Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc

What Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc does

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing club founded in the late 1930s and reconstituted in 1946, operating from a 9-acre facility on City Island in Sarasota, Florida, on land provided by the City of Sarasota. The club delivers sailing instruction, boatshare rentals, regatta racing, member boat storage, and multiple one-design and handicap fleets. It serves approximately 600+ memberships spanning adult sailing enthusiasts, youth sailors through a co-located partnership with Sarasota Youth Sailing, women sailors via the Luffing Lassies program (founded 1972, ~80 members), racing enthusiasts across classes such as Flying Scot, Sunfish, Melges 15, MC-Scow, E-Scow, and American 18, and boat owners seeking storage and bay access.

Revenue is generated through tiered family membership dues (differentiated by city vs. non-city residency), boatshare rentals ($158 half-day sail, $675 annual unlimited, plus paddling options), two-hour sailing lessons with US Sailing-certified instructors ($100 members, $225 non-members), a $200 volunteer opt-out fee for the required 8 annual volunteer hours per household, donations, and regatta participation fees. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), regatta hosting, and partnerships rather than paid acquisition. Operations are administered through the RecHub platform for membership dues, event registration, sailing lesson sign-ups, and boat reservations, supplemented by a webcam for member visibility into bay conditions. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors led by Commodore Cathy Tabb, with General Manager Susan Clark managing day-to-day operations; there is no parent company, venture capital, or institutional investment structure.

Name

Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc

Legal name

Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc

Website

https://sarasotasailingsquadron.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sarasota Sailing Squadron is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing club in Sarasota, Florida, offering sailing instruction, boatshare rentals, regatta programs, and boat storage to 600+ member families on a 9-acre City Island facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sailing Club

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

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

• Community sailing club
• Sailing instruction
• Regatta race events
• Youth sailing programs
• Boat storage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Family memberships with dues structured based on city residency status (higher for non-city residents due to land arrangement with City of Sarasota). All memberships include spouse and children residing at same address.
2. Boatshare Rentals: Shared boat fleet program with hourly/daily and annual unlimited membership options. Includes basic boats (Hobie Wave), intermediate (Hobie Getaway, American 18, Sunfish), and advanced (Flying Scot, Melges 15, Laser).
3. Sailing Lessons: Two-hour personalized instruction sessions with US Sailing certified instructors on Hobie Wave, Hobie Getaway, and American 18 boats. Discounts for members and for bringing additional participants.
4. Volunteer Opt-Out Fee: $200 annual fee charged to members who choose not to complete required 8 volunteer hours per calendar year.
5. Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations for programs, facility enhancements, and community sailing access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing club operating a 9-acre waterfront facility on City Island, Sarasota Bay. It provides US Sailing certified instruction, a shared Boatshare fleet of sailboats, organized regattas and racing, boat storage with hoist and ramp access, and women's and youth sailing programs. Members access sailing through annual family memberships, with all programs supported by a volunteer-driven community structure.

Product overview

Sarasota Sailing Squadron is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing club offering a comprehensive suite of sailing-related programs and facilities. The core offerings include Learn to Sail instruction with US Sailing certified instructors, a Boatshare shared boat fleet available for member rental, and organized regatta racing events including the historic Labor Day Regatta since 1946. The club maintains multiple one-design fleets (Flying Scot, Sunfish, Melges 15, MC-Scow, E-Scow, American 18) and handicap fleets (PHRF) for competitive sailing. Additional programs include the Luffing Lassies women's sailing group, youth sailing at the adjacent facility, boat storage facilities with land and rack options, and educational seminars on topics ranging from navigation to powerboat safety. Operations are managed through the RecHub internal platform for member management, event scheduling, and boat reservations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Luffing Lassies: Women's sailing program founded in 1972 by Lilly Kaighin. One of the oldest and most active sailing groups in the Squadron with approximately eighty women sailors. Sails Sunfish, Hobie Waves, and 420s.
• Sarasota Youth Sailing
• Boatshare
• Labor Day Regatta
• Buzzelli Multihull Rendezvous
• Pot O' Gold Regatta

