our zig-zag track.

If you’re curious about my previous sailing experience there’s a very short write up about it, plus a brief video from this trip on my personal blog.