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Pelican Lake Sailing School
Learn through practice, a lifetime of adventure!
Learn through practice, a lifetime of adventure!
Established in 1972 and rejuvenated in 2000 with modern equipment and trained instructors focusing on today’s youth.
We are a Minnesota 501(c) Non-profit Community Sailing Program
Donations can be sent to:
Pelican Lake Sailing school PO Box 7492 Fargo ND 58106
or
Donate online with the link below. If you would like to dedicate it to our Endowment fund, please let us know.
OUR CLASSES
To accommodate as many students as possible, we offer classes for ages 6 to 18. This season we are also offering a new racing session! We offer private lessons for adults and those who want classes customized to their schedule and/or ability.
Session registration below.
MODERN EQUIPMENT
We are fortunate to offer exciting and modern boats. The RS Quest is our newest addition! this boat is mainly used for family lessons and is fun, easy to sail and is stable. The RS Quest is designed for ages 6 to adult. This boat will also be used in the classes sailing. See more information on this boat below!
SAILING SHIRTS
We are welcoming the 2024 season by offering a new PLSS long sleeve shirt!
Our Fleet of Boats
We use both the Open Skiff and the Club 420 to teach our classes.
When signing up for a session you can see which boats will be used in that class.
We use both the Open Skiff and the Club 420 to teach our classes. When signing up for a session you can see which boats will be used in that class.
Open Skiff
We use Open Skiffs for preliminary training for younger students. They are a modern version of the Optimist that enable a wider age range of students to learn to sail. The Open Skiff is 9′ long, weighs about 105 pounds and an ideal crew weight up to 120lbs, ideal for children ages 6 to 12.
Club 420
For secondary training, or middle to high schoolers, we use Club 420’s. The Club 420 is 13’ 9” long, 5’ 5” wide and weighs about 250 pounds. This is a 2 person boat that has become very popular in high school and college sailing programs.
RS Quest
For Family sailing and training, or middle to high schoolers, we will use the RS Quest. The Quest is 14′ long, 6′ wide and weighs about 390 pounds. This is a 4 person boat that can be sailed by 1. We are growing this fleet of boats as it borrows the simplicity of the Skiff while accommodating more students.
Long Sleeve Sailing Gear
Long Sleeve Sailing Gear
Click dots (above) to find Adult & Child size chart
Check shirt size before continuing to register below
A sport shirt with built in features!
A salor needs the right gear when out on the water. Comfort is paramount when outdoors for extended periods of time. This shirt offers a few useful features for those conditions!
A popular feature since it saves time by not needing to
PLSS Team | 2024
All of our instructors are trained though the US Sailing instructor course. This program is designed to provide sailing instructors with information on how to teach more safely, and creatively. The goal of the program is to produce highly qualified instructors.
What to bring Mandatory Items:
- Life jacket
- Bathing suit
- Closed-toed shoes or water shoes, flip flops are not acceptable – we want to protect toes!
- Sunscreen
- Towel
Recommended Items:
- Hat & sunglasses (sunglasses strap is recommended)
- Light Jacket
- Sweater (wool is better)
- Long sleeve shirt / short sleeve shirt
- Reusable water bottle
In the past, students have put their gear in bags or totes so as not to lose items. Belongings can be left inside or outside the yacht club when students are sailing.
Keep in mind that any and all items may get wet on any given day depending on the weather and or activities.
Disposable plastic water bottles can be handed out for students who don’t have a reusable water bottle.
2024 Summer Session Registration Choose a session
Four Day Course
Ages 6 - 9
Cost: $150.00
This session starts with sailing basics, many land drills and exercises off the water to get students comfortable with both the equipment, sailing drills and terminology. Students will then start to venture out on boats individually to begin experiencing boat stability and safety on and around the boat. Basic sailing courses will be set up on the water towards the end of the class. We will be teaching at the pace of the class. Three instructors allows flexibility to break students up as the class progresses and as some students may learn more rapidly than others. This session gives young sailors ages 6 – 9 the opportunity to gain increased confidence on the water and ready to take on the more comprehensive two-week sessions when they feel ready. The session is offered at different times but offers similar course content.
Session 1 June 24th – 27th (M – Thu) 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Session 2 July 15th – 18th (M – Thu) 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Session 3 July 29th – Aug 1st (M – Thu) 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Wait for payment until class registration is confirmed through email by Evan Furr
If you purchase below without receiving an email confirmation from Evan Furr the student is NOT registered for class.
Payment required to reserve class placement. Refunds available up to one week prior to the start of class.
Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction
PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt
One Week Course
Ages 9 - 18
Cost: $150.00
This session has a class size of around 13 students with three instructors. Class sizes are kept low. This allows a higher instructor to student ratio giving students individualized coaching in addition to ensuring everyone’s safety.
Class begins with introduction of sailing basics (It’s helpful if younger students ages 6 – 9 to have taken our four day course prior to this session). Typically, younger and older students are taught separately in this session since these age groups have different skill levels and sail different kinds of boats. Many activities and games however, involve the larger class.