Products and services

• Family Membership Program Annual family membership providing access to the Squadron's 9-acre City Island facility on Sarasota Bay, including docking, hoist, ramp, and storage access, plus participation in fleets, regattas, Boatshare, and member events. Memberships include spouse and children at no extra charge.
• Learn to Sail / Adult Sailing Instruction Two-hour personalized sailing lessons with US Sailing certified instructors on Hobie Wave, Hobie Getaway, and American 18 training boats, offered to both members and non-members at differentiated price points with discounts for additional participants.
• Boatshare (Shared Boat Fleet) Shared boat fleet offering hourly/half-day rentals and yearly unlimited access to a range of sailboats and paddle craft for members without private boats. Reservations are managed through the RecHub platform and require skipper checkout certification.
• Regattas and Racing Events Annual and invitational regatta program including the Labor Day Regatta (since 1946), Buzzelli Multihull Rendezvous, Pot O' Gold Regatta, Snowbird, Cherry Pie, and Commodore's Cup, plus hosting of major championships such as the 2018 F18 International Regatta and 2021 Sunfish Worlds.
• Luffing Lassies (Women's Sailing Program) Women's sailing program founded in 1972 with approximately 80 members, offering Introduction to Sailing instruction, Thursday racing, and participation in Florida Women's Sailing Association competitions against sister clubs.
• Sarasota Youth Sailing Youth sailing instruction and junior racing program operating at the Squadron's City Island location, providing a pathway for youth from beginner to advanced competitive sailing under the Sarasota Youth Sailing brand.
• Boat Storage and Facility Access Land storage for members' sailboats on trailers or dollies, dinghy racks for Sunfish/Lasers/windsurfers/kayaks/SUPs, hoist and ramp access to Sarasota Bay, plus dock slips. Storage layout includes the main yard, South yard, and rack storage areas.
• Education Seminars Educational seminars covering powerboat safety, coaching, sail trim, navigation, race management, capsize recovery, night sailing safety, maintenance, and GPS training for Squadron members.
• Skipper Checkout Certification Competency certification required to reserve and operate Boatshare vessels, ranging from a standard two-hour checkout for new members to an advanced one-hour demonstration and a low-cost sign-off for long-tenured fleet members.
• Social Events Club social activities and gatherings beyond sailing, including celebrations, private parties, and community events designed to foster fellowship among members and guests.
• One-Design and Handicap Fleets Organized sailing fleets for racing and recreational sailing across multiple boat classes, including handicap fleets (PHRF), one-design fleets (Flying Scot, Sunfish, MC-Scow, Melges 15, E-Scow, American 18), and multihull fleets.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of SarasotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Sarasota provides the land for the Squadron's 9-acre facility on City Island. This arrangement allows the Squadron to maintain affordable membership dues, with non-city residents paying slightly higher rates to reflect the public benefit.
• US SailingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Sailing certification for instructors ensures standardized, quality sailing instruction. The Squadron's instructors hold US Sailing certifications.
• Florida Women's Sailing Association (FWSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Luffing Lassies are members of FWSA and participate in races against sister clubs throughout the Florida Women's Sailing Association.
• Sarasota Youth SailingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located nonprofit youth sailing program that serves as a gateway into sailing for youth and creates a pathway to Squadron membership. Shares the City Island location.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Sarasota Yacht Club: The other major yacht/sailing club in Sarasota, offering racing, social events, and waterfront amenities. Comparable as the closest direct competitor within the same geography for the same member pool.
• Coral Reef Yacht Club: Miami-based yacht and sailing club with member racing fleets, junior sailing, and reciprocal club structure analogous to Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Comparable as a Florida sailing community club with multiple one-design fleets.
• Davis Island Yacht Club: Tampa Bay area sailing club running one-design fleets, regattas, and learn-to-sail programs on Tampa Bay. Highly comparable by virtue of geography, fleet racing, and community sailing-club model.
• Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island: Southeast U.S. sailing and yacht club with junior sailing, fleet racing, and reciprocal-club network. Comparable regional peer with similar membership-driven programming.
• St. Petersburg Yacht Club: Long-standing Florida Gulf Coast yacht club offering sailing instruction, racing, social events, and waterfront dining on a similar membership dues model. Directly comparable in geography, programming, and member demographics.

Regional players

• Pensacola Yacht Club: Gulf Coast sailing and yacht club with comparable learn-to-sail, fleet racing, and regatta hosting. Comparable peer in adjacent Florida Panhandle market with overlapping programming.

Broad incumbents

• US Sailing: National governing body of sailing in the U.S. and the certifying body for the Squadron's instructors. Comparable as the broader institutional incumbent that sets curriculum, certifications, and competitive standards for community sailing clubs.
• Annapolis Yacht Club: Premier East Coast yacht club with extensive sailing instruction, junior sailing, and major regatta hosting (including national and international events). Larger and more established, but offers a directly analogous programming footprint to Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

Emerging players

• SailTime: Sailboat-specific fractional ownership and boat-club model offering access to sailing without traditional yacht-club obligations. Closest emerging competitor to the Squadron's Boatshare sailing fleet model.
• Freedom Boat Club: Fast-growing membership-based boat club providing access to a fleet of powerboats (and increasingly sailboats) without ownership. Competes with the Squadron's Boatshare and membership programs on access-without-ownership value proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=RHp18QG1YOY
• Facebookfacebook.com/SarasotaSailingSquadron
• Instagraminstagram.com/sarasotasailingsquadron
• Xtwitter.com/hashtag/sarasotasailingsquadron
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarasota-sailing-squadron-inc

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 Sarasota Sailing Squadron Inc