named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Boat Use Program
Allows special members to use club-owned sailboats after certification, promoting access to sailing without requiring personal boat ownership.
Mooring Field Management
Operation and maintenance of a 19-mooring field on Skaneateles Lake for full members, managed by the Mooring Master with safety and access guidelines.
Sailing Programs
Instructional and recreational sailing activities coordinated by the Sailing Director, including certification and supervised use of club-owned boats for special members.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 6 activities
- Maintaining a fleet of sailboats for member useOwns and maintains a fleet of sailboats including Lasers, a Flying Scott, and an American for use by members in racing, instruction, and recreational sailing.
- Maintaining and managing club facilities and mooringsOwns and manages the Besse Clubhouse and a mooring field designated as a Special Anchorage Area by New York State. Maintains 19 moorings with regular inspections of chains and mooring balls. Conducts seasonal workdays for members to maintain docks and facilities, including a spring dock day on May 3rd. The clubhouse has been remodeled to include gathering space, a lake-facing deck, restrooms, and a functional kitchen.
- Operating seasonal sailing and sailboat racing programsOrganizes and manages regular sailboat racing events on Skaneateles Lake, including USSA handicapped races, the informal “Beer Can Series” Wednesday night races, and regional regattas such as the District Flying Scot Race and the 2019 Flying Scot NY Lakes District Championship. In summer 2023, hosted seven Saturday race days with two races per day; in 2022, seven Sunday race days. Provides course setup, race management, and scoring by boat class, with free participation for junior teams.
- Providing sailing instruction for adults and small groupsOffers private sailing instruction sessions lasting 1.5 to 2.5 hours, priced at $150–$175 depending on group size (1–3 people), conducted seasonally from approximately June 1 to mid-August. Also produces instructional materials, such as a docking and undocking video for members.
- Running a junior sailing program for youthProvides sailing instruction and skill development for children and teenagers aged 7–18, covering boat safety, parts of the boat, knots, boat handling, and wind awareness. The annual Junior Sailing Week program was held from August 14–18, 2023, from 4 PM to 8 PM daily. Program is open to members and their children and relatives.
- Supporting women’s sailing skill developmentOffers structured sailing practice sessions for women focused on boat handling, person-overboard drills, and knot tying, with scheduled instructional programs held at specific dates each summer to build confidence and competence on the water.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Hosting seasonal social and educational events for membersOrganizes seasonal social events including dinners, picnics with educational “chalk talks,” dinner cruises, and a summer picnic featuring a sail-a-thon, cocktails, and dinner. Also hosts a weekly Wednesday potluck with sailing, requiring each member to bring a dish to share, and informal post-race socials during the Beer Can Series.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Operating a member-supported sailing club with equity and governance participationOffers full membership with equity ownership and eligibility to serve on the Board of Governors. Requires members to contribute time to maintain club operations and facilities. Also offers a one-year trial membership for newcomers. Membership renewals are due by April 1, 2026, with late fees applied thereafter.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$67K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$20K30%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$56K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$176K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$176K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -5.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 1
- Johan Visser — Board member / Operations Manager
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Flying Scot NY Lakes District Partner — Partner organization whose district championship regatta was hosted by the Skaneateles Sailing Club in 2019.
- Griff Williams Partner — Lead coach providing sailing instruction for the SWISS program.
- Griff Williams Partner — Provided an instructional session to club members on docking and undocking under various conditions.
- Kevin Sio Partner — Video recorded an instructional session for club members on docking procedures.
- Kris Kiefer Partner — Point of contact for the Junior Sailing program.
- Michael Rogus Partner — Recognized as a Special Member of the Skaneateles Sailing Club.
- New York State Office of Parks and Recreation Government — Permits the Skaneateles Sailing Club's mooring area as a Special Anchorage Area.
- Regatta Network Partner — Partner website used for registration and event information for the Sandbagger Series.
- Sarah Kiefer Partner — Point of contact for the Junior Sailing program.
- Schooner Hill development Partner — Has a covenant-based relationship with the Schooner Hill development granting property owners special membership rights and first right of refusal on club property.
- Skaneateles Sailboat Shop Partner — Business owned by Dick and Janet Besse, founders of the Skaneateles Sailing Club.
- Skaneateles Sailboat Shop Partner — Provides recommendations and fabricates mooring lines for club members in coordination with the Mooring Master.
- Skaneateles Sailing Association Partner — Pre-existing organization that offered sailing events before the Skaneateles Sailing Club was founded in 1976.
- Skaneateles Sailing Association Partner — Pre-existing organization that provided sailing events before the Skaneateles Sailing Club acquired its own property.
- Teresa Roche Partner — Recognized as a Special Member of the Skaneateles Sailing Club.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Barrier Reduction Through Shared Equipment Accessmethodology: barrier_reduction_through_equipment_accessBy providing supervised access to club-owned sailboats for non-owners after certification, the club increases participation in sailing because reduced financial and logistical barriers enable broader engagement, especially among newcomers.
- Member-Driven Self-Reliance Modelmethodology: member_labor_modelBy requiring members to contribute labor and own or share boats, the club sustains operations and fosters stewardship because member self-sufficiency reduces overhead and strengthens community commitment to shared resources.
- Peer-Integrated Skill Developmentmethodology: peer_mentoring_through_informal_gatheringsBy combining informal racing, social events, and peer mentoring, the club advances racing and seamanship skills because community-driven learning increases motivation, retention, and leadership development more effectively than formal instruction alone.
- Personalized and Inclusive Sailing Educationmethodology: personalized_instructionBy offering flexible, on-demand instruction and adaptive equipment, the club promotes skill development and lifelong engagement in sailing because personalized learning and physical accessibility accommodate diverse needs, schedules, and abilities.
- Sailing-First Resource Prioritizationmethodology: sailing_first_prioritizationBy directing financial and organizational focus toward sailing activities and sailor needs, the club ensures programmatic integrity and engagement because prioritizing core mission activities reinforces identity, participation, and environmental stewardship.