For new and expert sailors alike, the Minneapolis Sailing Center is a fun and supportive environment to share in our passion for sailing. We have classes to make sailing affordable and available to sailors of all abilities and backgrounds. Scholarships are available to those who qualify.

NEW IN 2024: We are now offering a one-week half-day Junior Explorers class for 5-6 year-olds! See the schedule for available sessions.

family sailing classes

CHILDREN ages 4+

The Parent/Child Opti Class is for kids 4-6 years old. Parents or guardians will join their kids in an 8 ft. Optimist Pram. These small boats are fun for kids to try sailing for the first time.

For larger families looking for a more comfortable ride, you can sign up for a Family Keelboat Class, taught on a 23-foot Ensign keelboat. This boat can comfortably fit up to 5 family members. An instructor will sail with your group and teach you the ropes.

OPTIMIST Camps

CHILDREN AGES 7-13

The Optimist is an 8-ft sailboat for students usually ranging in age from 7-13 and weighing up to about 120 pounds.

The Optimist Explorers Class is designed for first-time sailors and focuses on building independence and confidence on the water. Half-day and full-day options give families some flexibility in scheduling their summers.

Once students feel confident with the basic skills they are ready to move on to Optimist Cruisers, where they enjoy sailing adventures and games in a non-race environment. The Cruisers session is designed to be repeated by sailors who aren’t interested in racing, with new activities and games each session.  

After feeling comfortable with the Cruisers’ skills, sailors who are interested in learning how to race can move to the Optimist Race Team. In this class, sailors participate in racing drills and practice races. Sailors will gain racing skills and knowledge while improving boat handling and confidence. Sailors participate in the Twin Cities Youth Sailing Regatta series on area lakes.

youth 420 camps

youth ages 12-17

The 420 is a 14 ft boat that is great for learning to sail and offers challenges such as spinnaker and trapeze as skill improves.

The 420 Explorers Class is for first-time and newer sailors to enjoy learning to sail in a non-competitive environment. Sailors will learn all the basics needed to get on the water and build confidence. The Explorers program is designed to build sailing skills through coaching and practice and should be taken multiple times. Sailors won’t want to miss the new games and adventures in each session! Sailors are ready to move onto 420 Cruisers once they have shown confidence in the 420 Explorers’ skills. 

420 Cruisers are sailors who have mastered the basic skills from the Explorers class and want to continue growing as a sailor in a non-competitive environment. Sailors will spend time exploring the chain of lakes, sailing to the beaches, and playing games that focus on building better sailors. 

For sailors who have mastered the basic skills from the Cruisers class and are interested in learning about Racing, the 420 Intro to Racing Class is the place to be. Sailors will focus on boat handling, upwind sailing, and sail trim while learning about the exciting world of Sailboat Racing.

The 420 Race Team is for sailors who can consistently demonstrate skill in upwind sailing, boat handling, and sail trim and want to improve their racing performance and compete in regattas. Sailors will work on advanced boat handling, sail trim, race strategy, and more. Sailors participate in the Twin Cities Youth Sailing Regatta series on area lakes.