BlueJ sailboat charter sailing on Lake Minnetonka with crew and guests enjoying sunny day
★ The ONLY Sailing Charter on Minnetonka ★

Your Lake.
Your Adventure.

Experience the thrill of sailing on Minnesota's most beautiful waters with expert crew, an incredible boat, and a day you'll never forget

This Is Something Special

We're not just another boat tour. We're Lake Minnetonka's only day sailing charter—a rare opportunity to experience the lake with expert sailors who genuinely love what they do.

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One of a Kind

Seriously—we're the ONLY sailing day charter on Lake Minnetonka. This isn't just marketing talk. You literally cannot have this experience anywhere else on the lake.

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Your Way, Always

Want to steer? Trim sails? Or just kick back with a drink and let us handle everything? It's your charter, your choice. We adapt to what makes YOU happy.

Expert Crew

Clay's a licensed USCG Captain with serious credentials. But more importantly? He and Jodi make sailing feel easy, fun, and exciting—whether you're a first-timer or an old salt.

The Perfect Boat

BlueJ is a French-built Beneteau First 260—sleek, fast, stable, and absolutely gorgeous. That signature blue hull? You'll spot her from a mile away.

Experience BlueJ

Watch what a day on the water looks like with Lake Minnetonka's only day sailing charter

Sailing, laughing, and making memories on beautiful Lake Minnetonka

What Happens on the Water

Sailing charter adventure on Lake Minnetonka, guests enjoying 4-hour day sail with spinnaker

Four Hours of Pure Freedom

Your charter starts at Wayzata Yacht Club, where you'll meet Clay and Jodi and step aboard BlueJ. From there? The lake is yours to explore.

"Want to race across the bay with the spinnaker flying? Drop anchor in a quiet cove for a swim? Learn to sail? Or just relax and enjoy the ride? Tell us what sounds good—we'll make it happen."

We can explore the mansion-lined shores, navigate through the channels, visit Excelsior, or find our own secret spot to anchor and chill. The itinerary is flexible because this is YOUR day.

  • Explore Lake Minnetonka's most beautiful bays, islands, and channels
  • Take the helm and learn actual sailing skills (or don't!)
  • Swimming stops at gorgeous locations when weather permits
  • Perfect for celebrations, dates, family time, or friend groups
  • BYO food and drinks welcome—we've got the wine!
  • 360° camera for epic videos you can share
  • Drone footage if we anchor (with your permission)

Download Your Sailors Guide

Everything you need to know before your charter—what to bring, what to expect, safety info, and tips to make your day on the water absolutely perfect.

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BlueJ Charter Sailors Guide

Your complete guide to an amazing day on Lake Minnetonka

What's Inside:

  • What to bring & what to wear
  • Safety information & procedures
  • Meet BlueJ - boat specs & features
  • Your charter timeline & what to expect
  • Weather policies & rescheduling
  • Tips for an amazing experience
📥 Download Free Guide (PDF)

No email required - instant download!

Meet Clay & Jodi

Captain Clay and Jodi, USCG licensed sailing instructors at Wayzata Yacht Club Lake Minnetonka

Serious Skills, Serious Fun

Clay and Jodi aren't just experienced sailors—they're passionate about sharing the joy of sailing with others. They've sailed all over the world, raced competitively, and owned multiple boats (including a 34-footer in Florida). But what really sets them apart? They make everyone feel welcome and excited to be on the water.

Clay holds every certification you'd want in a captain. Jodi has been Clay's crew for over a decade and knows BlueJ inside and out. Together, they're patient teachers, confident captains, and genuinely fun people to spend a day with.

⚓ Licensed Captain

Clay's Credentials

  • US Coast Guard Licensed Captain (OUPV/Six-Pack) for offshore waters
  • Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Coastal Skipper Certification
  • International Certificate of Competency (RYA/UN)
  • US Sailing Keelboat Instructor Certification
  • Decades of sailing experience worldwide
  • Competitive racing background
  • Expert knowledge of Lake Minnetonka

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced sailor, Clay and Jodi will adapt to make your charter absolutely perfect. They're safety-focused, guest-oriented, and always ready to share their knowledge—or just have a great time on the water with you.

Read the full story →

Meet BlueJ

A French racing design built for performance and comfort

Built to Sail Fast & Look Good

BlueJ is a 2001 Beneteau First 260 Spirit—a performance-oriented daysailer designed by the renowned Groupe Finot in France. Originally built for ocean sailing conditions, this boat is overbuilt, responsive, and an absolute blast to sail.

At 26 feet, she's the perfect size: nimble enough to be exciting, stable enough to feel secure, and spacious enough for groups of friends or family. The twin rudders give incredible control, the lifting keel means we can explore shallow areas, and that gorgeous blue hull? Unmistakable.

💙 Fun fact: BlueJ's signature electric blue hull makes her one of the most recognizable boats on Lake Minnetonka. You'll spot her from anywhere on the lake!

The Specs

Design Beneteau First 260 Spirit
Length 26 feet (7.9m)
Beam 9 feet
Built 2001, France
Top Speed 10 mph sustained
Capacity 4-6 guests comfortably
Special Features Twin rudders, lifting keel, racing & cruising sails

Want to know more about BlueJ and our adventures? Check out our blog: rarerarebird.blogspot.com

BlueJ Beneteau First 260 sailboat charter, 26-foot French racing design on Lake Minnetonka
Close-up sailing detail of BlueJ charter boat with rigging and sails
Comfortable cabin interior of BlueJ sailboat with nautical decor and seating

Choose Your Adventure

Two amazing ways to experience Lake Minnetonka with BlueJ

Day Charter

$400
4-Hour Adventure

Everything You Need

  • Expert captain and crew (Clay & Jodi)
  • 4 hours exploring Lake Minnetonka
  • Flexible itinerary based on YOUR preferences
  • Sailing instruction if you want it
  • All safety equipment and life jackets
  • Swimming stops and anchoring time
  • Complimentary bottle of wine to celebrate
  • 360° camera for shareable videos
  • Drone footage if we anchor (optional)
  • Memories that last forever

Perfect for celebrations, family time, date nights, or just exploring the lake

Book Day Charter
New!

