Clare Leeper
Director of Recreational Sailing and Administration
Clare Leeper has been a huge part of the LMSS community for the past seven years. She is graduating from the Honors Program at Loyola University Maryland in May with a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing Interdisciplinary major, along with a Special Education minor. She has held the role of Assistant Captain and Treasurer of the Loyola University Maryland Sailing Team for three years and a member for four.
She grew up sailing at Minneapolis Sailing Center and Wayzata Community Sailing Center, where she was an active member of the Edina High School and Benilde-St. Margaret’s Sailing teams after years of summer recreational camps. Clare also sailed on the LMSS 420 race summer team, where she fell in love with Lighthouse Island and everything that LMSS has to offer.
At LMSS, Clare has taught Little Skippers, Pram 7-9 Recreational Camps, and spearheaded our Adaptive Sailing Program, which is in its third season this upcoming summer. She was given LMSS’ 2021 Sportsmanship Award, and is US Sailing Level 1 and Level 3 certified.
With extensive time and experience at three of Minnesota’s Youth Sailing Programs, Clare has personal connections across the state, and an understanding of what makes a program successful. She hopes to continue to make sailing accessible for all, support the strength of our recreational programs, and encourage the growth of our race teams.
Samuel Bartel
Director of Racing and Operations
I grew up sailing on Lake Minnetonka, but I didn’t become really invested in sailboat racing until I was in 7th or 8th grade. During the summers I attended classes at both LMSS and Wayzata Sailing, and in the fall/spring I competed for Orono High School, where I also founded a very strong the team. Great coaching from individuals in Minnesota and other parts of the country really helped me to develop my arsenal of sailing skills during this time.
Some of the success I achieved in high school includes winning the MISSA Great Lakes Championship 2x, winning Great Oaks Nationals in New Orleans, attending Cressy (Laser) Nationals 2x, as well as winning a number of local and regional regattas during the high school and summer seasons.
After high school I spent four years on the Sailing Team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although the COVID pandemic canceled competition for two of my four years in college, I was still able to accomplish a lot. I earned my US Sailing Level 3 Race Coach certification. I competed at 7 Collegiate National Championships: Team Race 2x, Fleet Race 2x, and Match Race 3x. My best result was tying for 5th place at the Match Race Nationals in 2021. I was also the captain of the team for a year. Oh, and yes I attended school! I graduated with a degree in Psychology and Chinese.
Besides college sailing, I’ve competed in a lot of E Scow and Match Racing regattas. The best of which was a 10th place finish at the US Adult Match Racing Championship in 2021. My most recent obsession has been iceboating. I built my own DN last year, and since then I’ve competed in 2 National Championships, a North Americans and a Worlds. Iceboating is by far the best sailing I’ve ever done! Ask me about it.
My coaching style is similar to that of Gordy. I am very analytical, competitive, calm, and positive. I love talking about sailing, day or night, and I’m always happy to answer questions. I think that I will be a valuable addition to your coaching staff this spring because of these qualities, but also because of the knowledge that I’ve obtained in recent years. I’ve had the chance to be coached by some of the best sailors in the country: Collegiate All Americans, College Sailors of the Year, Olympians, etc. I have also raced at dozens of venues throughout the US against the best of the best. I look forward to meeting all of you, and to a great spring sailing season!
Gordy Bowers
Senior Coach
LMSS
Emma Komis
Head Coach – Opti Learn to Race; Co-Head Coach – Opti Race Team
My name is Emma Komis and I am a rising sophomore at UW Madison. I have been sailing with LMSS since I was 5. I sailed on the Minnetonka High School Sailing Team, as well.
I am currently a crew on the Wisco Sailing Team and enjoy racing Scows and J22s in the summers in Minnetonka. This will be my 5th year coaching Optis with LMSS. I started as assistant Opti Learn to Race coach, and now head coach Opti Learn to Race and the Opti Race Team. I’m looking forward to an awesome summer!
Nigel Yu
Assistant Coach – Opti Learn to Race
I started sailing when I was eight years old at LMSS, and this sport has become a passion of mine since then. My expertise in the 420 and the Opti has grown significantly over the years.
Over the years, I have competed in many High School Conference Regattas as a skipper for both A and B fleets and in many summer TCYS regattas as a skipper.
I am finishing my senior year at Minnetonka High School and am planning on majoring in Neuroscience and pursuing the pre-med path in college.
In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, reading, hockey, martial arts, skiing, horseback riding, and traveling. I look forward to coaching the upcoming LTR Opti sailors again this summer at LMSS!
