Pelican Lake Sailing School

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

Donate online with the link below. If you would like to dedicate it to our Endowment fund, please let us know.

Click an image for more detail

PLSS / Wayzata Sailing Center
Spring Race!

Lets race! This spring June 12th and 13th we are joining Wayzata sailors at the Wayzata Sailing Center in the Twin Cities for an exciting two day Open Skiff race extravaganza! There will be food, games and fun events. Details can be found in the preliminary brief below. This event is designed for students ages 9 – 13 (less than 5′ tall or under 120lbs). Act fast! We are only offering 4 event openings this year. Email Evan for more details. EvanRFurr@gmail.com

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.

Zim 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.

2026 Long Sleeve Sailing Gear!

Long Sleeve Sailing Gear

Youth Shirt Size Chart

Adult Shirt Size Chart

Click dots (above) to find child & adult size charts

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!

Built-In 50 SPF Sunscreen Technology:
A popular feature since it saves time by not needing to

apply sunscreen to areas covered by the shirt.

Long Sleeves:

Protects the arms from the sun and other weather.

Check shirt size before continuing to register below

COST: $25.00

PLSS Team | 2026

All coaches not present – Photo: July 2025 | Photo Credit: Rygo Foss

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.

Sailing School Information

Program Information

Classes will be held at the Pelican Lake Yacht Club on the northwest side of Pelican Lake.

Click image for Google Map directions to the Pelican Lake Yacht Club

Items to bring to sailing school

Life jacket
Bathing suit
Closed-toed shoes or water shoes, flip flops are not acceptable – we want to protect toes!
Sunscreen
Towel

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.

2026 Session Options!

One Week Course

Cost: $150.00

Age 6

Lets chart our course, then set sail! This session is meant to give young sailors the opportunity to “test the waters” and see if sailing is right for them. This session begins on land, introducing students to sailing through activities and exercises off the water to get students comfortable with both the equipment and boating terminology. Students will then continue learning on sailboats captained by instructors. Basic sailing courses will be set up on the water towards the end of the class. Boat controls will be given to students when they feel ready to take control of the boat. An instructor will stay with the student while on and off the boat.

We have many one week sessions for students ages 7 – 9 years olds. 6 year olds can join these class but only after completing this session if they wish to level up in the same summer.

Most sessions for ages 6 – 18 this summer are lined up to allow your family the option to send many of your kids to the same class period. Your kids will be learning near each other but at their age appropriate class level.

Sessions

Session 1 June 22nd – 25th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 2 June 29th – 2nd (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 3 July 6th – 9th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 4 July 13th – 16th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 5 July 20th – 23rd (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 6 July 27th – 30th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and optional shirt payment below.

Purchase the Session

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

One Week Course

Cost: $150.00

Ages 7 - 9

Set sail onto the blue waters! In this course students will be sailing in pairs. Typically sailing involves teamwork so we better start now! This class begins with how to set the boat up. Boat terminology and activities throughout the day to keep students engaged. We well get out on the water as the weather allows.

This Age 7 – 9 session is designed to give students a gradual introduction into the more involved One Week Age 9 – 18 Session.

This year most sessions are lined up to allow your family the option to send your kids ages 6 – 18 to the same class period. Your kids will be learning near each other but at their age appropriate class level.

Sessions

Session 1 June 22nd – 25th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 2 June 22nd – 25th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 3 June 29th – July 2nd (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 4 June 29th – July 2nd (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 5 July 6th – 9th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 6 July 6th – 9th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 7 July 13th – 16th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 8 July 13th – 16th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 9 July 20th – 23rd (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 10 July 27th – 30th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am – 12:00pm

Session 11 July 27th – 30th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and optional shirt payment below.

Purchase Your Session

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

One Week Course

Cost: 150.00

Ages 9 - 18

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.