Photography Cruise

$200
2-Hour Session

Picture-Perfect Experience

  • 2 hours sailing in beautiful Wayzata Bay
  • Bring your own photographer
  • Clay positions boat for perfect lighting
  • Stunning water & boat backdrops
  • Multiple location options in the bay
  • Ideal for senior pictures
  • Perfect for prom photos
  • Unique engagement shoot location
  • Once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity
  • Capacity: up to 4 people + photographer

"Your photographer will get shots they can't get anywhere else on the lake!"

Book Photo Session

Longer charters? Special occasions? Custom adventures? Let's talk! We love creating unique experiences.

When Can We Sail?

BlueJ sails Lake Minnetonka from spring through fall. Looking for winter sailing? Check out our Florida charters!

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Season

Late April through Late October

Minnesota's best sailing months!

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Best Times

Weekends

Most weekday evenings

(Thursdays excluded)

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Weekdays

Also available!

Perfect if you have a flexible schedule

Popular Time Slots

Morning: 9am - 1pm
Afternoon: 1pm - 5pm
Sunset: 5pm - 9pm

Exact times are flexible based on your preferences and sunset times

We've Got Answers

What's included in the Photography Cruise? +

The 2-hour Photography Cruise is perfect for senior pictures, prom photos, or engagement sessions! You bring your photographer, and we provide the stunning backdrop and expert boat positioning. Clay knows exactly how to position BlueJ for the best lighting and angles. We stay in beautiful Wayzata Bay with the boat, mansions, and water as your backdrop. It's an absolutely unique photo opportunity you can't get anywhere else on the lake!

Do I need sailing experience? +

Absolutely not! Most of our guests have never been on a sailboat before. We handle all the technical stuff, and you can be as involved or relaxed as you like. Want to learn? We're excellent teachers. Just want to enjoy the ride? Perfect! That's what we're here for.

What should I bring? +

Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and any food or drinks you'd like (we provide wine and water). Wear soft-soled shoes or go barefoot. Bring layers—it's often cooler on the water. Swimwear if you want to jump in! We have all the sailing gear and safety equipment.

How many people can come? +

BlueJ comfortably holds up to 6 guests plus Clay and Jodi. This is the sweet spot—intimate enough to feel special, roomy enough to move around and be comfortable. Perfect for couples, families, or friend groups.

What if the weather is bad? +

Safety first, always. If conditions aren't safe or pleasant, we'll work with you to reschedule. We keep a close eye on forecasts and will usually make the call 24 hours ahead. Light rain? No problem. Thunderstorms? We'll pick a better day.

Can kids come sailing? +

Yes! We love having families aboard. We've got life jackets in all sizes and tons of experience making sailing fun and safe for all ages. Kids often become our most enthusiastic crew members—they love taking the helm!

Is sailing safe? Will the boat tip over? +

BlueJ is exceptionally stable and will NOT capsize under normal sailing conditions. The boat will heel (lean) when sailing—that's normal and actually means we're going fast! Her wide beam, substantial ballast, and twin rudders make her incredibly stable. We have all required safety equipment, and Clay's been sailing his whole life. You're in very capable hands.

Is there a guide I can read before my charter? +

Yes! We've created a comprehensive Sailors Guide that covers everything you need to know—what to bring, what to expect, safety info, and tips for an amazing day. Download it here or scroll up to the download section!

Where do we meet? +

We depart from Wayzata Yacht Club on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka. It's a beautiful, historic sailing club with easy parking. We'll send you exact meeting details and directions when you book.

Don't Stop Sailing When Winter Comes!

When BlueJ gets tucked away for Minnesota winter, we head south to Florida

Northern Lights catamaran charter in Florida Gulf Coast

Sail with Us Year-Round

Meet Northern Lights, our 34-foot sailboat based in Hudson, Florida (just north of Tampa). Same expert crew (Clay & Jodi), different paradise!

Minnesota Summer
BlueJ
Apr - Oct
Florida Year-Round
Northern Lights
All Year

Perfect winter escape for Minnesotans! Trade snow and ice for sunshine and warm Gulf waters. Many of our Lake Minnetonka guests sail with us in Florida during winter.

Learn About Florida Sailing →

Hear From Our Guests

Real experiences from real sailors on Lake Minnetonka

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"Amazing!!! We had such a great time. Big thanks to you and Jodi for making it a very special moment for Viviana's first sail :)"

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Nathan
Day Charter Guest
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"Thanks for making my client's photo session so extraordinary! They LOVED the boat, and your ability to get the best lighting. The photos are AMAZING!"

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Natalie
Professional Photographer

Ready to create your own amazing experience on Lake Minnetonka?

Book Your Sail Today

Let's Make This Happen

Reach out and let's plan your perfect day on Lake Minnetonka

Get in Touch

Ready to sail with us? Fill out the form and we'll be in touch to schedule your perfect day on Lake Minnetonka!

Wayzata Yacht Club, Lake Minnetonka

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