Ages 9 – 12 sail alone in a boat called an Open Skiff. Land drills and exercises allows for student familiarity with the equipment before heading out on he water. Once on the water sailing drills and terminology are practiced. Games are interspersed thought a class day to maintain a fun and interesting session. There are typically 7 Open Skiff sailors in a session.
Ages 12/13 + sail in pairs on a boat called a Club 420. This boat is meant for college racing and is used at the sailing school as the next step up from the Open Skiff. New sailors as well as returning students are great for this boat because sailing together allows for peer collaboration in addition to guidance from an instructor. Students will learn about rigging and de-rigging the boat, sail terminology, points of sail and learn how to sail in various wind conditions. There are typically between 2 – 6 Club 420 students in a session.
The content taught in the sessions below are similar to one another. The session is offered at various times.
Session I June 24 – 28th (Mon – Fri) 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Session II July 15th – 19th (Mon – Fri) 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Session III July 29th – Aug. 2nd (Mon – Fri) 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Wait for payment until class registration is confirmed through email by Evan Furr
If you purchase below without receiving an email confirmation from Evan Furr the student is NOT registered for class.
Payment required to reserve class placement. Refunds available up to one week prior to the start of class.
Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction
PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt
Intermediate Session: 2 Week Course
Ages 9 - High School
Cost: $200.00
Two Week Course
Ages 9 - 18
Cost: $200.00
This session has a class size of around 20 students with four instructors. Class sizes are kept low. This allows a higher instructor to student ratio giving students individualized coaching in addition to ensuring everyone’s safety.
Class begins with introduction of sailing basics (It’s helpful if younger students ages 6 – 9 to have taken our four day course prior to this session). Typically, younger and older students are taught separately in this session since these age groups have different skill levels and sail different kinds of boats. Many activities and games however, involve the larger class.
Ages 9 – 12 sail alone in a boat called an Open Skiff. Land drills and exercises allows for student familiarity with the equipment before heading out on he water. Once on the water sailing drills and terminology are practiced. Games are interspersed thought a class day to maintain a fun and interesting session. There are typically 13 Open Skiff sailors in a session.
Ages 12/13 + sail in pairs on a boat called a Club 420. This boat is meant for college racing and is used at the sailing school as the next step up from the Open Skiff. New sailors as well as returning students are great for this boat because sailing together allows for peer collaboration in addition to guidance from an instructor. Students will learn about rigging and de-rigging the boat, sail terminology, points of sail and learn how to sail in various wind conditions. There are typically between 2 – 10 Club 420 students in a session.
The content taught in the sessions below are similar to one another. The session is offered at various times.
Session I June 24 – July 5th (Mon – Fri) 9:30am to 12:00pm (No class July 4th)
Session II July 1st – 12th (Mon – Fri) 1:00pm to 3:30pm (No class July 4th)
Session III July 8th – 18th (Mon – Fri) 9:30am to 12:00pm
Session IV July 22nd – Aug. 1st (Mon – Fri) 9:30am to 12:00pm
Wait for payment until class registration is confirmed through email by Evan Furr
If you purchase below without receiving an email confirmation from Evan Furr the student is NOT registered for class.
Payment required to reserve class placement. Refunds available up to one week prior to the start of class.
Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction
PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt
Intermediate Session: 2 Week Course
Ages 9 - High School
Cost: $200.00
Racing Session | Club 420 + Skiffs
Cost: $200.00
This advanced session caters to those who want to challenge themselves, to explore the sport of sailboat racing and the uncertain waters that await. The goals that drive this session aim to create a confident racer who knows how and when to push themselves, help the racer realize the limitations of the sailboat and through teamwork know the joys of camaraderie through competition. This session emphasizes winning as a result of teamwork, not individual accomplishment.
This is a five day racing tactics course designed for students who wish to elevate their sailing skills to the next level and race competitively. Due to a smaller class size, attention to the students will be given on an individual level in order to hone their skills. The class leads up to the PLYC Regatta the weekend of July 27th, when students can race each other and demonstrate what they have learned in class.
PREREQUISITE:
Students must have completed two years of session Ages 9 – 18
Racing Session July 22nd – 26th (M – Fri) 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Wait for payment until class registration is confirmed through email by Evan Furr
If you purchase below without receiving an email confirmation from Evan Furr the student is NOT registered for class.
Payment required to reserve class placement. Refunds available up to one week prior to the start of class.
Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction
PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt
Private Sailing Lessons
Ages 6 to adult
$65.00 / hour with sailing school equipment$50.00 / hour with Owners equipment
Private lessons are available to anyone who would prefer lessons on a one on one basis. Group classes also available in this format. This option is perfect for those who aren’t able to make typical sailing school sessions fit into their busy schedules. Our U.S Sailing Certified instructors are happy to take anyone out who is ready for an adventure. Sessions are typically 1.5 hours. The instructor is typically able to work around your schedule if you wish to extend your class.
For the majority of our lessons we use a boat called a Hobie Getaway. This is a catamaran that seats two guests and the instructor. We also teach on the Club 420, a racing sailboat for teenagers and the Open Skiff for students ages 12 and under.
Please register below and Evan Furr, the director of the sailing school will reach out to make further arrangements.