C420 & ILCA Race Team
The C420 & ILCA Race Team is the most advanced youth program in the Minnetonka Race Team progression. It is the next step for 420 Learn to Race sailors, Opti Race Team sailors, X Boat Race Team sailors, and experienced middle/high school sailors. This team is for students aged 12-18 who either have learn to race experience and have been recommended by their coach, or those who are returning, advanced racers.
The Club 420 is one of the popular youth sailing boats in the U.S., designed for skill development and high-performance racing. With a spinnaker and trapeze system, it offers the perfect blend of challenge, technical precision, and excitement on the water. C420s are provided by LMSS, and boat usage is covered by the class registration fee.
The ILCA (formerly known as the Laser) is arguably the world’s best single-handed racing dinghy, built for sailors looking to refine their skills and compete at the highest levels. With a responsive design and three rig sizes (ILCA 4, 6, and 7) to accommodate different weights and experience levels, the ILCA class offers an unmatched combination of speed, strategy, and technical mastery. LMSS encourages all sailors, youth and adult, to sail ILCAs at some point in their career. ILCA charters are limited to 3 boats, first come first serve, and must be arranged before practices begin. ILCA ownership for LMSS sailors is highly encouraged.
Unlike middle or high school sailing, Club 420 sailing is all about having a consistent skipper or crew. Club teams should get along well, have similar work ethics, and similar goals. Therefore, C420 sailors should come to practice having already arranged a sailing partner. For sailors who do not have a set sailing partner, please reach out to Coach Samuel (race@lmss.us) for help finding a crew or skipper.
Sailors are required to participate in local regattas (part of Twin Cities Youth Sailing), and highly encouraged to participate in regional and national regattas deemed important by LMSS coaches and staff.
Additional regatta travel fees will apply outside of the Twin Cities. Participants attending the event will be responsible for their travel expenses in addition to covering lodging, rental vehicles, gas, and food for LMSS staff. LMSS will cover all staff hourly & salary expenses.
Prerequisite: 420 Learn to Race, Opti Race Team, X Boat Race Team, Middle/High School Sailing
Next Step: Middle/High School Sailing, repeat C420 & ILCA Race Team
Summer C420 & ILCA Race Team
Summer C420 & ILCA Race Team practices are held Monday through Friday from 12:30pm to 4:00pm during the months of June, July, and the beginning of August. Specific dates can be found on the calendar below. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 1:00pm. Practices begin June 9th and end August 8th.
There will NOT be C420 & ILCA Race Team practice during Friday TCYS regattas.
Sessions & Cost
Session 1 (June 9th - July 3rd): Training Block 1: $855
Session 2 (July 7th - August 8th): Training Block 2: $855
Charter an ILCA from LMSS for $100/session
ILCA boat ownership is highly encouraged!
Coaching Staff
Martha Hughes
Martina Escuer
Part time coaches: Samuel Bartel & Gordy Bowers
Guest Coaches: TBD
Summer C420 Regattas & Clinics
Twin Cities Youth Sailing (TCYS) Regattas
Manitou Days, June 20th @ White Bear Sailing School
City of Lakes, July 18th @ Minneapolis Sailing Center
Mike Plant, August 1st @ Wayzata Sailing
Brad Robinson Victory Regatta, August 8th @ LMSS
Ida Lewis - US Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship (C420/29er), June 18-22 @ Big Blue Sailing Academy / Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
C420 New England Championship, June 28-29 @ Sail Newport, RI
Chicago Yacht Club Junior Race Week, July 2-3 @ Chicago Yacht Club, IL
Neill Clinic, July 21-24 @ Chicago Yacht Club, IL
2025 C420 US National Championship, July 22-24 @ Hyannis Yacht Club
CORK International / Sail Canada Youth Fest, August 1-5 @ CORK / Kingston Sailing, Ontario, Canada
2025 C420 North American Championship, August 6-9 @ Sayville Yacht Club, NY
Summer ILCA Regattas & Clinics
Twin Cities Youth Sailing (TCYS) Regattas
Manitou Days, June 20th @ White Bear Sailing School
City of Lakes, July 18th @ Minneapolis Sailing Center
Mike Plant, August 1st @ Wayzata Sailing
Brad Robinson Victory Regatta, August 8th @ LMSS
Chicago Yacht Club Junior Race Week, July 2-3 @ Chicago Yacht Club, IL
Leiter Cup - US Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship (ILCA 4, ILCA 6), July 7-11 @ Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, MI
Neill Clinic, July 21-24 @ Chicago Yacht Club, IL
CORK International / Sail Canada Youth Fest (ILCA 4/6), August 1-5 @ CORK / Kingston Sailing, Ontario, Canada
Pre-Season High School Clinic, August 25-28 @ LMSS
Winter C420 & ILCA Race Team
Winter C420 & ILCA Race Team events are primarily clinics and regattas in Florida. Participation from at least 10 LMSS sailors is necessary to make the winter circuit viable. LMSS would load up 4-6 C420s and/or ILCAs on the LMSS truck during the first week of November, or LMSS would plan to charter from the Chicago Yacht Club. The truck, coach boat, and sailboats will be driven South to Florida for the winter regatta circuit.
