Private Lessons
Private lessons at LMSS offer a fast-track to improvement with personalized coaching tailored to each sailor’s goals. Whether you're a beginner building confidence or a racer refining technique, one-on-one instruction ensures focused feedback and faster progress. Sailors can choose their coach based on experience and coaching style, with each coach setting their own hourly rate. Flexible scheduling makes it easy to fit lessons into your routine, helping you gain skills efficiently and effectively. Unlike group lessons, private coaching allows for undivided attention, immediate adjustments, and a customized learning experience that accelerates development.
Private lessons must be scheduled directly with the coach of your choice. To arrange payment, please copy Clare (office@lmss.us) and your coach on an email. This ensures a smooth booking process and secures your lesson time.
Meet the Coaches
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Gordy Bowers
SENIOR COACH - RACE
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Samuel Bartel
RACE TEAM DIRECTOR
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Clare Leeper
LEARN TO SAIL DIRECTOR
Choose Your Coach
Schedule a lesson with Gordy
Phone: +1 (952) 465-8353
Email: gordy.lmss@gmail.com
Preferred Contact Method: Phone Call
Hourly Rate: $200/hour
Samuel Bartel
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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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11 years
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Able to coach all ages and skill levels, but excels in developing beginner, intermediate and advanced racers.
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Optimist, ILCA, C420, FJ, X Boat, E Scow, J22, J70, Ultimate 20, Sonar, Capri 25, Melges 15, Catalina 37, Gov Cup 22, and DN Iceboat.
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Fleet racing, team racing, and match racing
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Samuel combines hands-on instruction with a strategic, analytical approach to help sailors refine their speed, boat handling, strategy, tactics, and psychology. He fosters a competitive yet supportive environment, pushing sailors to be their best every day while finding joy in the process of improving. He also utilizes cutting-edge technology—waterproof communication headsets, video analysis, drone footage, and GPS tracking—to provide real-time and post-sailing feedback for maximum development. Samuel can coach from a powerboat or while sailing with you/your team.
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15 Minutes: Briefing to review the sailing plan and key learning concepts
1.5 Hours: On the water sailing with tailored feedback from Coach Samuel
15 Minutes: Debrief with video analysis and summary of learning concepts
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2 hour lessons are preferred, scheduled at least 2 days in advance
Lesson timing is subject to wind and weather conditions
Samuel will spend a minimum of 1-2 hours preparing for each lesson. You/your team will also be given take-home material that is relevant to the lesson’s key learning concepts.
Clare Leeper
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Clare is the Rec/Learn to Sail Director at LMSS, bringing 7 years of coaching experience for sailors of all ages, abilities, and sailing levels.
Clare raced competitively through high school — Benilde-St. Margaret’s — and college — Loyola University Maryland. Clare taught Rec 7-9 for 4 summers at LMSS and in 2021, she started the LMSS Adaptive Sailing Program for sailors with developmental and intellectual disabilities, which has grown from 5 participants in the first season, to 45+ participants in recent seasons. Clare has taught Adult Sailing and Women on the Water at LMSS for 5 years.
With an educational background in Special Eduction and 13 years of caregiving experience for children/young adults with and without disabilities, Clare’s adaptability, love for connection, and supportive attention guides her coaching practices.
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7 years
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Able to coach all ages and skill levels, but excels in developing beginner and intermediate youth and adult sailors.
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Clare’s coaching style is based on the practice of learning by doing. Lessons with Clare will start with a short on-land briefing, then rigging, and heading straight out to the lake to sail. The majority* of content will be taught on the water and by practice. Clare believes that sailing is meant to be fun, so learning how to sail should be, too.
*By request, Clare can provide additional classroom learning and take-home information ahead of sailing.
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2 hour lessons are preferred, scheduled at least 2 days in advance
Lesson timing is subject to wind and weather conditions
Schedule a lesson with Samuel
Phone: +1 (952) 250-8378
Email: race@lmss.us
Preferred Contact Method: Text or email
Hourly Rate: $80/hour
Schedule a lesson with Clare
Email: office@lmss.us
Hourly Rate: 1-2 sailor(s): $60/hour ; 3 sailors: $80/hour ; 4-5 sailors: $100/hour
Gordy Bowers
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Gordy Bowers, Senior Coach at LMSS, is a highly respected coach and lifelong sailor with decades of experience at the highest levels of the sport. A former Olympic Sailor and Olympic Coach, he has dedicated much of his career to coaching and mentoring sailors of all ages. Gordy has been instrumental in developing top-tier talent in the Lake Minnetonka area, and across the country, helping countless sailors refine their skills, tactical awareness, and racing mindset. His deep knowledge of the sport, combined with his passion for teaching, has made him one of the most sought-after sailing coaches in the world. Whether coaching youth sailors or elite competitors, Gordy brings a level of expertise and commitment that continues to shape the future of sailing.
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60+ years
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Able to coach all ages and skill levels, but excels in developing beginner, intermediate and advanced racers.
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All sailboats. Optimist, X/MC/C/E/A Scow, ILCA, 420, FJ, Yngling, J22, J24, J70, Sonar, Capri 25, Melges 15, Finn, Star, 5.5 Meter, Flying Dutchman, DN Iceboat, and many more!
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Fleet racing and team racing
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Gordy takes a hands-on approach, providing constant, personalized feedback tailored to each sailor’s learning level. He has a remarkable ability to break down complex sailing concepts into clear, understandable explanations. Whether sailing alongside his students, following closely in his powerboat, or illustrating key ideas on a whiteboard or paper, his legendary drawings and detailed instruction make learning both engaging and effective.
