SailMaine
SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing center on the Portland, Maine waterfront operating youth camps, adult lessons, high school sailing, adaptive sailing, rentals, charters, and corporate events, with a City Sailors program delivering free on-water access to underserved youth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SailMaine does
SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing organization headquartered on the Portland, Maine waterfront at Amethyst Lot Park, adjacent to Fore Points Marina, where it has direct access to Casco Bay. The organization operates a fleet of J/22 keelboats and the Zephyr (a 1983 C&C 32 cruising sailboat captained by USCG-licensed SailMaine instructors) and delivers a portfolio of on-water programs including youth summer camps for ages 5-17 (Little Luffers, Optimists, 420 sailing, race teams), high school sailing across seven school teams plus a Development Team, adult lessons (group, private, women's only, and skipper certification), adaptive sailing in partnership with the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, J/22 hourly rentals and PortPass seasonal subscriptions, custom Zephyr charters, Monday Night Racing and regatta programs, and corporate team-building events. The City Sailors initiative, founded in 2018, provides free sailing lessons, STEM-based learning, gear, food, and transportation to underserved youth in the Greater Portland area through referrals from more than ten community partners including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Portland Public Schools, Portland Community Squash, and New American Family Sails.
Revenue mechanics are hybrid. Program fees (e.g., $249 for a 3-hour adult group lesson, $890 for a two-week full-day youth session, $75/hour J/22 rental, $300-$800 Zephyr charters, $949 PortPass annual subscription, $525 high school season registration) are offset by approximately 40% via donations and grants, allowing scholarships ranging from $25 to 100% coverage. The organization supplements fee revenue with donations, corporate sponsorships, grants (including donor-advised funds via EIN 01-0505456), and the annual SailMaine Festival & Regatta, which carries a 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000. Distribution is direct-to-consumer at the Portland waterfront, augmented by channel partnerships with Centerboard Yacht Club (South Portland) and Great Pond Yacht Club (Belgrade Lakes), and supported by an operational SaaS stack (Square, Eventbrite, Skedda, Wufoo, SignUpGenius, CampManagement, Classy, GoFundMe). SailMaine and the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center received the 2024 Robie Pierce Award from US Sailing for Best Adaptive Sailing Program in the Country, anchoring the organization's reputation in safety, accessibility, and community programming.
SailMaine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SailMaine
- Legal name
- SailMaine
- Website
- https://sailmaine.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing center on the Portland, Maine waterfront operating youth camps, adult lessons, high school sailing, adaptive sailing, rentals, charters, and corporate events, with a City Sailors program delivering free on-water access to underserved youth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SailMaine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Sailing Education and Recreation
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)
Keywords
Where SailMaine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SailMaine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sailing Program Fees: Fees from youth summer camps, adult lessons, high school sailing, and adaptive sailing programs. Many programs have reduced fees (40%) due to donations and funding sources.
- Donations and Grants: Community donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding to support scholarships and community sailing programs. Many programs are free or significantly subsidized.
- Boat Rentals and PortPass: Hourly J/22 keelboat rentals ($75/hour), skipper certifications ($100), and season PortPasses ($949) for unlimited sailing access.
- Charter Cruises: Custom charters on the Zephyr (1983 C&C 32) ranging from 3-hour sunset cruises ($300) to full-day island adventures ($800). Captained by certified SailMaine instructors with USCG Captain's Licenses.
- Corporate Events: Curated leadership development and team building programs for corporate clients along Portland's waterfront. Customized programs designed to meet organizational objectives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly Boat Rental - J/22 Keelboat |
| Subscription | Annual | PortPass - Full Season Unlimited Sailing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Skipper Certification |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adaptive Sailing Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Group Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Little Luffers (Ages 5-6) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Programs (Ages 7-17) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | High School Sailing Season |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Monday Night Racing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zephyr Charters |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SailMaine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing center based on the Portland, Maine waterfront that delivers on-water sailing instruction, recreational programs, boat rentals, and custom charters. It operates a fleet of J/22 keelboats and the Zephyr (a 1983 C&C 32) and offers youth summer camps, adult lessons, high school competitive sailing, adaptive sailing for people with disabilities, corporate team-building events, and community-access programs such as City Sailors for underserved youth.
Product overview
SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sailing programs centered at Casco Bay in Portland, Maine. The organization operates a multi-tiered product architecture consisting of: (1) Core instructional programs spanning Youth Summer Programs (ages 5-17), High School Sailing, Adult Sailing Lessons (group, private, and women's only), and Adaptive Sailing for people with disabilities; (2) On-water access products including J22 Boat Rentals with skipper certification and PortPass seasonal passes; (3) Experiential offerings such as ZEPHYR custom charters aboard a C&C 32 cruising sailboat and Corporate Events for team building; (4) Community access programs including City Sailors (free youth sailing for underserved communities) and Community Programs serving schools and organizations; (5) Competitive racing programs including Monday Night Racing, travel teams, and the annual SailMaine Festival & Regatta; (6) Support services including Scholarships, Corporate Sponsorship, Volunteer Program, and a Gear Store. The portfolio serves diverse segments from beginners to competitive racers, children through adults, and able-bodied to adaptive sailors, unified by the mission of affordable waterfront access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Maiden Maine: Women's sailing initiative that introduces women of all ages to the sport and builds a women's sailing community through sailing open houses and programs
- Zephyr
- City Sailors
- Adaptive Sailing Program
Products and services
- Youth Summer Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% reduction in program fees through donations and grants
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SailMaine
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
SailMaine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
SailMaine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- Adaptive Outdoor Education Center (AOEC)coreCollaboration to offer Adaptive Sailing Program for all people with disabilities. AOEC handles registration for the $10/session adaptive sailing program. Awarded the 2024 Robie Pierce Award for Best Adaptive Sailing Program in the Country together.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern MainecoreCommunity sailing program partner providing access to underserved youth through the City Sailors program. Gear, food, and transportation provided at no cost.