Winter Regattas & Clinics - TBD
TBD - C420 Sail Jax @ Florida Yacht Club, likely ~December 14-15, 2025 + pre-event training
TBD - ILCA Midwinters East @ St. Petersburg Yacht Club, likely ~January 30-February 3, 2025 + pre-event training
TBD - C420 Team Race Midwinters @ US Sailing Center Martin County, likely ~January 18-20, 2025 + pre-event training
TBD - C420 Midwinter Championship @ US Sailing Center Martin County, likely ~ February 15-17, 2025 + pre-event training
TBD - C420 Sunshine State Championship @ US Sailing Center Martin County: likely March 7-8, 2026
Sessions & Cost
Cost TBD
Coaching Staff
TBD
Fall C420 & ILCA Race Team
Fall C420 & ILCA Race Team practices are TBD, likely occasional Mondays and Fridays from 3:15pm to 6:45pm. These practices are intended to extend the club racing season beyond the summer months, allowing sailors to train more effectively for their biggest competitions of the year. Specific dates can be found on the calendar below. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 3:45pm.
Because of the Cressy Qualifier, club sailors are encouraged to sail ILCAs as much as possible during the fall season. All other training will be for winter regattas.
Sessions & Cost
TBD
Additional practices may be added for at no extra cost if there is enough sailor interest
Use of a LMSS ILCA must be confirmed with Coach Samuel prior to practice
Coaching Staff
Samuel Bartel & Gordy Bowers
Spring C420 & ILCA Race Team
Spring C420 & ILCA Race Team practices are held on April 18, April 21, May 12th, and May 23rd from 3:15pm to 6:45pm. These practices are intended to extend the club racing season beyond the summer months, allowing sailors to train more effectively for their biggest competitions of the year. Specific dates can be found on the calendar below. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 3:45pm.
Sessions & Cost
$100 for all four practices
Additional practices may be added for at no extra cost if there is enough sailor interest
C420 AND ILCA charters are free for these practices
Use of a LMSS ILCA must be confirmed with Coach Samuel prior to practice
Coaching Staff
Samuel Bartel & Gordy Bowers
C420 & ILCA Race Team Calendar
For iCal users, copy this address: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d1ed228b9b62144a080707a356b102bca2bbb6cbd06279ea7643bbc52e12310a%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
2025 C420 & ILCA Coaching Staff
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Martha Hughes
Martha will be joining the LMSS coaching team for summer 2025 as a C420 and ILCA coach. She is a rising sophomore on the Tulane University Sailing Team, one of the top college programs in the country. She is also a member of the United States Olympic Development Team as a 49er crew. A Minnetonka native and former Blake Bear, Martha is an A Scow National Champion and a skilled A and E Scow sailor. She is also highly proficient in the C420, ILCA, M15, FJ, J22, and Sonar.
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Martina Escuer
Martina, a native of Barcelona, Spain, is joining LMSS as a C420 coach for summer 2025. A talented sailor in the International 420 class, she competed at the 2024 i420 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2024 European Championships in Portorož, Slovenia. Martina has been sailing her entire life and coaching since 2021. She is currently studying to become a teacher at Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona. Outside of sailing, she is also a gymnastics coach during the off-season and was a Girl Scout during her childhood.
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Samuel Bartel
Samuel is the Race Director at LMSS, bringing a wealth of experience across a diverse range of sailing classes. From dinghies like the C420, FJ, and ILCA 6 & 7 to high-performance keelboats such as the Melges 24, J70, and Ultimate 20, he has sailed and competed in dozens of different classes of sailboat. An avid match racer and passionate DN iceboat sailor, Samuel loves to be challenged and to coach sailors in the Minnetonka community.
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Gordy Bowers
Gordy is a genuine sailing legend. He is a highly respected coach and sailor with a lifetime of experience at the highest levels of the sport. A former Olympic sailor and coach, he has dedicated his career to developing top-tier athletes and fostering a deep understanding of racing strategy, boat handling, and sail trim. Gordy has worked with sailors across a wide range of classes, from dinghies to keelboats, and has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of competitive sailors on Lake Minnetonka.
