Lake Minnetonka Sailing School

What Lake Minnetonka Sailing School does

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School (LMSS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sailing education organization based in Excelsior, Minnesota, that operates from Lighthouse Island in Deephaven on Lake Minnetonka alongside the Minnetonka Yacht Club. Founded informally in the 1920s and incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 1972, LMSS runs a progression-based curriculum that begins with Little Skippers and age-banded recreational classes (Rec 7-9, Rec 10-12, Rec 12-16, Spring/Fall 420 Rec) and extends through Learn to Race programs (Opti, 420) and competitive Race Teams in Opti, X Boat, C420/ILCA, Melges 15 and middle/high school sailing. The school instructs 1,300+ students each summer, making it one of the largest sailing schools in the United States, and complements its core programming with Evening Offerings including Adult Sailing, Women on the Water, Friday Private Keelboat Lessons, and an Adaptive Sailing program on 23-foot Sonar keelboats for participants with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive differences.

LMSS's underlying delivery model is on-water coaching at Lighthouse Island, with all instructors holding US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Certification, Red Cross First-Aid/CPR training, and CDC Heads Up Concussion Training, and with mandatory PFD use and low instructor-to-student ratios. The school is differentiated by senior coach Gordy Bowers (three-time Olympic medalist as Head Coach of the US Sailing Team), Race Team Director Samuel Bartel, and Learn to Sail Director Clare Leeper, who also founded the Adaptive Sailing program. Private lessons are scheduled directly with these coaches at rates between $60 and $200 per hour, while group program enrollment is handled through Active Network's camp registration platform.

LMSS generates revenue through three streams: sailing instruction fees (group programs), private coaching paid to individual instructors, and tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) (EIN 23-7178929). Donations are accepted as general fund, memorial, and stock contributions, with corporate matching routed through Benevity and Blackbaud Giving Fund, and are managed alongside named scholarship and competition funds (Woody Jewett Scholarship Fund, Jim Leslie Competition Fund) by Treasurer Mike Hanley. Additional ancillary offerings include Large Group Team Building, Private Group Training series, a Buy & Sell community marketplace, and a branded merchandise storefront.

Name

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School

Legal name

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School

Website

https://lmss.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Excelsior, Minnesota that delivers sailing instruction on Lake Minnetonka to 1,300+ students annually, spanning youth recreational, competitive racing, adult, women-only, and adaptive sailing programs from its Lighthouse Island base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Sailing instruction
• Youth sailing programs
• Competitive race teams
• Adaptive sailing
• Recreational sailing

Headquarters

HQ city

Excelsior

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sailing Instruction Fees: Revenue generated from structured sailing lessons, race team programs, and evening sailing classes for youth, adults, and adaptive sailing participants. Programs include recreational sailing, learn-to-race, and competitive race team offerings.
2. Private Lessons: One-on-one or small group coaching sessions with individual coaches (Gordy Bowers, Samuel Bartel, Clare Leeper) who set their own hourly rates.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible contributions as a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 23-7178929). Supports scholarship opportunities and equipment purchases. Accepts general fund donations, memorial donations, stock donations, corporate matching through Benevity and Blackbaud Giving Fund, and estate planning contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School provides structured on-water sailing education for youth, adults, and adaptive participants at Lighthouse Island on Lake Minnetonka. Programs span a progression from beginner recreational classes through competitive race teams in Optimist, 420, X Boat, C420, ILCA, and Melges 15 classes, plus adaptive sailing, adult sailing, women-focused programs, and private lessons with individually priced coaches.

