Our mission
Promoting sailing across the upper Midwest
The Twin Cities Regional Sailing Association is the only official pathway for Minnesota sailors to compete at the US Sailing national championship level. As a US Sailing Regional Sailing Association affiliate, we nominate teams, sanction qualifying regattas, and represent the upper Midwest on the national stage.
We are proof that it works. In 2024, Wayzata YC's junior crew won the Sears Cup — the oldest national championship trophy in American sailing. In 2025, Kurt Taken-Holtze, Jeff Hames, and Jon Lee won the Clifford D. Mallory Trophy. Three national podiums in two years. All TCRSA.
TCRSA serves sailors across Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
We're a nonprofit that operates lean by design. Our only fixed costs are our US Sailing RSA dues and this website. Any year-end balance beyond those operating costs is donated directly to local community sailing centers — new equipment, youth scholarships, and support for sailors heading to national events.
Want to direct your support? Add a note to your donation — youth sailing, equipment, team travel — and we'll honor it. Make a directed donation →
What we do
Our objectives
Qualifying regattas
Calendar and promote qualifying regattas for US Sailing events, giving Minnesota sailors a clear path to national competition.
Team nominations
Accept requests and nominate teams or individuals for US Sailing regattas where no qualifier is available.
National representation
Appoint Association representatives and delegates for coordination and cooperation with US Sailing at the national level.
Fleet committees
Establish committees representing the common interests of various one-design and PHRF fleets within the Area.
Inter-club racing
Promote inter-club races between yacht clubs within the RSA, building community and competitive depth across the region.
US Sailing Area K
Our regional context
TCRSA holds a seat on the US Sailing RSA Committee as the regional affiliate for the Twin Cities and upper Midwest. We are one of several Regional Sailing Associations within US Sailing's Area K.
| Association | Region | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities RSA (TCRSA) | Twin Cities & Upper Midwest | tcrsa.us |
| Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) | East Troy, WI | ilya.org |
| Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (LMSRF) | Richland, MI | lmsrf.org |
| Lake Superior Yachting Association (LSYA) | Chaska, MN | lsya.org |
| Midwest Sailing Association (MSA) | Saint Louis, MO | midwestsailing.com |
| SEAS — Sailing Education Association Sheboygan | Sheboygan, WI | seasheboygan.org |
The distinguishing signal
Our burgee
As defined in Article 1.03 of the TCRSA Bylaws: "The distinguishing signal or burgee of the Association shall be a pointed pennant with a red outline and blue inner triangle, the letters TCRSA in blue running diagonally lengthwise through it in the middle on a white field with red border and a red state of Minnesota shape in the area near the large end."
All TCRSA members receive a burgee window decal. Sponsors receive a high-quality stitched burgee flag.
Governance
Documents & bylaws
TCRSA operates as a nonprofit under bylaws established at its founding in 2016. Association decisions are made by the board of directors, with input from member clubs.
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