Evy Engebretson
Assistant Coach – Opti Learn to Race
Hi! My name is Evy and I am excited to be back for my second year as an Opti Learn to Race Assistant Coach. I spent a lot of time on Lake Minnetonka growing up but I didn’t start sailing until 5th grade. I found my love for sailing after taking an LMSS Sonar lesson with my family.
From there, I’ve sailed Optis and 420s with LMSS. I’ve been on the Minnetonka High School sailing team for the last 5 years and I will be a senior on the team next year. I am one of the current captains of the team and it is one of my favorite parts of high school. On the team, I’ve driven 420s, FJs, and Lasers. In addition to coaching in the summer, I sail for the Minnetonka Yacht Club. I mainly sail Melges 15s but I have also sailed on X, E, and A scows along with some keelboats
I don’t know what I’m doing after graduating from MHS, but I am hoping to sail competitively in college. Outside of sailing, I love spending time on the lake, hanging out with friends, and traveling.
I can’t wait to meet all of the Opti sailors this summer and help everyone improve their skills while having fun on the water!
Martha Hughes
Assistant Coach - Opti Learn to Race, Rec 7-9, Rec 10-12
Hi! My name is Martha Hughes I’m from Deephaven Minnesota. I started sailing at LMSS when I was little beginning in Pram Camp, then joining Opti learn to race. I also participated on the Opti race team as well as the X boat race team. I have also sailed multiple variations of scows as well as Lasers.
I am going to be a Senior at Blake School located in Minneapolis, racing on the high school team based out of LMSS. Some of the things that I enjoy doing in my free time are sailing, of course, spending time with my family and friends and just being outside! See you soon!
Kate Ness
Co-Head Coach – Opti Race Team
Hi! My name is Kate Ness, I’m from Wayzata Minnesota and have been sailing at Minnetonka Yacht Club and LMSS for 12 years now. I have sailed on everything from Optis, Lasers, and 420s, to E boats, and A boats. This will be my 3rd year coaching at LMSS. My first summer I helped with private lessons and last year was my first year coaching the Opti Race Team. I am so excited to continue with that role this year! I have also helped out with many other jobs on the island such as the summer camps and X boats.
I will be attending Baylor University this fall where I am considering joining their club sailing team. I am beyond excited to spend my summer on the island bettering the program and helping kids find their love for sailing!
Katie Hanley
Co-Head Coach – X Boat Race Team
My name is Katie Hanley and I am a rising Sophomore at the College of Charleston, studying Commercial Real Estate Finance and Marketing. From Minnetonka, Minnesota, I grew up sailing on Lake Minnetonka and have been a part of the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School since I was seven years old in Prams. I was a member of the Opti, 420, and X Boat Race Teams, and sailed for the MHS high school team, sailing in Women’s Nationals twice and winning State. At College of Charleston, I am the only freshman dinghy skipper on the women’s team.
I’ve coached 420’s and X boats here at LMSS and can’t wait for another great summer!
Max Sigel
Co-Head Coach – X Boat Race Team
I grew up sailing Opti’s at LMSS and quickly transitioned to racing at TCYS regattas. I moved up to the X-boat where I continued to advance my sailing career and participated in many ILYA regattas. I began sailing for the Minnetonka High School team where I learned to sail 420’s, FJ’s, and laser’s.
At this point, my sailing career began to ramp up. I was getting more regatta experience than ever before, practice was getting more intense and my time on the water was increasing. At the same time I began sailing E-scows in the summer which has been such an amazing experience. I’m currently a Freshman at University of Rhode Island and actively participating in the URI Sailing Team.
This will be my second year coaching X-boats at LMSS. I enjoy helping to facilitate the growth and development of youth racers. I’m ecstatic to be returning to LMSS and can’t wait to start the summer!
Josh Sullivan
Head Coach – 420 Race Team
My name is Josh Sullivan and I am from Lake Elmo, Minnesota. I was introduced to sailing in 1998 when I first learned to sail on my family’s Sunfish and J/30. I started racing a J/30 when I was 10 and quickly picked up dinghy racing in the Optimist, as well. I moved into the C420 for high school sailing and the class has been the focus of my sailing career ever since.
After 4 years of high school sailing and 4 summers of club racing, I went on to coach high school and summer racing programs. I spent 2 years coaching at White Bear Sailing School, 5 years coaching at Gull Lake Sailing School, and a summer at Wayzata Sailing before moving to LMSS for Summer 2023. In the winter, I work at Afton Alps in the Lift Operations Department. When I’m not working, I enjoy mountain biking, fishing, backcountry camping, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. I’m looking forward to coaching some great young racers at LMSS this summer!