- Portland Public SchoolscoreCommunity sailing programs for Portland public school students through City Sailors initiative.
- Portland Community SquashsecondaryCity Sailors community partner helping reach underserved youth in Greater Portland area.
- New American Family SailssecondaryPartnership to serve immigrant and refugee families through community sailing programs.
- Sailing Ships MainesecondaryCreates life-changing opportunities for teens of all abilities and income levels to discover the ocean environment and expand leadership skills.
- Centerboard Yacht Club (South Portland)secondaryPartners with SailMaine to offer junior instruction in summer months at South Portland location. CYC offers one-week flexible sessions for ages 8-12.
- Great Pond Yacht ClubsecondaryPartners with SailMaine to offer junior sailing instruction in summer months at Belgrade Lakes location.
- Bowdoin CollegesecondaryBowdoin sailors regularly train on SailMaine J22's to prepare for keelboat races.
- Sail SeabirdminorNew Portland-based business offering coastal sail education voyages. No prior sailing experience needed.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SailMaine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sail Chicago: Community sailing nonprofit based in Chicago offering adult sailing instruction, boat rentals, and racing on Lake Michigan. Comparable business model (nonprofit, membership-style access, lesson-based revenue) and similar program breadth to SailMaine.
- Hudson River Community Sailing: Nonprofit community sailing organization in New York City offering youth and adult instruction, adaptive sailing, and boat access on the Hudson River. Closely comparable as a community sailing nonprofit with a strong equity-and-access mission similar to SailMaine's City Sailors.
- Sail Newport: Nonprofit sailing center based in Newport, Rhode Island offering youth and adult sailing instruction, rentals, and racing programs on Narragansett Bay. Highly comparable in program mix (lessons, camps, racing, adaptive access) and nonprofit funding model.
- Center for Wooden Boats: Nonprofit maritime heritage and sailing education organization in Seattle, Washington offering sailing classes, rentals, and youth programs from a waterfront campus. Shares SailMaine's nonprofit mission, public access focus, and adaptive programming orientation.
- Annapolis Sailing School: Long-established for-profit sailing instruction school in Annapolis, Maryland offering ASA-certified courses from beginner to offshore cruising. Comparable core product (sailing lessons, certifications, charter-style cruises) though structured as a for-profit rather than nonprofit.
- Offshore Sailing School: For-profit sailing school founded by Steve and Doris Colgate offering ASA-certified cruising courses, racing clinics, and flotilla vacations across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable in adult sailing instruction, certification, and cruising lesson offerings overlapping with SailMaine's Zephyr program.
- Community Sailing Center: Nonprofit community sailing center on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont. Operates youth and adult instructional programs, rentals, and adaptive sailing, with the same nonprofit mission-driven model as SailMaine, making it one of the closest direct comparables in the Northeast.
- Sail Sand Point: Community sailing center on Lake Washington in Seattle, Washington offering youth and adult lessons, racing, and adaptive programming. Comparable as a waterfront nonprofit sailing school serving a regional market with a similar scholarship-supported model.
Regional players
- Portland Yacht Club: Local yacht club hosting Crew Match events with SailMaine and serving the Greater Portland sailing community. Comparable waterfront sailing community and event programming, though structured as a member-owned yacht club rather than an instructional nonprofit.
Broad incumbents
- Freedom Boat Club: National franchise boat club offering members unlimited access to a fleet of boats at multiple locations for a monthly fee. Comparable subscription-based, ownership-free boat access model that competes for the same recreational boaters SailMaine targets with PortPass and J/22 rentals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SailMaine social profiles
Digital presenceSailMaine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SailMaine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SailMaine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SailMaine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SailMaine
What does SailMaine do?
SailMaine is a nonprofit community sailing center based on the Portland, Maine waterfront that delivers on-water sailing instruction, recreational programs, boat rentals, and custom charters. It operates a fleet of J/22 keelboats and the Zephyr (a 1983 C&C 32) and offers youth summer camps, adult lessons, high school competitive sailing, adaptive sailing for people with disabilities, corporate team-building events, and community-access programs such as City Sailors for underserved youth.
Is SailMaine a public or private company?
SailMaine is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SailMaine founded?
SailMaine was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SailMaine based?
SailMaine is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does SailMaine make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Sailing Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants, boat Rentals and PortPass, charter Cruises and corporate Events.
Who are SailMaine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sail Chicago, Hudson River Community Sailing, Sail Newport, Center for Wooden Boats, Annapolis Sailing School, Offshore Sailing School, Community Sailing Center and Sail Sand Point. Portland Yacht Club is listed as a regional player. Freedom Boat Club is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does SailMaine have an API?
No public API is recorded for SailMaine.
What industry is SailMaine in?
SailMaine's product category is Community Sailing Education and Recreation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAG, Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 7997.