Nestled in a wooded corner of Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata, Minnesota, is a state-of-the-art community sailing building – home to Wayzata Sailing and its more than 1200 annual participants (even though, yes, their lake is a sheet of ice for at least four months of the year).
As one of US Sailing’s Accredited Community Sailing Centers, Wayzata Sailing focuses on a huge variety of ways to enjoy being a part of the community on their beloved 14,000-acre lake.
To the folks at Wayzata Sailing, their sailing school is about more than the traditional learn-to-sail track that gets kids on the water with the intention of turning them into racers as soon as they can (although more on why they’re incredibly good at that part to come!).
One of the key parts of US Sailing’s Accredited Community Sailing Center program is geared around inclusivity. US Sailing encourages centers to engage their diverse communities and promote public access to sailing that allows for previously underrepresented groups of people to be a part of the fun.
“We encourage sailing centers to come up with creative programming that includes STEM concepts and social-emotional learning methods woven into a standard day on the water,” says Janel Martin, Youth Programs & Outreach Manager, US Sailing.” Wayzata Sailing does all of that and then some – they have tech-free classes for youngsters, kiting and foiling classes for students seeking to push the limits of new technology and excitement, summer camps focused on STEM concepts, family sailing, and adaptive programs suited for differently abled people from all walks of life.”
Moreover, Wayzata Sailing offers scholarships for each of these programs for those unable to cover the course fee on their own.
“Inclusivity and creative programs are what makes a community sailing center stand out – Wayzata Sailing is not afraid to try new things, say yes to different ideas and new people, and their doors are open to everyone, regardless of experience or financial status,” says Andrew Clouston, SVP of Programs and Services, US Sailing.
But perhaps what makes Wayzata stand out among US Sailing’s Accredited Centers this year is their success in the youth racing world. Each year, youth sailors around the country compete in area qualifiers for the chance to represent their program at the Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup, which has been around since 1921.
This year, the Wayzata Sailing Team of Dominik Moncur, Stonewall Anderson, Harper Lundeen-Hetland, and Ella Bowers, laid down a dominant performance at the Area K Qualifier and earned the right to head to San Diego to represent Area K.
Held in J22s, this year’s Triplehanded Championship was suited to sailors from Lake Minnetonka. Wayzata Yacht Club, right next door to Wayzata Sailing, is home to J22 Fleet #1 and a healthy population of excellent sailboat racers. But the competition out west was stiff and the winds were light and fickle, and these four sailors were far from home. In a fleet of 17 boats of top sailors in the country, the Wayzata sailors stood out, with their lowest finish being a 9 and several first place finishes on the scoreline.
The competition was tight with the gap at the end of racing only 3 points between first and second, but they came out on top – only the second team from the Midwest to host the Sears Cup in over 30 years.
“We had already worked a lot on the mental side of it, like how can we reset ourselves,” said Coach, Jackson Connell. “This is the first regatta these guys have had without a coach on hand, so learning how to do that themselves and just be able to roll right into the next race and be in a good head space. It is such a metal sport.”
Matt Thompson, Chair of US Sailing’s Community Sailing Committee and Executive Director of Wayzata Sailing, put it best when he said of his sailors – “We can’t [take] credit for their results, their work is their own. What we can take credit for is a community that has given every sailor an opportunity to show off how great they are. Scholarship participants are seamlessly part of every program, and are core representation in staff and our top racers. Support isn’t just a day outing, it’s about making the whole game accessible.”
“I remember the first time I started sailing, I was doing it for fun and having a fun time, but then I got scared and almost stopped sailing. But I kept pushing back,” said Stonewall Anderson. “It has been a journey of finding something I really enjoy and taking it to the next level and the next level, and being pushed by my coaches and the other kids in my class. Starting out I never thought that I could get to the competitive level, but you really don’t know where it’s going to take you,”
“Hats off to Dominik, Stonewall, Harper, and Ella – great sailors, and by all accounts great people and competitors – for their achievement,” says Whitney Kent, Youth Programs Associate, US Sailing. “And congratulations to Wayzata Sailing, one of the community sailing centers leading the charge in accessibility for all, for producing successful sailors both on and off the water!”
This article is a part of US Sailing’s Community Sailing Center spotlight series. If you would like to be featured, please fill out the form: https://ussailing.jotform.com/242826089803059