Wayzata Yacht Club and Lake Minnetonka

Wayzata Yacht Club was founded in 1965 and has over 600 current members. The core racing programs include over 65 races each season, conducted primarily in 22-25' keel type sailboats, with participation of over 100 sailboats. We also host an active youth racing program, the University of Minnesota Sailing Team and sponsor racing of 35'-50' sailboats in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. Lake Minnetonka, located 15 miles West of Minneapolis, has over 14,000 acres of water. It has been a competitive sailing hotbed since the early 1880’s and has
hosted numerous major events, including:

• Four previous J/22 North American Championships (1983, 1988, 1996, 2006)
• US Youth Championships
• Multiple Junior Olympic Festivals
• Laser Nationals
• Championship (Olympic classes)
• MORC International Championships
• 470 and Flying Dutchman National Championships (Olympic classes)
• Yngling North American Championships (Women’s Olympic class)
• E and C Scow Nationals                        
• Numerous Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) Championships
• Club 420 North Americans and Nationals

Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka contains 14,000 acres of water, 120 miles of coastline and an average depth of 40 feet and a maximum depth of 113 feet. When on the water, you can't help but notice the extremely large and elaborate homes that surround the lake.

Large blocks of ice were left in the wake of the retreating glacier. These blocks of ice which were buried in soil and rock, eventually melted to form Lake Minnetonka. Governor Ramsey "officially" names Lake Minnetonka after being told that it is the Indian name for the lake meaning "Big Water".

In 1882, thirty years after the Indians were "asked" to leave, there was a fleet of 15 sailboats on Minnetonka. The Minnetonka Yacht Club was organized in 1887 absorbing members of earlier Yacht Clubs. The Wayzata Yacht Club was formed in 1965 to embrace keel boats versus the, "scows" shallow draft, boats of the Minnetonka Club.

Prince referenced the lake in the film Purple Rain with the line "Why don't you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka?" Since his rise to fame in the 1980s, Prince has had several enormous boats on the lake, and has had a home on the lake.

Lake Minnetonka is also a premier location in the southern section of the state, and especially the metro area, for fishing tournaments. Its game species include yellow perch, sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and especially muskellunge (or muskies).

Wayzata Yacht Club – Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA • © 2008 Wayzata Yacht Club. All rights reserved. Site Map