Carmen Lineer
Head Coach – Rec 7-9, Classroom 1
My name is Carmen Lineer and I am from Excelsior, Minnesota. I am currently student at UW-Madison studying neurobiology. I started sailing in summer camps at LMSS when I was in elementary school, and stuck with it. I started racing 420s and FJs in my freshman year of high school and am now a member of the Wisconsin Collegiate Sailing Team. Sailing is a big part of my life and I always enjoy learning something new when I’m out on the water. I’m so excited for this summer!
Parker Laing
Assistant Coach – Rec 7-9, Classroom 1; Head Coach – Rec 7-9, Classroom 3
My name is Parker Laing, and I’m looking forward to my second summer as an Assistant Coach for Rec 7-9 camp! I’ve been taking classes at LMSS since I was 7, and have sailed Optis, X-boats, 420s, FJ’s, Melges 15’s, and E-Scows on Lake Minnetonka. I’ve also been on the Lake Minnetonka Sailing Team for 4 years through middle school and high school. I enjoy being on the water as much as I can, but when I’m not sailing I love music, fashion, traveling, and skiing. I’m so excited to spend this summer with my co-coaches and sailors!
Anavey Hosack
Head Coach – Rec 7-9, Classroom 2
My name is Anavey Hosack, but some people know me as Vey. I have been a Head Coach for 7-9 Recreational Camp for 4 years now. Depending on what’s needed on the island, I have also been Evening Director and an Adult Keelboat instructor.
Way before that, I was an LMSS sailor, too! I know, that was so long ago I can hardly believe it myself! At LMSS I sailed Prams for 3 years and 420s for 3 years. I’ve been sailing Keelboats as an adult for 5 years now, and have started to learn how to sail E Scows and Lasers.
Outside of sailing, I love to read and snowboard! Maybe just not both at the same time. I am so excited to be back for another year, and I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Will Irwin
Assistant Coach – Rec 7-9, Classroom 2 and 3
I am going to be a junior at Edina High School and am super excited to be coaching at LMSS this summer! I grew up sailing every summer with the LMSS recreational program, mostly in prams and Hartley 12s.
This is my second year as an assistant instructor for 7-9 Rec Camp Classroom 2 (Sessions 01-08). I will also be volunteering with the Adaptive Sailing Program. My favorite part of coaching is seeing how kids come to learn and love sailing, even when it can be a little unfamiliar and scary at first.
I play soccer, the violin, and love skiing in the winter.
Lara Granucci
Assistant Coach – Rec 7-9
Hi, my name is Lara and I am a rising senior at Minnetonka High School. When I was 6 years old I started sailing in the pram summer camps at LMSS, before moving on to Opti Learn to Race. I continued racing Optis until I was 14 years old, when I started racing Toppers. Junior year, I joined the Minnetonka High School Sailing Team and learned how to race 420s and Lasers.
Apart from racing, I have also enjoyed sailing lots of other types of boats with friends and family, my favorites being Nacra 15 and keelboats. Last summer I enjoyed my first experience coaching the rec sailing camps I grew up doing as a kid, and I am super excited to be back on the island this summer!
Ed Usandivaras
Assistant Coach – Rec 7-9
Hey there! I‘m Eduardo (or Ed), and I’m stoked to be back at LMSS for my second year as a sailing instructor. Sailing is my jam—I just can‘t get enough of it. Something about being out on the water, feeling the wind in my hair, and the waves beneath me makes my heart soar. You’ll often find me kicking around a soccer ball or hitting the track when I‘m not out sailing. But let me tell you, nothing beats the satisfaction I get from teaching others the pure joy of sailing. Seeing their faces light up as they navigate the waters is what it’s all about for me.
Ana Stewart
Head Coach – Rec 10-12
Hi! My name is Ana Stewart. I grew up sailing Optis, 420s, FJs, Lasers, and E Scows on Lake Minnetonka. I joined the MHS sailing team my freshman year of high school and was elected captain my senior year.
I look forward to sailing in college and pursuing a degree in environmental science and economics after graduating this spring!
I love spending time on the lake and sharing my passion for sailing. Outside of sailing I enjoy traveling, spending time outside, and photography. I am looking forward to my fourth summer coaching at LMSS. I can’t wait to meet each and everyone of my campers this summer!