Sessions

Session 1 June 22nd – 25th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Session 2 July 13th – 16th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Session 3 July 20th – 23rd (Mon.- Thurs.) 9:30am to 12:00pm

Session 4 July 27th – 30th (Mon.- Thurs.) 9:30am to 12:00pm

Session 5 July 27th – 30th (Mon.- Thurs.) 1:00pm to 3:30pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and optional Shirt payment below.

Purchase Your Session

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

Intermediate Session: 2 Week Course

Ages 9 - High School

Cost: $200.00

Two Week Course

Cost: $200.00

Ages 9 - 18

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.

The content taught in the sessions below are similar to one another. The session is offered at various times.

Sessions

Session 1 June 22nd – 2nd (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am to 12:00pm

Session 2 June 29th – July 9th (Mon. – Thurs.) 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Session 3 July 6th – 16th (Mon. – Thurs.) 9:30am to 12:00pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and Optional Shirt payment below.

Purchase Your Session

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

Intermediate Session: 2 Week Course

Ages 9 - High School

Cost: $200.00

Racing Session | Club 420s

Cost: $200.00

Cost and Registration for PLYC Regatta not included

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. During this five day course students will learn what it takes to sail in a professional sailboat race that takes place the weekend after this class wraps up. We treat this race (The PLYC Regatta) as a sort of capstone to let the students demonstrate what they have learned.

PREREQUISITE:

Students must have completed two years of session Ages 9 – 18

Racing Session July 20th – 24th (Mon. – Fri.) 1:00pm – 4:30pm

The PLYC Regatta: July 25th – 26th (Sat. / Sun.)

PLYC Regatta details and registration available on the “PLYC Racing Page” of this website.

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and optional shirt payment below.

Purchase Your Session

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

Saturday Sailing Clinic

Cost: $55.00

Ages 7 - 18

Can’t get enough of sailing? This is your chance to hit the water again after your course has finished or to warm up before your session begins. We are offering this class period for students to explore the west bay of Pelican Lake with friends using our sailing equipment, get a refresher on sailing basics or for sailors to get questions answered. This class will adapt from week to week to accommodate the age group that registers for the session. This is not a substitute for regular sessions but an opportunity to have fun and practice with other sailors.

Prerequisite for this session: Student took a class in 2025 or has completed at least one session in 2026.

Sessions

Session 1 June 27th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 2 July 11th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 3 July 18th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session and optional shirt payment below.

Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction

Choose Session	Clear

PLSS Long Sleeve Sailing Shirt

Pay Now

Adult Sailing Lessons

Cost: 55.00

2.5 hour lesson

Adult lessons are now available on a large 32 foot sailboat that is very stable. Gone Postal is the trimaran sailboat that will be used for the lessons docked to the east of the yacht club on its own lift. This session will cover topics such as sailing basics, sail trim, steering and rigging. This is a 2.5 hours course. Certain topics will be covered on shore before heading out on the boat. Questions will be answered both on shore an on the water. Skill building will be practiced on the water.

This class is for all adults who wish to learn how to sail. Conveniently, this class aligns with the weekend sailing clinic allowing parents of students in that class an opportunity to also learn how to sail as well!

The three available class times are individual lessons. Each class will cover generally the same material.

Sessions

Session 1 June 27th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 2 July 11th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session 3 July 18th (Sat.) 1:00pm – 3:30pm

You will receive a session confirmation email after payment is complete.

Session payment below.

Pelican Lake Sailing School Instruction

Choose Session	Clear

Private Sailing Lessons

Ages 6 and up

$45.00 / hour - Use of private boat
$60.00 / hour - Use of sailing school boats

Classes are taught by US Sailing Certified instructors. Our instructors teach at any level. We can accommodate a wide age range with our fleet of boats at the sailing school. The average class typically lasts for around 1.5 hours. Once registered, the director will reach out to complete your request. We teach both individuals and classes. The costs you see above include up to two guests (students). Custom pricing can be arranged for group lessons.