About
Our Mission
The Okauchee Lake Sailing School exists to:
Encourage and promote amateur sailing on the inland lakes of the U.S. through safe, professional instruction.
Support recreational sailors by teaching fundamental sailing and water safety skills.
Develop competitive athletes for national and international racing through advanced coaching in tactics, strategy, and racing psychology.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, organized exclusively to foster national sports competition.
Our History
Sailing has been part of Okauchee Lake for generations. Youth sailing began formally in 1960 with the introduction of the X-Boat fleet. Six skippers and their crews, guided by Wally Schmidt, launched what became a proud tradition of youth sailing.
In 1986, the Okauchee Lake Sailing School was incorporated to expand this mission and formally promote youth sailing on Okauchee Lake.
Over time, our programs and fleet have grown:
1993
Added Optimist Dinghies (Optis), ideal for younger sailors.
2022
Added Open Skiff.
2025
Added Melges 15.
Today
OLSS provides a fleet of seven Optis and three X-Boats so students can participate without needing to own a boat.
Since its founding, OLSS has taught more than 1,400 students, supported by over 300 donors who helped fund boats, coaching powerboats, trailers, classroom facilities, and lakefront access.
OLSS has been shaped by several major donor-led campaigns:
1992
“Okauchee Challenge” funded the construction of our current facility.
2008
“Okauchee Tomorrow Challenge” made it possible to purchase adjacent property for future expansion.
Recent Campaigns
such as Our Vision, Our Future have refreshed and enhanced facilities, adding new classroom space, outdoor teaching areas, and an improved presence for families.
2022
Waterfront Upgrade Project replaced two piers and built a new commercial-grade launch ramp, ensuring a fully functional waterfront for both OLSS and OLYC for years to come.
Competitive Legacy
From the start, OLSS has produced sailors who go on to compete at the highest levels. Our alumni include champions in the ILYA, WYA, C Scow Nationals, and many others.
The school has also run adult sailing programs since the 1980s, helping new sailors gain confidence and, more recently, offering mentorship programs where experienced Okauchee racers coach developing adult sailors. This culture of peer-to-peer learning continues to strengthen our racing community.
Youth Classes
A Lasting Commitment
The OLSS maintains its charitable status by receiving at least one-third of its income from donations. Our volunteer Board of Directors and Operations Group are committed to stewarding that support responsibly, filing all required annual reports, and ensuring that OLSS remains a place where future generations can learn to sail.
We are proud of every student who has passed through our programs and grateful to the many families, volunteers, and donors who make this mission possible.
Youth Classes