X Boat Race Team
The X boat is the next step for Opti Intermediate/Advanced sailors. Sailors must have prior sailing and racing experience to be a part of this race team.
At X Boat practices, sailors will learn how to effectively communicate with their crew, strengthen their knowledge of proper rigging and tuning techniques, and develop their racing tactics/strategy. By the end of the summer, sailors should feel confident competing at regattas, including GLSS Dinghyfest at the Geneva Lake Sailing School, and the ILYA X Inland Championship.
General Program Info & Expectations
Summer X Boat Race Team practices are held Monday through Thursday from 12:30pm to 4pm. Sailors must be rigged and dressed for sailing by 1pm . Note: this is a change from having morning practices in 2025! Sailors will be shuttled to Bug Island to rig their boats starting at 12:30pm.
Sailors are expected to be members of Minnetonka Yacht Club and participate in weekly club racing through the club. Register for MYC X Boat races here.
2026 MYC X Boat Championship Series Races will primarily take place on Sunday mornings at 10am OR Thursday afternoons during LMSS X Boat practice. X Boat MYC Club races begin May 23rd and end September 20th. More scheduling info can be found in the 2026 MYC Annual Program.
Scroll down to view the full 2026 X Boat Race Team Calendar
Sessions & Cost
$1,125 per training block / session
Registration is per boat, which includes the skipper and crew.
X Boats must be personally-owned or chartered through MYC
Dinghyfest Training Block: June 15th - July 7th = $1,125
ILYA Championship Training Block: July 13th-23rd = $900
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 (hotel fees, truck mileage/gas, and coach meals).
Regattas & Clinics
GLSS X Dinghyfest: July 6-7 @ Geneva Lake Sailing School
2026 ILYA X Boat Championship: July 26-29 @ Clear Lake Yacht Club, Iowa
Coaching Staff
Head X Boat Coach: TBD
Additional X Race Team coaches: Gordy Bowers & Samuel Bartel
Prerequisite: Opti Race Team
Next Steps: C420 and ILCA Race Team, Middle / High School Sailing
2026 X Boat Race Team Calendar
For iCal users, copy this address: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_3e40a0a7888d997faa6307a2be343ce1019c00dc040d20f39b007c0e39f4b81f%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
2026 X Boat Coaches
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Head X Boat Coach TBD
More info coming soon!
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Gordy Bowers
Gordy is a genuine sailing legend and former X Inland Champion. 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.