Product overview

Lake Minnetonka Sailing School is a comprehensive sailing education organization offering a multi-track program portfolio centered on Learn to Sail, Learn to Race, and Race Team programs. The school provides age-based recreational sailing (Little Skippers through Rec 12-16), competitive racing programs (Opti Race Team, X Boat Race Team, C420 & ILCA Race Team, Melges 15), and community sailing (Adaptive Sailing, Adult Sailing, Women on the Water, Friday Private Keelboat Lessons). Individualized instruction is available through Private Lessons with certified coaches. Additional offerings include Large Group Team Building, Private Group Training series, scholarship programs (Woody Jewett and Jim Leslie funds), and a Buy & Sell marketplace for sailing equipment. The school operates from Lighthouse Island on Lake Minnetonka and serves over 1,300 students annually, making it one of the largest sailing schools in the nation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Little Skippers Sailing program for young children introducing basic sailing concepts in a fun, age-appropriate environment within LMSS's Learn to Sail track.
• Rec 7-9 Recreational sailing class for children ages 7-9 covering the fundamentals of sailing with hands-on learning.
• Rec 10-12 Recreational sailing class for children ages 10-12 designed to build confidence on the water and develop sailing skills.
• Rec 12-16 Recreational sailing class for youth ages 12-16 providing comprehensive sailing instruction in a non-competitive environment.
• Spring/Fall 420 Rec Seasonal recreational sailing program using 420 sailboats during spring and fall seasons.
• Opti Learn to Race Entry-level racing program using Optimist dinghies to teach competitive sailing fundamentals.
• 420 Learn to Race Intermediate racing program using 420 sailboats to develop competitive sailing skills.
• Opti Race Team Advanced competitive racing team for Optimist sailors with dedicated coaching and regatta participation.
• X Boat Race Team Competitive race team sailing X Boat class sailboats with practices and regatta coaching.
• C420 & ILCA Race Team Advanced racing team competing in C420 and ILCA (Laser) class sailboats with national-level competition focus.
• Middle/High School Sailing Competitive sailing program for middle and high school students with coaching and inter-scholastic competition.
• Melges 15 Group Training Group training program for Melges 15 class sailboats focused on skill development and competitive sailing.
• Adaptive Sailing Specialized sailing program for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive differences, providing accessible sailing experiences on 23-foot Sonar keelboats with 4-5 sailors per boat plus an instructor.
• Adult Sailing Sailing program for adults with no experience or those seeking relaxed, non-competitive sailing on 23-foot Sonar keelboats.
• Women on the Water (WOW) Women-focused sailing program taught by women for women, covering basic sailing, points of sail, and upwind/downwind sailing techniques on Sonar keelboats.
• Friday Private Keelboat Lesson Private sailing lessons on select Friday evenings using 23-foot Sonar keelboats accommodating up to 5 sailors with personalized instruction.
• Private Lessons One-on-one personalized sailing instruction with individual coaching from LMSS-certified instructors including Gordy Bowers, Samuel Bartel, and Clare Leeper.
• Large Group Team Building Corporate, social, or group sailing experiences for team building events, birthday parties, or gatherings with classroom instruction and on-water sailing.
• Private Group Training Series of 4, 6, or 8 sailing lessons for private groups of up to 14 participants, minimum 6 required.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ students enroll each summer
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Minnetonka Yacht Club (MYC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1882Both LMSS and MYC call Lighthouse Island home. MYC was founded in 1882, and LMSS began informally in the 1920s as MYC members wanted organized sailing education for their children. LMSS was officiated from a function of the MYC Board of Directors into a separate non-profit organization in 1972. The relationship remains close as both organizations share the same location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• J/World Sailing School: J/World runs multi-location performance sailing schools focused on cruising and racing instruction for adults. Comparable to LMSS in offering paid sailing lessons with certified instructors and progression pathways, though it skews more adult/cruising than youth race team.
• Oakcliff Sailing Center: Oakcliff is a nonprofit sailing center on Long Island providing high-level training, race team coaching, and adaptive programs. Comparable to LMSS in mission, nonprofit structure, and competitive/adaptive focus.
• Annapolis Sailing School: Annapolis Sailing School is one of the largest and oldest community sailing schools in the U.S., offering learn-to-sail through race team programming for youth and adults. Directly comparable to LMSS in mission, multi-class curriculum, and progression-based structure.
• Chicago Sailing: Chicago Sailing (formerly Chicago Sailing School / Chicago Yacht Club Sailing School) operates large-scale sailing lessons, youth programs, and adaptive sailing in the Great Lakes/Midwest region. Most direct regional and demographic peer to LMSS, including similar adult and adaptive programming.
• Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation is a Southern California nonprofit offering youth learn-to-sail and competitive race team programs with scholarships. Highly comparable to LMSS in nonprofit structure, youth focus, scholarship programs, and multi-class racing progression.
• Sail Newport: Sail Newport is a nonprofit community sailing organization offering youth and adult instruction, race teams, and adaptive programs in Rhode Island. Closely comparable to LMSS as a 501(c)(3) sailing school with learn-to-sail through competitive racing progressions.

Broad incumbents

• US Sailing: US Sailing is the national governing body for the sport in the U.S. and the issuer of the Level 1 Instructor Certification that all LMSS instructors hold. Comparable as the broader incumbent that sets curriculum, certification, and racing standards LMSS operates within.

Emerging players

• Shake-A-Leg Miami: Shake-A-Leg Miami runs adaptive and community sailing programs for people with disabilities, mirroring LMSS's Adaptive Sailing track. Comparable as a peer on the adaptive sailing niche, though it is more specialized than LMSS's full program portfolio.

Regional players

• San Diego Sailing Academy: San Diego Sailing Academy is a large West Coast sailing school offering lessons, youth programs, and racing instruction. Comparable in curriculum and product structure but serves a different geography (Southern California vs. Minnesota).

Others

• Minnetonka Yacht Club: Minnetonka Yacht Club is LMSS's strategic partner and co-tenant at Lighthouse Island, founded 1882. Not a direct competitor — it operates club racing and adult membership sailing that complements LMSS's instructional mission and shares the same venue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LMSS1972

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Lake Minnetonka Sailing School