What Saaremaa Merispordi Selts does

Saaremaa Merispordi Selts (MTÜ) is a non-profit maritime sports association founded in 1926 in Kuressaare on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia. The organization operates a sailing club providing structured training programs for youth and adults across multiple boat classes (Optimist, Zoom8, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, RS Feva, Folkboot, Dragon, ORC), together with ice sailing programs in DN, Monotype XV, and Ice-Optimist classes during winter months. It organizes a full annual competition calendar including SMS Regatt, Abruka Regatt, Kuressaare Jahisadama Regatt, Ruhnu Regatt, Heiti Rebase Memorial Regatt, and Bellingshausen Regatt, along with weekly Wednesday series races.

The club's revenue model is subscription- and community-driven: annual membership fees (€60 for regular members, €30 for seniors, free for students), training and course fees (e.g., €10 for competition rules seminars), and regatta registration fees, supplemented by EU and Estonian public funding (Erasmus+, PRIA Leader, European Regional Development Fund, Päästeamet). It also operates the Kuressaare Marina (Jahisadam) under shared executive management. The club is member-governed with a board elected at general meetings and a professional executive director appointed in July 2021.

The organization pursues international cooperation through the Young Sailors Estonia-Latvia cross-border project (with Pärnu Jahtklubi, the Latvian Laser Class Association, and the Latvian Sailing Federation) and the Erasmus+ program (with Pytheas Yacht Club in Greece). The club has produced internationally competitive sailors, including Trinette Välisson (Zoom8 World Championship 3rd place, RS Tera World Championship 1st place in 2024) and Joosep Laus and Karl Lember (Ice Sailing Monotype-XV European Championship 3rd place in 2024). It has published a 2021-2024 development plan and a 2026-2036 strategy, and is preparing to launch its 100th sailing season in 2026.

Name

Saaremaa Merispordi Selts

Legal name

MTÜ Saaremaa Merispordi Selts

Website

https://saaremaamerispordiselts.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Saaremaa Merispordi Selts is a non-profit Estonian sailing club founded in 1926 that provides youth and adult sailing training, ice sailing programs, and organized regattas on Saaremaa island, serving individual members and competitive sailors in the Baltic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing Club & Maritime Sports Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Sailing club services
• Youth sailing training
• Regatta organization
• Maritime sports
• Ice sailing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuressaare

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide core operational revenue. Regular members pay 60€ annually, with reduced rates for seniors (30€) and exemptions for students without income.
2. Training Services: The club offers sailing training programs for youth and adults, including boat handling courses, racing rules training, and skill development sessions. Revenue generated through training fees and course registrations.
3. Competition and Event Fees: Registration fees for regattas and competitions including SMS Regatt, Abruka Regatt, Kuressaare Jahisadama Regatt, and other sailing events organized by the club.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Saaremaa Merispordi Selts is a non-profit maritime sports association (MTÜ) that operates a sailing club providing youth and adult sailing training, organizing regattas and competitive sailing events across dinghy, offshore, and ice sailing disciplines. The club manages Kuressaare Marina, runs structured training programs, and hosts regional competitions such as SMS Regatt, Abruka Regatt, and Kuressaare Jahisadama Regatt.

Product overview

Saaremaa Merispordi Selts is a sailing club organization (MTÜ) based in Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Estonia. The organization offers sailing training programs for youth and adults, organizes regattas and sailing competitions, and provides related maritime services including small boat captain training, radio communication operator training, and event facilities at Kuressaare Marina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Sailing Training Programs
• Regatta Organization & Competitions
• Wednesday Race Series (Kolmapäevakud)
• Ice Sailing Programs
• Adult Sailing Education & Licensing
• Competition Rules Training Course
• Annual Club Membership
• Kuressaare Marina Operations

Quantifiable outcome

• Trinette Välisson won Zoom8 World Championship 3rd place and RS Tera World Championship 1st place in 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pytheas Yacht Club (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Through Erasmus+ program, club coaches Aivar Laus and Juhan Kolk conducted work shadowing at Pytheas Yacht Club near Athens, exploring opportunities for extending youth sailing season in Mediterranean conditions.
• Eesti Jahtklubide Liit (Estonian Yacht Clubs Union)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cooperation through RS Feva boat fleet project. 18-boat RS Feva fleet brought to Estonia in cooperation with Vopak E.O.S., with Saaremaa Merispordi Selts receiving 2 boats for youth training.
• Pärnu Jahtklubi (Pärnu Yacht Club)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Eesti-Läti cross-border cooperation project 'Young Sailors' co-developed with Pärnu Jahtklubi to promote youth sailing. Euroopa Regionaalarengu Fond (European Regional Development Fund) supported initiative to develop youth sailing and strengthen cooperation between maritime regions.
• Läti Laser-klassi liit (Latvian Laser Class Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership through Young Sailors project bringing together Estonian and Latvian youth sailors for joint training camps and competitions.
• Läti Purjespordiföderatsioon (Latvian Sailing Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Cooperating organization in Young Sailors project facilitating Baltic youth sailing development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pärnu Jahtklubi (Pärnu Yacht Club): Estonian yacht club also active in youth sailing and Baltic regattas. It is SMS's explicit cooperation partner in the Young Sailors Eesti-Läti cross-border project, making it the most directly comparable peer in terms of offerings (youth training, regattas, offshore racing) and customer base.
• Tallinna Jahtklubi (Tallinn Yacht Club): Estonian yacht club with broad sailing education and regatta programming, connected to the Estonian Yacht Clubs Union alongside SMS. Directly comparable in terms of training classes, competition calendar, and member services.
• Kalevi Jahtklubi (Kalev Yacht Club): One of Estonia's oldest and largest yacht clubs, offering dinghy and offshore sailing programs, training, and regattas. Comparable in that it is a member-based sailing society running youth development and competitive racing for similar Baltic sailor segments.

Broad incumbents

• Latvian Sailing Federation (Latvijas Burāšanas federācija): National governing body for sailing in Latvia and Young Sailors project partner. Comparable as an institutional peer shaping Baltic youth sailing programs and competition standards that SMS athletes engage with.
• Eesti Jahtklubide Liit (Estonian Yacht Clubs Union): National federation coordinating Estonian sailing clubs, publishing racing rules, and organizing fleet projects (e.g., the RS Feva fleet in which SMS participates). A broader incumbent that SMS both partners with and competes against for federation resources and visibility.

Regional players

• Ruhnu Regatt Organizers: SMS references the Ruhnu Regatt as part of its cup series, indicating shared event infrastructure with other Saaremaa/Baltic island regatta organizers. Regional peer for offshore and island sailing competitions.

Emerging players

• Pytheas Yacht Club: Greek yacht club near Athens where SMS coaches conducted Erasmus+ work-shadowing in 2025. Comparable as a Mediterranean sailing club focused on youth development and off-season training, with whom SMS is exploring season-extension cooperation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJCSOxZFIvY

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Saaremaa Merispordi Selts