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Sailing School
Our US Sailing-certified instructors transform novices into confident sailors using a fun and proven curriculum, from basic skills to racing techniques. With a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, we ensure that everyone, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to build a lifelong passion for sailing.
Safety is a top priority for our staff, visit our Safety Concerns page for details.
Mighty Minis
LWSA Mighty Minis Sailing is the perfect introduction to sailing for energetic 7-year-olds. No prior sailing experience is necessary! This fun, half-day program (either mornings from 9am to noon or afternoons from 1pm to 4pm) is designed to build your child's confidence and basic sailing skills in a safe and supervised environment. Our experienced instructors will teach your Mighty Mini Sailor:
Boat comfort: Feeling secure and at ease on a sailboat
Steering: Learning how to control the boat's direction
Sail handling: Understanding how sails work and how to adjust them
Boating safety: Essential safety practices on and around boats
Important Note: All Mighty Mini sailors must be able to swim and pass a brief swim assessment before participating.
For children under 7: Private lessons are available. Contact us at info@lwsa.org for more information.
After School Sailing
All levels, Monday & Wednesday Afternoons, 4pm-7pm
Open to students from all towns ages 8 -16, our afterschool sailing program warmly welcomes participants of every skill level, from beginners to seasoned sailors.
Upon arrival, students will be grouped based on their age and proficiency level, ensuring a personalized and enriching learning experience. Classes will be conducted using Optimist dinghies, 420 collegiate boats, and RS Teras. A swim test will be administered on the first day, and participants are required to wear fitted vest-style life jackets; however, if needed, jackets are available for borrowing.
Financial assistance is readily accessible—no one will be turned away. Additionally, new students joining the afterschool program will enjoy a 15% discount on LWSA summer sailing classes they register for. See summer program levels below.
Level 1
Introductory level, one-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course, for students ages 8 - 10 with little or no sailing experience, is taught in Optimist sailing dinghies.
Based on age, size and weight, students will either be paired or sail alone. The focus is on introduction to sailing and safety in and around sailboats. Students will learn to rig, sail and steer the boat.
Please note that most students require 2-3 weeks of level 1 to advance to level 2.
Level 2
Intermediate level, one-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is for students ages 8-10 who have been recommended for the Level 2 class or have equivalent experience.
This course is taught in Optimist sailing dinghies and RS Teras and will build upon the skills learned in the Level One class. Students will learn to become more aware of wind and weather and will focus on more advanced sailing, boat handling, and safety skills, including tacking, jibing, and landing a sailboat. Students' skills will be constantly evaluated and at the appropriate time, those who are interested will be introduced to advanced concepts and/or competitive racing.
Please note that since Level 3 doesn't start until the student is 13. Most students require at least 3 summers of Level 2 to advance to Level 3.
Private Lessons
Personalized instruction in our boat or yours!
Private lessons are available that will be led by a certified instructor and tailored exclusively for your child's needs.
After School Sailing
All levels, Monday & Wednesday Afternoons, 4pm-7pm
Open to students from all towns ages 8 -16, our afterschool sailing program warmly welcomes participants of every skill level, from beginners to seasoned sailors.
Upon arrival, students will be grouped based on their age and proficiency level, ensuring a personalized and enriching learning experience. Classes will be conducted using Optimist dinghies, 14-foot Club 420 Dinghies, and RS Teras. A swim test will be administered on the first day, and participants are required to wear fitted vest-style life jackets; however, if needed, jackets are available for borrowing.
Financial assistance is readily accessible—no one will be turned away. Additionally, new students joining the afterschool program will enjoy a 15% discount on LWSA summer sailing classes they register for. See summer program levels below.
Level 1
Introductory level, one-week or two-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is for older students, ages 11-16, with little or no sailing experience.
While it is similar to the Level 1 class offered to the younger students the age of the students will allow them to master more skills by the end of the course. This course is taught in Optimist sailing dinghies, RS Teras and two-person Club 420 sailing dinghies. The focus is on introduction to sailing and safety in and around sailboats. Students will learn to rig, sail and steer the boat.
Please note that most students require 2-3 weeks of level 1 to advance to Level 2.
Level 2
Intermediate level, one-week or two-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is for older students, ages 11-16, who have been recommended for the Level 2 class or have equivalent experience. While it is similar to the Level 2 class offered to the younger students, the age of the students will allow them to master more skills by the end of the course.
This course is taught in Optimist sailing dinghies, RS Teras, and two-person Club 420 sailing dinghies as well as RS Fevas, and will build upon the skills learned in the Level One class. Students will learn to become more aware of wind and weather and will focus on more advanced sailing, boat handling, and safety skills, including tacking, jibing and landing a sailboat. Students' skills will be constantly evaluated and at the appropriate time those who are interested will be introduced to advanced concepts and/or competitive racing.
Please note that most students require at least 2 summers in Level 2 to advance to Level 3.
Level 3
Advanced level, two-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course, taught in Club 420 dinghies and RS Feva sailboats, is for older students (ages 13-18) who have been recommended for the Level 3 class or have equivalent experience.
This two-week class and age of the students will allow them to master more skills by the end of the course. This course will build upon the skills learned in the Level 2 class. Students will learn to become more aware of wind and weather, learn to read and follow a chart, how to toss an anchor, and will focus on more advanced sailing, boat handling, and safety skills, including tacking, jibing and landing a sailboat. Students' skills will be constantly evaluated and at the appropriate time those who are interested will be introduced to advanced concepts.
