Is the Lake of the Ozarks Good for Sailing?

The answer is simple. No. Sailing on the Lake of the Ozarks sucks.

Sailboats are at their most enjoyable when they can run open without too much concern for which way the wind is blowing, or the course they must take, conditions not common on the Lake of the Ozarks, or most lakes in Missouri for that matter. Missouri's lakes tend to be more like wide rivers than the stereotypical round shape. The Lake has very few "straight" stretches longer than six or so miles and quite often rounding a bend means you end up going in a completely different compass direction.  Several times the lake doubles back on itself which makes running under sail exhausting.

Sailing ships need open water in order to best deal with the available wind. A properly crewed sailboat can actually work with just about any wind direction and maintain a desired course, but doing so within a river channel is a bit too much to make for a relaxing boat ride.  This is not to say it cannot be done, it's just much harder. One of the reasons that the The Lake of the Ozarks is so large size-wise is that it still follows the basic river valley of the Osage River from which it was formed. The many turns and hilltops blocking the wind make sailing difficult.  Coupled with the sheer number of boats typically on the lake, and lack of experience Missouri power boaters have operating near sailboats (powerboats must *always* yield the right of way to sailboats) most sailboat owners are content playing in bays and harbors or larger open lakes such as Kentucky Lake.

This isn't to say there are no sailboats on the Lake of the Ozarks, occasionally you will see one under sail even to this day, but it is a rare sight. Smaller more nimble single sail sailboats tend to avoid going out altogether due to boat traffic and rough water, while larger sailboats must be content to operate using only their engines.  Even windsurfing came and went quickly.

It's a shame really, there was a time when you saw many sailboats on the water and it made for quite a beautiful sight.