Lake Minnetonka Sailing School

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Excelsior, MN
Lake Minnetonka Sailing School

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Igniting a Passion for the Lifetime Sport of Sailing These courses focus on drills necessary to move confidently into racing.

The Recreational Summer Camp sessions serve as the foundation of our program by introducing students to sailing in an encouraging, fun, social, and safe environment. For sailors who choose to move forward with their sailing development, we offer Learn-to-Race sessions in Optimist and 420s. Sailors ready to step up to our advanced levels of sailboat racing then join one or more of our Advanced Race Teams - Optimist, 420, and Laser. These teams train for 8 weeks at Lighthouse Island and compete in local, regional, and national regattas, with support from coaches and parents.

10/14/2026

Farewell for now, Lighthouse Island.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to Minnetonka Yacht Club’s second clubhouse. With gratitude for the past and excitement for the future, we begin this new chapter.

None of this happens without you. To our volunteers, MYC members, LMSS families, the broader Lake Minnetonka community, and to the LMSS and MYC staff who have supported this project every step of the way, thank you.

It’s not too late to join us in supporting this project. If you haven't pledged yet, or you're in a position to extend your support, now is the time. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.lighthouse-island.com.

We are building the future here on Lighthouse Island, and are grateful to be doing it with all of you.

10/14/2026

Thank you for the memories, Lighthouse Island.

For 82 years, this building has held our regattas, our parties, our sunburns and our stories. Generations of sailors have learned to rig, capsize, and race from these docks. Many of them bring their own kids back, while new faces join every season.

As we reflect on decades of joy, victory, and sunsets on Lighthouse Island, please send your favorite LHI photos to [email protected] so we can create a compilation.

We look forward to the future on our little slice of the golden pond.

📸 by the MYC & LMSS family

09/30/2026

Tonka Advances ➡️

LMSS hosted the Northwest League Great Lakes Qualifier over the weekend, with eight teams from Minnesota and Wisconsin vying for a spot in the top four.

A rainy day 1 and light air day 2 allowed for 11 races in each division, with Minnetonka placing second overall and advancing to the Great Lakes Championship Oct 24-25.

Congratulations to all sailors in attendance and a big thank you to our crew of volunteers!

09/23/2026

🏆 Midwest Champs! 🏆

For the first time since 2019—and only the second time ever—Minnetonka has won the Midwest Girls Championship! 🎉

The team battled tricky light-air conditions at Hoover Sailing Club in Ohio, and showed incredible speed, consistency, and determination all weekend.

Thank you to Hoover Sailing Club for hosting a great event, and to everyone who helped make the trip possible.

The girls will compete in the PCISA-ISSA Girls National Invitational in mid-October, taking on 20 of the top high school girls teams from across the country. We can’t wait to see what they can do on the national stage!

09/15/2026

NATIONALS ➡️ BOUND

Ella Bowers, MHS Junior, is the 2026 MISSA Singlehanded Champion! 🏆⛵️

With her victory in Chicago, Ella has earned the opportunity to compete against the top 12 ILCA 6 girls in the country at Cressy Nationals, hosted by American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, at the end of October.

Congratulations, Ella! We couldn’t be more proud! 🥳

And congratulations to our entire Laser squad—Maggie McGary, Lucas McGary, Mark Yakovlev, and Ella.

The growth this group has achieved over the past year has been nothing short of incredible. Much of that growth has come through determination, adversity, and grit.

The Laser is not for the faint of heart. It is an incredibly demanding boat, both physically and mentally. The moment you think you’ve figured it out, you find yourself swimming. 😅

But that’s exactly what makes it such a powerful teacher.

For those who stick with it, the Laser teaches lessons that extend far beyond sailing: how to face adversity, prepare your mind and body for difficult challenges, stay composed when things don’t go your way, and continually work toward mastering the finer points of your craft.

We are incredibly proud of what this group has accomplished—not just this weekend, but throughout the entire year.

Congratulations, Ella, and congratulations to our entire Laser team! We can’t wait to see what comes next.

A huge thank you to Chicago Yacht Club for hosting a fantastic event, to Mila and Sergei Yakovlev for chaperoning and helping make the trip possible, to Coach Edgar and Coach Erik, and to Ray Bove for joining our squad for the weekend!

📸 Samuel Bartel & Hannah Gromen

09/09/2026

Who did it best? 🐰

08/29/2026

As we head into the weekend, one final reminder: the deadline to contribute to the revitalization of Lighthouse Island is this Monday, August 31, at midnight.

For generations, Lighthouse Island has been a place where young sailors learn to sail, make friends, gain confidence on the water, and discover a lifelong love of sailing.

This project is an opportunity to ensure the island is ready for the next generation, with improved classrooms, docks, waterfront spaces, and facilities that will better serve LMSS sailors and families for years to come.

Now is the time to make your gift. Every contribution, at every level, makes a difference. Just click below to give today.

Thank you for being part of LMSS and for helping make Lighthouse Island such a special place for sailors of all ages and abilities!

P.S. More naming opportunities have been added — more benches are now available at the Champion level, and Adirondack chairs at the Bosun level.

https://www.lighthouse-island.com/donate

08/28/2026

Join Fall Sailing!

Our middle and high school teams kicked things off on Tuesday at the annual info meeting.

We’re stoked to see you all back on the water next week!

Interested in joining? Send an email to [email protected]

08/24/2026

Summer → Fall ⛵️🍂

Fall middle and high school sailing is almost here! Our first practice is just one week from tomorrow, and we have a lot of fun planned for the next few months.

Fall is one of the best times of year to sail, and we want everyone ready to hit the water from day one.

Don’t miss the kickoff meeting tomorrow night on Lighthouse Island!

6:00 PM — Parent Meeting + Bailer-Making Party

Parents: The Sailing Team Parent Organization (STPO) will cover everything you need to know about the fall season, including carpools, regattas, equipment, team structure, and scholastic sailing.

Sailors: Make your own bailer for the season! Bring a jug (Arnold Palmer or laundry detergent bottles work great), plus tape and anything else you want to decorate with—colorful duct tape, glitter, glue, stickers, etc. Get creative!

7:00 PM — Fall Season Kickoff

The LMSS coaching staff, STPO parents, and sailing team captains will walk everyone through the fall program, including the schedule, team structure, expectations, and what to expect this season.

Come meet the team, get organized, and get excited for the season.

See you tomorrow evening! ⛵️

08/17/2026

We are pleased to invite you to our 2026 LMSS End of Summer BBQ on Thursday, August 20th from 5:30-8PM. Join LMSS staff, coaches, and fellow sailors for a celebration of the successful 2026 season! Please join us for an evening of open sailing, a delicious meal of carnitas and root b**r floats catered by Brown Chicken Brown Cow, and a short presentation of our 2026 Awards.

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MYP40BCGVJPDR/checkout/ZITTBCMLWM57PN5XPLO32XTN

Sailor Meals: $15
Friends/Family Meals: $25

Ticket sales will close tomorrow morning, Tuesday August 18, at 9AM

Address

19802 Minnetonka Boulevard
Excelsior, MN
55331

Telephone

+19524041645

Website

http://www.lmss.us/

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