Sofia Sigel
Assistant Coach – Rec 10-12
Hi! My name is Sofia Sigel and I am really excited to be back for my second summer as a Rec 10-12 assistant coach for LMSS. I grew up sailing on Lake Minnetonka, sailing Optis, 420s, FJs, X-Boats, Lasers, M-15s, and E-Boats. These experiences have helped me gain sailing fundamentals and develop coaching skills for all kinds of conditions. I have been on the Minnetonka High School Sailing Team for 4 years, starting in middle school and continuing through the present (I’m a rising senior at Minnetonka High School). Outside of sailing I like to ski, travel, and spend time with friends on the lake. I look forward to coaching Rec classes with Ana and Jordi and creating a fun summer learning experience for our sailors.
Jordi Malaret
Assistant Coach – Rec 10-12
Hello, my name is Jordi Malaret, I’m from Minnetonka, Minnesota, and am excited to return for my second summer coaching at LMSS. I just graduated from Minnetonka high school and hope to continue sailing in college. I’ve sailed all kinds of boats such as lasers, 420s, and E-Scows. I’ve been a part of the Minnetonka High School sailing team for six years and have been fortunate enough to attend various regattas both locally and nationally. When I’m not sailing I enjoy being outdoors, skiing in the winter, and traveling.
Tryg Van Wyk
Head Coach – Rec 13-16, Rec 7-9
I am a first-year student at George Washington University studying public health with a premed concentration. I grew up sailing at LMSS and started sailing in prams. From there, I moved through 420 camps and race teams to competing on the Minnetonka High School sailing team. Now, I sail both ILCA dinghies and 420s at GWU.
During the summer season, I love sailing scows with my friends on Lake Minnetonka, including the MC, A, and E. I am also excited to get better at team racing every day. At GW, we practice five days a week which is a welcome break from classes.
In the past, I have worked in the evenings at LMSS, helping with the Sail with LMSS program. I also try to coach Rec 7-9 pram classes whenever I get the chance, as I enjoy teaching new sailors. This summer, I will be coaching rec 13-16 420 camps, which will be a ton of fun! I can’t wait to start the season and help others grow a passion for the sport.
Nick Carver
Assistant Coach – Rec 13-16, Head Coach – Rec 10-12
Hi! My name is Nick Carver. I’m originally from Maryland, so I started sailing on the Chesapeake bay. I started sailing because of a camp back in elementary, so I am excited to share this amazing sport with others! I’ve sailed picos, sunfish, hartleys, Hobie Cats, and 420s. I continue to sail recreationally on lake Minnetonka with friends and family.
I’m currently going into my sophomore year at the University of Minnesota! I’m studying aerospace engineering and computer science. Outside of school and sailing, I play on the Gopher Rugby team and am a member of the Chi Psi fraternity! Most of my time is spent with the team, studying, or hanging out with friends. I couldn’t be happier to come back to LMSS for another summer as a coach!
Isabell Friedell
Head Coach – Little Skippers, Women on the Water/Adult Social Sailing, Friday Keelboat Lessons
Isabel has been sailing since their dad signed them up for Pram Camp at LMSS when they were 10. Since then, they’ve continued to sail whenever the chance arises, be it over the summer at LMSS, sleepaway camp, renting a catamaran in Australia, and most recently spending part of their gap year aboard Ocean Star through the Seamester program in the Caribbean.
Apart from sailing, Isabel is an incoming senior at the University of Minnesota School of Design. They have a passion for sewing and taking naps with their dogs when time allows.
Amy Foster
Assistant Coach – Little Skippers
My name is Amy and I’m super excited to be teaching Little Skippers this summer! I have had the opportunity to sail multiple different boats: Opti’s, Lasers, 420s, E Scows, and J70s. I graduated from Minnetonka High School and was a part of the Minnetonka team all 4 years.
I am currently studying at Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario, working on my degree in Environmental Biology and sailing in my free time.
I have had the opportunity to teach multiple different classes at LMSS. I started off as a mentor for Opti Learn to Race and have also coached Prams and Hartleys.
Amelia Sulciner
Assistant Coach – Women on the Water/Adult Social Sailing
My Name is Amelia Sulciner. I’ve been sailing with LMSS for the past 10 years, and have been on the Minnetonka High School team for the past two years. I started out sailing in pram camp and fell in love with sailing and being on the water. After my first summer at LMSS, I knew I wanted to keep coming back every year. Now I sail on the 420 race team in the summers and in the fall and spring on the Minnetonka High School team.