Minneapolis Sailing Center has a variety of sailboats for Members to use. From the small Optimist sailboat for younger sailors to the Ensign Keelboat for cruising across the lake with family and friends, we have something for everyone. Members get access to our entire fleet of sailboats provided they pass an evaluation on that type of boat. Sailors do not necessarily need to take a class for each type of boat to get evaluated and earn a rating. See below for a description and quantity (#) of each boat.
Ensign (17)
The Ensign is the largest class of full keel sailboats in North America. Measuring 22.5 feet in length and weighing about 3,000 lbs, the Ensign is an ideal day sailor. With room for up to eight adults, its large cockpit and full keel provide a spacious and stable ride. The Ensigns feature bench seating with a flat-bottomed cockpit and ample headroom under the boom that make sailing this boat a breeze. The Ensign handles well in various wind and wave conditions, perfect for bringing family and friends out for a sail. Our Ensigns are fitted with jib roller furling systems, making rigging quick and easy. Visit www.ensignclass.com for more information.
Ensign must be sailed with at least two people in red flag conditions. Experienced sailors may be allowed to sail an ensign solo in green flag conditions at the dockmaster’s discretion.
club 420 (30)
With over 5,000 boats in use in North America, the two-person Club 420 dinghy forms the basis of many local high school and collegiate programs. Measuring 13.5 feet in length and weighing only 230 lbs, the Club 420 is a responsive and fast sailboat. It is simple enough for beginning sailors and yet challenging for collegiate champions. With the option of using a spinnaker and trapeze, the Club 420 offers a sporty and athletic sailboat. MSC uses the Club 420 for the high school program and summer racing. Members are encouraged to participate in weekly 420 races in partnership with the CYC. Visit www.club420.org for more information.
The Club 420 is designed to be sailed with two people. Experienced sailors may sail the 420 alone with just the mainsail.
laser (8)
The Laser is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world with over 200,000 boats worldwide. At 13.75 feet in length and weighing 130 lbs the Laser is an ideal racing boat that is easy to transport and store. There are multiple rig sizes (Standard, Radial, 4.7) to fit sailors of different sizes. The Laser is an Olympic-class boat that is both technically and physically challenging to race at a high level. Visit www.laser.org for more information.
Lasers are sailed by a single skipper.
optimist (41)
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by youngsters up to the age of 15. At 7.75 feet in length and weighing only 75 lbs, the Optimist is the perfect boat for younger sailors. It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 boats sailing. Optimists are ideal learn-to-sail boats for children as young as 4. Their relatively small sail size and robust construction work well for newer sailors, but they are also sailed competitively around the world where they have been the training ground for many of today’s top professional skippers. Visit www.optiworld.org for more information.
c scow (3)
The C Scow was designed right here in Minnesota at Johnson Boat Works of White Bear Lake. 20 feet in length with a sail area of 216 sq. ft. the C Scow features a large sail-to-boat size ratio. The flat-bottomed boat has two bilge boards on either side, which allow the boat to be sailed at a 20 to 25-degree angle of heel for maximum speed. The large sail and angle of the heel add up to a fast and fun sailboat. The CYC has a fleet of C Scows that race twice a week. Members who are rated may use the MSC C Scows in the CYC races. Visit www.cscow.org for more information.
Typically sailed by two sailors, a third crew can be added in higher winds to stabilize the boat. To learn how to become involved with the C SCOW racing and sailing email collin@sailmpls.org.