Sailing in the Ozarks

It’s been a well-kept secret for decades that two quiet, inland lakes are home to a shared community of sailing enthusiasts. Both Stockton Lake and Fellows Lake have rich and storied sailing histories, including an annual regatta that celebrates its 51st year this month. While sailing may seem like a pastime reserved for coastal regions, it is alive and well in our landlocked state thanks to the passionate people at the helm. Cue up the yacht rock—it’s time to set sail in the Ozarks.

We leave our shoes on the dock and climb aboard Barry Nelson’s 40-foot yacht. A bald eagle watches from its perch as we glide through the marina’s no-wake zone. Nelson points the bow into the wind, and the sails snap to life. The lake is silent, save for the hush of the hull breaking the waves. It’s a beautiful day for sailing Stockton Lake.

Compared to other Missouri lakes, Stockton is quiet and unassuming—a clearwater reservoir with a non-development policy that keeps its tree-lined shores free of restaurants and homes. So how did it become home to the largest sailing race in the state? Its secret lies in the wind and the crew of characters keeping sailing culture alive in the Ozarks. 

Setting Sail

When the Army Corps of Engineers established Stockton Lake in 1969, the goal was to establish an energy source and backup water supply for Springfield. The Stockton Dam generates hydroelectric power for the city while the lake itself serves as flood control and provides supplemental water to City Utilities through a pipeline connected to Fellows Lake. Whether the Corps also intended for Stockton to become one of the top 10 inland sailing lakes in the country is unknown, but that’s exactly what happened.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers website, Stockton Lake sits at the natural divide between the Ozark Plateau and Missouri’s prairie lands. This unique positioning means the lake experiences a near-constant, energetic wind. On good days, the conditions are a sailor’s dream. On the more energetic days, the wind creates conditions more like ocean sailing with white caps and rolling waves. The sometimes-challenging winds, combined with the lack of shoreline development, make Stockton a peaceful, uncrowded oasis for sailors.

Fellows Lake offers similarly tranquil and sometimes-challenging conditions, thanks to its role as Springfield’s drinking water supply. To protect the lake’s water quality, motorized boating is tightly regulated, and swimming is prohibited by the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. Sailing, however, is an environmentally friendly alternative—the wind power, optional fuel usage, minimal wake and reduced noise pollution make sailing an ideal and long-standing tradition at both lakes.

The Governor’s Cup

While no one knows exactly who first dropped a sailboat onto Stockton’s waters, the lake’s sailing history is nearly as old as the lake itself. Five years after opening its shores, Stockton hosted the first annual Governor’s Cup Regatta. A regatta—for the landlubbers among us—is a sailing race. Over the years, the Governor’s Cup Regatta has seen it all: world-class sailors flying in from hundreds of miles away, five-time champions like Mike Spurgeon, a ship full of pirates, tornadoes, and even a year with so little wind, the surface of the lake looked like glass.

As interest in sailing grows, so do efforts to make the regatta more accessible to spectators. Nelson, who also serves as Rear Commodore at Lake Stockton Yacht Club, established a regatta flotilla where boaters can tie up and watch the action together. Looking ahead, he hopes to establish a livestream of the races to expand the viewership further.

Community at the Helm 

Nelson is one of many sailing enthusiasts keeping the spirit of sailing alive and well in the Ozarks. A Minnesota native, Nelson began sailing in his twenties, crewing for a friend in a casual “beer can” race. He vividly remembers the exhilaration he felt the moment the sails first snapped to life. Since then, his passion for harnessing the wind has taken him and his family across the globe, from the Caribbean Sea to Chesapeake Bay, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. And yet, Nelson still calls Stockton one of the most beautiful and peaceful places he’s ever sailed. He and his family treat their boat moored on Stockton like a lakehouse and often bring family and friends out to sail.

Jamie Rasmussen is a veteran’s lawyer by trade, the commodore of the Springfield Sailing Club by choice, a sailing instructor at Fellows Lake, and an avid sailor since birth. At just two weeks old, her mother carried her in a sling during a sailing excursion out of West Point, New York. This early start set the course for her life. No matter where she moved with her military family, she knew she needed access to sailing. “We moved around a lot,” Rasmussen says. “So I don’t have a place that’s really home. So the water is my home, and I always find a way to get back home.” Now, Rasmussen, alongside Stephanie Cooper, leads the Women on the Water at Fellows Lake—a women’s only sailing group offering monthly excursions, camaraderie and friendly competition.

Whether you were practically born on a boat like Rasmussen, initiated into sailing through a casual beer can race like Nelson, or discovered it later in life like Dr. Austin Frisbie, sailing is accessible to all. Frisbie—known online as Cap’n Doc—began sailing after being diagnosed with stage 3b colorectal cancer in 2021. Following that grim diagnosis, he turned to sailing as a positive distraction, immersing himself in videos and books during treatment. Now, cancer-free, he is a devoted sailing enthusiast, often taking his “virtual shipmates” out for excursions on Stockton Lake. He encourages others to “find their sailboat” and uses his social media channels under the name Sailing Psych to advocate for early cancer detection, mental health and wellness.

No matter the circumstance, when you have a passion for something, you find a way to make it happen. That mentality is a common thread between the sailing communities at both Stockton and Fellows. These landlocked sailors have found ways to pursue their passions, and they’re eager to share it with anyone who shows interest. As Nelson puts it, the more people who join, the more opportunity there is to learn. The goal is to build a thriving, active community and expand the knowledge base for everyone involved.

If you find yourself curious, make your way to one of the local marinas. It won’t be hard to make a friend. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next one to catch the sailing bug.

Written by Michelle Lewis
Originally published March 2023

The sport of sailing is one that can provide a variety of avenues once you learn the ropes. Whether you’re on the water to relax or to race, there is no denying the feeling of being on the water with wind in your sails and no sound of an engine running. With March being the windiest month of the year here in southwest Missouri, it’s the perfect time to head to the water and hoist your sails. 

A Sailor's Delight 

Stockton Lake

19100 Route 215, Stockton; 417-276-5329

Sailing has been a part of Stockton Lake’s history since the creation of the lake in 1970. With quiet coves, clean water and light traffic, the area is every sailor’s dream. The non-development policy surrounding the lake means you’ll be surrounded by natural shorelines in every direction, creating a relaxing experience on the water no matter the time of day. A steady breeze from the southwest will allow you to guide your boat with ease. For those wanting an introduction into the world of sailing, Grand Mariner Marine within the Orleans Trail Marina on Stockton Lake offers certified American Sailing Association lessons. Classes last three days and offer hands-on time on the water to allow you to become comfortable operating the sail and handling the boat. Those who have experience can rent sailboats from the Stockton State Park Marina.

A New Destination 

Fellows Lake

4200 E. Farm Road 66, Springfield; 417-840-2965

With the kickoff of the Springfield Sailing Club at Fellows Lake in 2021, those who love to sail have a new location to coast the waters. At 860 acres just 20 minutes north of Springfield, Fellows Lake is the perfect place to learn to sail. The clean and quiet waters allow you to make the most of your time and encourage relaxation. With five certified US Sailing instructors, Springfield Sailing Club offers a variety of classes for sailors with little to no experience. Classes take you through drills on the water and offer opportunities for private coaching to fine tune specific skills. Those with experience can rent a variety of boats for a variety of skill levels. Alongside strengthening skills with classes and time on the water, the Springfield Sailing Club has built a community of sailors to help anyone experience the joys of sailing.