Sailing for Everybody

The Minneapolis Sailing Center (MSC) is a non-profit organization that works to improve access to what has historically been one of the world’s most exclusive sports. MSC Executive Director Ted Salzman said, “Our mission is to foster an inclusive, sustainable community, and to teach sailing to all.”  

 

Every third Sunday from June-September, noon to 5 p.m., MSC offers free 30-minute sailing lessons on Bde Maka Ska in Uptown. MSC doesn’t take reservations, but the wait rarely exceeds 10-15 minutes. More than 850 people accepted the invitation to sail with them through this program last summer. 

Salzman said, “People come off the boat smiling and wanting to learn more. We hear things like, ‘I’ve been walking around this lake for years, but I’ve never been out on the water before.’” 

Southwest resident Vikas Narula is one of the many experienced MSC sailors who share their time, skills, and passion for sailing. On the Free Third Sunday in August 2019, Narula asked two men sitting near the boat house if they’d like to go sailing. It took some coaxing to get them on board, but eventually they agreed to try their first-ever sail boat ride. 

The two men were George Floyd and his friend Alvin Manago. When Floyd died nine months later, MSC dove deeper into its Equity and Inclusion initiative, expanding the size and scope of its Community Partnership Program and forming Free Sailing Sundays. The initiative exists to create a pathway to sailing for people who have historically been underrepresented in the sport. 

MSC aims to help newcomers develop a lifelong passion for sailing by providing education, encouragement, and sliding fee schedule/scholarships for all of their classes and events. 

 

In 2023, MSC welcomed nearly 1,000 sailors from 28 different Twin Cities’ non-profit organizations to the world of sailing. Partners include Girls Taking Action, Boys of Hope, Outdoor Afro MN, Outdoor Latino MN, New Directions Youth Ministry, Bolder Options, Urban Ventures, YWCA, and many others. 

Salzman said, “Partnerships range from one-hour sailboat rides to day-long field trips. Group classes can be as small as three people, or as large as 100. Learning to sail develops self-confidence and independence in people of all ages. It improves critical thinking skills, which are necessary both on and off the water.”

He continued, “Learning to sail is a craft honed over time but sailing, at its core, is about observing your surroundings. It requires that you adapt to changing circumstances – and that’s where it becomes a teaching tool for facing life’s challenges and tough times.”  

                              

Executive director of MSC since 2016, Salzman grew up in a sailing family, near the shores of Cedar Lake. He was actively involved with the Lake Calhoun Sailing School, MSC’s predecessor, and enjoyed sailboat racing as a kid with his dad. He said, “I was someone who loved being close to the water, the wind, and the waves. I took a break from competition, went to college, and suddenly found myself 10 years into an engineering career. I worked for a firm downtown, with a cubicle for an office. It was time for a career change.”

MSC offers opportunities for everyone to try the sport of sailing – and to get comfortable on the water while learning new skills. Salzman said, “On a sailboat, you can put your stresses and worries aside. You can actually leave them onshore. Seeing the city from the water gives you a different perspective.” 

To learn more about Free Sailing Sundays, Community Partnerships, or MSC’s extensive list of classes and events, go to www.sail.mpls.org. You may also visit the team dockside at 3010 East Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55408.