Seattle Sailing Club

What Seattle Sailing Club does

Seattle Sailing Club is a privately held, membership-based sailing club and American Sailing Association (ASA) certification school founded in 1968 and headquartered at Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle, Washington (7001 Seaview Avenue NW, Suite 130). The company sells four distinct revenue streams: recurring club memberships in three tiers (Olympic Club pay-as-you-go at $97/month, Northwest Club unlimited day sailing under 30ft at $323/month, and Seattle J Club unlimited access including 30ft+ boats at $447/month, each on 12-month contracts with a $495 set-up fee); ASA-certified sailing instruction from beginner to advanced (ASA 101 through ASA 118, priced $199–$2,995+ with winter discounts November–March); corporate team-building events (e.g., $175/person Shotgun Race) sold through a dedicated inquiry pipeline to Seattle-area enterprises; and a pro shop/online retail operation for sailing gear. Its fleet comprises more than 20 professionally maintained keelboats ranging from 22-foot daysailers to 45-foot cruising yachts, including J/80s, J/105s, J/35cs (one of which, Irene, is a fully electric retrofit), Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse, C&C 27, and Ericson 26 vessels.

The business runs on a direct-to-consumer, primarily in-person model anchored at its single Shilshole waterfront location, supplemented by online booking via FareHarbor, a ClubManager member portal, Shopify e-commerce, Constant Contact email, and an OnBuoy moorage-booking integration. Named enterprise customers—Amazon, Google, Meta, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—appear only in the team-building channel. The company maintains specialized cohort programs for women sailors, LGBTQ+ sailors, and veterans/active military (with material discounts including a free ASA 101), and participates in regional racing series with Corinthian Yacht Club and Sloop Tavern Yacht Club.

There is no proprietary technology, no platform-software product, and no disclosed venture, private equity, or strategic investment. The company appears to be independently owned and operated with 11–50 employees, no parent entity, and no reported revenue or funding events. Strategic posture in 2025 is characterized by incremental product expansion (a new Beginner to Bareboat liveaboard combo, a seventh J/105 added to the fleet via member-financed purchase) and ecosystem partnerships rather than aggressive geographic, M&A, or platform expansion.

Name

Seattle Sailing Club

Legal name

Seattle Sailing Club

Website

https://seattlesailing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Founded 1968 in Seattle and based at Shilshole Bay Marina, Seattle Sailing Club operates one of the largest American Sailing Association schools on the U.S. west coast, offering ASA-certified lessons, three-tiered fleet-access memberships, corporate team-building events, and a pro shop. It serves recreational sailors, members seeking fleet access without boat ownership costs, and Seattle-area enterprise clients including Amazon, Google, Meta, and the Gates Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Club Membership Subscriptions: Monthly recurring membership fees across three tiers (Northwest Club $323/mo, Olympic Club $97/mo, Seattle J Club $447/mo) with 12-month contracts. Revenue is recurring and predictable, supplemented by one-time set-up fees of $495.
2. ASA Sailing Lessons: Fees charged for ASA-certified sailing courses ranging from $199 intro lessons to $2,995+ combo liveaboard programs. Prices vary by season (winter discounts available) and include materials. Supplemental ASA certification exam fees of $30 per certification and a $39 one-time student registration.
3. Corporate Team Building Events: Corporate groups pay per-person fees (e.g., $175/person for 4-hour Shotgun Race) for team building events on Puget Sound. Event inquiry handled via online form targeting enterprise clients.
4. Pro Shop / Gear Retail: Physical pro shop and online store (shop.seattlesailing.com) selling foul weather gear, PFDs, footwear, navigation tools, and sailing apparel. Members receive 10% discount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Seattle Sailing Club provides ASA-certified sailing instruction (beginner through advanced, ASA 101-118), club memberships with access to a 20+ vessel fleet of 22-45 foot sailboats, sailboat charters on Puget Sound, corporate team building events, and a retail pro shop for sailing gear. Founded in 1968 and based at Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle, the club serves both individual sailors seeking certification and recurring access to boats, as well as Seattle-area corporate clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intro to Sailing Course A 4-hour introductory sailing course for complete beginners with a USCG-licensed captain; covers basic sailing concepts on Puget Sound.
• ASA 101 Keelboat Sailing 1 A 15-hour ASA-certified beginner keelboat course (3 hours classroom + 12 hours on-water), the first step toward internationally recognized ASA certifications.
• ASA 102 Keelboat Sailing 2 A 20-hour ASA 102 keelboat course combining online preparation, on-water instruction, and exam; prerequisite ASA 101.
• ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising A 21-hour ASA 103 coastal cruising course including classroom, on-water, and a graduation sail; prerequisite ASA 101.
• ASA 104 Bareboat Charter A 3-day/2-night liveaboard ASA 104 Bareboat Chartering course combining classroom and on-water instruction with overnight sailing experience.
• Cruise N Learn (ASA 103+104 Combo) A 5-day/4-night liveaboard combined ASA 103 and 104 certification course with 2-3 nights docked and 2-3 nights anchored.
• Beginner to Bareboat (ASA 101+103+104 Combo) A 7-day/6-night liveaboard combination course earning ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications; no experience required. Launched in 2025 with an introductory discount.
• ASA 105 Coastal Navigation A 16-hour classroom-based ASA 105 Coastal Navigation course covering navigation, chart work, and piloting.
• ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising A 3-day/2-night ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising course covering 30 consecutive hours of sailing including overnight watch rotation; prerequisites ASA 104 and ASA 105.
• ASA 118 Docking Endorsement A 2-day hands-on ASA 118 Docking Endorsement course covering docking and maneuvering skills.
• ASA 111 Spinnaker Handling A 12-hour ASA 111 Spinnaker Handling endorsement course taught on J/80s and J/105s covering asymmetrical spinnaker packing, jibing, trimming, and dousing.
• Private Sailing Lessons Custom private sailing instruction for up to 2 students, scheduled 2-3 weeks in advance on weekdays. Also offered on a member's own boat.
• Continuing Education On-Water Practice Clinics 4-hour hands-on sailing practice sessions with an instructor covering topics at the Keelboat 1, Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat Charter levels.
• Classroom Clinics

