My son and I began sailing on the Mississippi River in St. Louis about 15 years ago by crewing on class designed Lightenings and Comets. We own a Pearson 26 which is docked on the river now too. We will be selling her soon. We'll sail the Hunter on Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, IL which is about 75 miles east of St. Louis. Carlyle gives us camping, swimming and a marina and yacht club with a first class group of sailing families. It will be the perfect place to begin teaching my grandchildren to sail.