Opti Race Team
The Optimist Race Team is the first step in the Minnetonka Race Team progression, and the next step for Opti Learn to Race sailors ages 8 – 15. Sailors must be recommended by their coach prior to joining the Opti Race Team. Sailors should expect a competitive environment and a rigorous curriculum to improve their sailing skills.
Sailors will be split into Development Team and Championship (RWB) Team members at the discretion of the Head Coach and Race Director at the beginning of each new season (spring/summer/fall/winter). Development and Champ Team sailors will work together often, but will be split at practices according to these skill groups for more focussed small team training.
General Program Info & Expectations:
Sailors will continually work to improve their skills, focusing on upwind and downwind boat speed, starting, mark roundings, boat handling, understanding of the rules, rigging techniques specific to racing Optis, and much more.
Opti Championship Team sailors are expected to attend all local and regional regattas for which they are available. Opti Development Team sailors are encouraged to attend local and regional regattas for which they are eligible.
Opti Champ Team sailors are expected to be members of Minnetonka Yacht Club and participate in weekly racing through the club on Sunday nights at 6:15pm. Opti Development Team sailors are encouraged to participate as well. There will be 3 races per evening, with an informal grill out and games with sailors and parents prior to the start of races. Register for MYC Opti races here
2025 MYC Opti Race Dates: 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24
Registration fees cover the cost of practice, not regattas. Travel expenses incurred by LMSS and/or LMSS coaches during regattas are charged back to the LMSS sailors who attended the regatta. Ex. hotel fees, truck mileage/gas, and coach meals.
Scroll down to view the full 2025 Opti Race Team Calendar
Prerequisite: Opti Learn to Race
Next steps: X Boat Race Team, Middle School Sailing
Spring Opti Race Team
Spring Opti Race Team practices are held on Mondays and Fridays from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 4:50pm. You may choose to do one or both practices each week. Practices begin April 21st and end May 23rd.
Mondays: 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
Fridays: 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23
Regattas & Clinics
Spring Opti Scrimmage #1: Sunday, May 4th, 10am-4pm, White Bear Sailing School
Spring Opti Scrimmage #2: Sunday, May 25th, 10am-4pm, LMSS
TBD Opti Regatta/Clinic with Chicago & Geneva in Chicago: May 31-June 1, all day, TBD
Sessions & Cost
$450 for Mondays & Fridays, or $225 for only Mondays or only Fridays
Opti charter included
Boat ownership is highly encouraged!
Coaching Staff
TBD
Summer Opti Race Team
Summer Opti Race Team practices are held Monday-Friday from 12:30pm to 4:00pm. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 1:00pm. Practices begin June 9th and end August 8th.
There will NOT be Opti Race Team practice during Friday TCYS regattas.
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
Opti Training Regatta On Tonka (TROT): June 23-24 @ LMSS
Horizon Clinic (Pre-USODA Great Lakes): June 25-26 @ Chicago Yacht Club
USODA Great Lakes Championship: June 27-29 @ Chicago Yacht Club
Chicago Yacht Club Junior Race Week: July 1-3 @ Chicago Yacht Club
GLSS Opti Dinghyfest: July 9-10 @ Geneva Lake Sailing School
2025 ILYA Optimist Championship: July 25-27 @ LMSS
ILYA Optimist Red, White and Blue Chip: TBD @ Lac Labelle YC
Sessions & Cost
Session 1 (June 9th - July 3rd): Training Block for GLSS Dinghyfest: $950
Session 2 (July 7th - August 8th): Training Block for Inland Championship: $950
Charter an Opti from LMSS for $100/session
Boat ownership is highly encouraged!
Coaching Staff
Opti Championship Team: Evy Engebretson
Opti Development Team: Amelia Sulciner
Part time Opti Race Team coaches: Samuel Bartel & Gordy Bowers
Guest Coaches: TBD
Fall Opti Race Team
Fall Opti Race Team practices are held on Mondays and Fridays from 4:30pm to 7:00pm (practices may end earlier in October due to earlier sunsets). Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 4:50pm. You may choose to do one or both practices each week. Practices begin September 8th and end October 31st.
Mondays: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27
Fridays: 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31
Regattas & Clinics
Fall Opti Scrimmage #1: TBD
Spring Opti Scrimmage #2: TBD
2025 Optimist Midwest Championship : October 10-13 @ Geneva Lake Sailing School
Qualifier for the USODA National Spring Team
Halloween Regatta @ Geneva or Chicago or LMSS TBD
Sessions & Cost
$720 for Mondays & Fridays, or $360 for only Mondays or only Fridays
Opti charter included
Boat ownership is highly encouraged!
Coaching Staff
TBD
Winter Opti Race Team
Winter Opti Race Team events are primarily clinics and regattas in Florida. Participation from at least 6 LMSS sailors is necessary to make the winter circuit viable. LMSS would load up 6-8 Optis on the LMSS truck during the first week of November. The truck, coach boat, and Optis will be driven South to Florida for the winter regatta circuit.
Winter Regatta & Clinic Circuit - TBD
TBD - 2025 Allstate Sugar Bowl Optimist Midwinter Championship: likely Thanksgiving weekend November 27-30, 2025
TBD - Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta @ Coral Reef Yacht Club: likely December 26-30, 2025
TBD - Valentines Day Regatta @ St. Petersburg Yacht Club: likely February 7-8, 2026
TBD - Sunshine State Championship @ US Sailing Center Martin County: likely March 7-8, 2026
Sessions & Cost
Cost TBD
Coaching Staff
TBD
2025 Optimist Race Team Calendar
For iCal users, copy this address: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_fe2bb5a1105ade8e1dcbe8fa14633179480c55e768dd6e2e6656fe91f00f7780%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
2025 Optimist Race Team Coaching Staff
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Evy Engebretson
Evy is the Optimist Championship Team (Red, White, and Blue Fleet) Coach for summer 2025. She is a rising collegiate sailor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she competes on the UCSB Sailing Team and serves as both the Recruitment and Fitness Chair. A versatile sailor, she excels as both a skipper and crew in a variety of boats, including FJs, C420s, ILCAs, M15s, and E Scows. Evy is also a highly motivated coach, bringing enthusiasm and dedication to developing young sailors, drawing from her experience as an Opti Learn to Race coach at LMSS.
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Amelia Sulciner
Amelia is the Optimist Development Team (Green Fleet) Coach for summer 2025. A Minnetonka High School alum, she is now a rising sophomore on the Jacksonville University Sailing Team, one of the top collegiate sailing programs in the country. Competing at the highest level of college sailing, Amelia has gained valuable experience in fleet, team, and match racing. She has raced in a variety of classes, including the Melges 15, C420, FJ, and ILCA. Amelia brings enthusiasm, competitive drive, and a strong passion for coaching, helping young sailors develop their skills and reach their full potential.
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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.
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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.