Quantifiable outcome

• ASA certifications are recognized internationally, enabling graduates to charter boats in destinations including the Caribbean, Tahiti, and the Mediterranean through Moorings and Sun Sail
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• American Sailing Association (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle Sailing Club is an ASA Affiliate School and one of the largest ASA schools on the west coast of the U.S. The club uses ASA's internationally recognized curriculum and certifications (ASA 101 through ASA 118). ASA certifications are honored by 85% of U.S. sailing schools and by major international charter companies including Moorings and Sun Sail, enabling members to charter worldwide. ASA 201 and higher instructor certification pathways are offered at the club.
• OnBuoysupportingTechnology or IntegrationOnBuoy is a digital platform for discovering and booking short-term guest moorage (docks, slips, and buoys) throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Seattle Sailing Club members can use OnBuoy to book moorage balls directly when chartering SSC boats, streamlining trip planning. SSC's boat details are preloaded in the OnBuoy system.
• Sailing BallardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering SSC members exclusive access to 2-hour charters aboard Zephyra, a 70' Andrews yacht departing from Shilshole Bay Marina. Only three charters available, providing a premium member experience. Organized through SSC's FareHarbor booking system.
• Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCYC partners with SSC for Wednesday Night Racing and hosts Sailfest post-race socializing. SSC participates in CYC's regattas and sailing events. CYC bar is open for post-race gatherings after Sailfest events.
• Sloop Tavern Yacht Club (STYC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSTYC partners with SSC for the Monday Night Ballard Cup racing series and hosts Sailfest in July. SSC participates in STYC races and events. The club's bar is used for post-race gatherings.
• Moorings & Sun SailsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMoorings and Sun Sail are the two largest charter companies in the world. They honor ASA certifications, meaning SSC's ASA-certified members can charter boats with these companies in destinations worldwide (Caribbean, Tahiti, Mediterranean) without additional certification.
• BoatUSsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBoatUS provides towing membership services to SSC members. The club highly recommends members invest in BoatUS Towing membership for safety on the water. SSC members receive a 10% discount on BoatUS membership (promo code GA85222Y). BoatUS is required for San Juan Islands overnight charters.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Pacific Yachting:
• Annapolis Sailing School: Long-established ASA-affiliated sailing school on the Chesapeake Bay offering keelboat and cruising instruction, certifications, and charter experiences — directly comparable ASA school business model in a different regional market.
• Oakcliff Sailing Center: Long Island-based nonprofit sailing center operating a large keelboat fleet, ASA-equivalent instruction, and racing programs. Comparable membership-and-school operating model with significant fleet capex.
• Spinnaker Sailing Center: San Francisco Bay sailing school and club offering ASA certifications, fleet rentals, memberships, and corporate events — a near-twin operating model in a different metropolitan market.
• J World Annapolis: Performance sailing school specializing in ASA certifications, racing clinics, and ASA 101–106 instruction on a dedicated J/Boats fleet. Comparable ASA instruction and J-Boat fleet model to SSC's J/80 and J/105 programs.
• San Diego Sailing Academy: ASA-affiliated sailing school in San Diego offering beginner through bareboat certification courses and a comparable mix of lessons, certifications, and charter-readiness programs on a similarly diversified keelboat fleet.
• Cal Sailing Club: Berkeley-based nonprofit sailing club offering memberships, ASA-equivalent instruction, and fleet access on San Francisco Bay. Closely comparable membership-school-fleet model serving a major West Coast metro.

Regional players

• Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle: Seattle-based yacht club partnering with SSC on Wednesday Night Racing and Sailfest. Operates in the same Puget Sound sailing community with overlapping racing and social programming but a traditional member-owned club model.

Others

• American Sailing Association (ASA): National credentialing body whose curriculum and certification framework SSC delivers. Functions as an enabling partner/network for SSC and the broader ASA-affiliated sailing school ecosystem rather than a competitor.
• Shilshole Bay Marina: Port of Seattle-operated marina that is SSC's home facility. Not a direct competitor, but a critical infrastructure partner and adjacent peer in the Puget Sound sailing ecosystem where other clubs and individual boaters also operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkHughZC46oVRDiOK0Qgbxg
• Facebookfacebook.com/seattlesailingclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seattle-sailing-club
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattle_sailing_club/?hl=en
• Xx.com/SeattleSailing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seattle Sailing Club