Serena Crawford has never been on a sailboat.
And she was a little nervous about being out on Fellows Lake aboard a catamaran since she can't swim.
But on Saturday, the University of Missouri third-year medical student learned to helm a Catalina 22 sailboat and sail a zippy Hobie 16 catamaran during the Springfield Sailing Club's first Women on the Water sailing regatta at Fellows Lake six miles north of Springfield
With a gentle southeasterly breeze blowing, Crawford was all smiles as she learned the art of sailing from Springfield Sailing Club mentors Mike Ashley and marina manager Matt Taylor.
“It was my first time, but it was very exciting,” said Crawford, one of several MU medical students who joined veteran sailors at the lake to get a feel for sailing. They're in Springfield doing their rotations at Cox and Mercy.
“I learned a lot of sailing terminology, and they let me do the helm and steer,” Crawford said. “At some point I got it! Mentally, I was a little nervous because I can't swim, but they gave me a life jacket, and I felt 100 percent comfortable. Sailing is a great stress relief for a medical student. I'll definitely be back.”
Twelve sailboats participated in the first-ever Women on the Water event, racing around two red kayaks anchored about a mile apart on the lake. And 12 women — most of whom had little or no sailing experience — got a feel for what it's like to cruise the water powered only by the wind.
The sailing club picked up six new members Saturday, bringing the club's membership to just under 60 sailors in its first year at Fellows Lake Marina. An annual club membership is $40, and gives members access to two 22-foot keelboats, four small Laser sailboats, five Hobie catamarans and a 15-foot Commodore dinghy.
A capsized sailboat and a lesson in recovery
Beginning sailor Amy Blansit said learning to sail was on her lifetime bucket list.
She had been a passenger aboard a 40-foot cruising catamaran in the Caribbean before, but on Saturday she was an active crew member aboard a Hobie 16 catamaran and had an adrenaline-filled experience when an unexpected gust of wind caught their boat.
While rounding one of the regatta buoys, the boat heeled hard and capsized onto its side.
“We went from having no wind to getting a wind gust at just the right time to capsize us,” Blansit recalled. “It was like something you see in movies. I knew we were going to be fine. We learned an important lesson and now know what to do.”
Their catamaran was pulled upright, and the cat crew continued on to finish the race.
“You're not supposed to swim in Fellows Lake, but we learned how to recover from being in the water,” she said. “The water was a perfect temperature.”
Blansit said she is now a sailing club member and looks forward to learning to sail the club's different kinds of sailboats.
“Sailing can be an expensive sport if you have to buy your own boat,” she said.
First-time sailor Jami McConnell was a crew mate aboard the club's 15-foot Commodore dinghy. It wasn't the fastest sailboat on the lake, but McConnell said she enjoyed the regatta experience.
“I just love being on the water in any capacity — boat, kayak, river or lake,” McConnell said. “Sailing always struck me as being a relaxing sort of environment. I love learning new things.”
At some point, she plans to take sailing lessons offered at Fellows Lake Marina and become a more skilled sailor.
“Sailing is definitely fun, but there is a lot to know about keeping the boat moving,” she said.
Knowing water, wind and your equipment
She was paired with veteran sailor Jasmine Rasmussen, a sailing club member who has literally been sailing all her life.
“I grew up on boats,” Rasmussen said. “When I was a baby my mom held me in a snuggly while on their sailboat. I'm 41 so you could say I've been sailing for 41 years.”
Rasmussen said Saturday's WOW regatta was intended to help grow interest in sailing by drawing more women to the sport.
“With sailing, it's not as much about brute strength as it is knowing your equipment and understanding conditions on the water,” she said. “You learn to know how to read the wind and make your boat faster. I love it because it's all about being active out in the environment.”
Courtney Howell said she has been sailing for about a year after meeting her veteran sailor boyfriend Zach Martin at a night regatta at Stockton Lake. On Saturday, she, Martin and pit bull-mix sailing dog Harken cruised the course aboard their fast Chrysler Buccaneer 18-footer.
Their boat took two second places and one first place over three race events, winning second place overall.
“I've been sailing for only a year, so I'm pretty new,” Howell said. “Sailing is very peaceful and relaxing, especially night sailing when it's just your boat and the moon on the water. You need to know about how to read the wind and the water. I know the basics.”
Regatta organizer Stephanie Myette Cooper said Saturday's Women on the Water event came off without a hitch, with a steady breeze that wasn't intimidating for new sailors.
“It was definitely perfect conditions for people who've never been out on a boat,” she said. “I'm stoked about the turnout today, especially seeing the younger ones participate. They're definitely the ones who will help keep the sport alive.”
related story
You can now rent a sailboat — and take sailing lessons — on Fellows Lake
It has been years since anyone could rent a sailboat or take sailing lessons at Fellows Lake. But a core group of sailboat enthusiasts hopes to revive the sport of sailing in a big way this spring, thanks to the new managers of Fellows Lake Marina.