Advanced Seamanship
Junior Instructor training, one-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is for those students who have completed the Level 3 class, or have equivalent experience. Attendees must be approved by the head instructor before registering. Please contact Head Instructor Winni Opel at winni@lwsa.org prior to registering. This class for 13-18 year olds is taught in Club 420's, RS Feva's, Sonar or J80 keelboats, and assorted other boats for day trips.
The aim of this class is for our most advanced sailors to develop advanced skills and to demonstrate their understanding and ability. The course may include; full day adventures in keel boats, field trip to marine patrol, teaching sailing concepts to younger sailors, learning land and water drills, planning and facilitation of fun Friday and experience rigging, sailing and racing a J80 sailboat.
This course is highly recommended for any student interested in applying to be a Junior Instructor.
Private Lessons
Personalized instruction in our boat or yours!
Private lessons are available that will be led by a certified instructor and tailored exclusively for your child's needs.
Opti Racing
Ages 8-12: beginner level, one week course, 9am -4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is taught in Optimist sailing dinghies and is open to all who have taken at least one 101 course previously. Students will sail alone and improve skills such as upwind sailing, tacking, and jibing. The course will teach start sequences, course navigation, roll tacks, and basic tactics. Students will have the opportunity to practice their skills against one another in practice races and will receive feedback both on and off the water. We encourage all students who enjoy racing to join Race Club.
420 Racing
Ages 11-16: intermediate level, one week course, 9am - 4pm (Mon-Fri)
This course is for students ages 11-16 who are an appropriate size for 420 sailing (generally over 100 lbs with consideration given to lighter sailors demonstrating proficiency). It is taught in Club 420s and is open to all who have been recommended for level two or higher or for this course specifically. Students will sail in pairs. The course will teach start sequences, course navigation, roll tacks, spinnaker use, and tactics and strategy. Students will have the opportunity to practice their skills against one another in practice races and will receive feedback both on and off the water.
Race Club
Ages 8-18, 8 weeks, Tuesday evenings 4:30-7:30
This is a fun opportunity open to all students level two and higher who have taken at least one racing class! These mornings and evenings will include lots of racing practice, plus drills and training on racing skills and tactics. Our racers hone their skills in Opti, RS Feva, 420 and RS Tera racing over the course of the summer. LWSA is proud to work closely with UNH Sailing and encourage our racers to participate in training days hosted at UNH.
Our Race Club members are highly encouraged to participate in regattas including but not limited to: Winnipesaukee Annual Regatta, Sunapee Rig It Up, UNH Deadfish and Battle of the Bay.
Level 1
Beginner level, 4 sessions, offered 9:30am-12:30, 1:30pm-4:30pm, 4:30pm-7:30pm
This course is for adults with little or no sailing experience. It will be taught in small groups in a stable and comfortable 26-foot J/80 and/or a 23-foot Sonar keelboat. The emphasis of this hands on course will be on safety and the basics of sailboat handling such as rigging and derigging, basic sailing knots, steering, upwind and downwind sailing, and sail handling. Additional material that may be covered includes person overboard procedure, managing safely in strong winds, boating navigation markers, boating right of way rules.
By the end of this course, the goal is to have students familiar with basic skills and knowledge of sailing, and to be comfortable carrying out those skills in light and moderate wind conditions with some assistance from an instructor.
Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and goals. .
Level 2
Intermediate level, 4 sessions, offered 9:30am-12:30, 1:30pm-4:30pm, 4:30pm-7:30pm
The purpose of this course is to solidify and expand on material and skills taught in the Level 1 Course, it is ideal for those who only have some previous sailing experience requiring a refresher course before moving on to more advanced skills or for those who have previously taken the Level 1 course but are not yet fully confident with the material. It will be taught in small groups in a stable and comfortable 23-foot Sonar keelboat and a 26-foot J/80. Prior to beginning this course students should have some familiarity with the basics of sailing including steering with a tiller and rudder, points of sail and sail trim, and tacking and jibing. Skills that this course covers that are generally not taught in the Level 1 Course include anchoring, mooring, and motor operation.
By the end of this course the goal is to have students comfortable with all the basic skills and knowledge of sailing, and to be comfortable carrying out those skills in most wind conditions with little or no assistance from an instructor
Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and goals.
Level 3
Advanced level, 4 sessions, offered 9:30am-12:30, 1:30pm-4:30pm, 4:30pm-7:30pm
This course is for adults with previous sailing experience who are confident and comfortable performing all basic sailing procedures independently and are looking to expand their knowledge and skills. Prior to beginning this course students should be able to confidently rig and derig a sailboat, confidently steer with a tiller and rudder, correctly trim their sails, and carry out tacks and jibes in most wind conditions. If you would like to register for this course, but have not previously taken lessons at LWSA, please contact us to discuss your previous sailing experience and if this course will be right for you. Topics covered include sail shape, controls, and tuning, symmetric and asymmetric spinnaker handling, anchoring and mooring under power. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and goals.
By the end of this course the goal is to have students capable of handling a sailboat completely independently in most wind conditions and to introduce them to more advanced skills that may be used as they venture further into the sailing world whether that be purchasing and sailing their own boat, or trying out racing.
Private Lessons
Personalized instruction in our boat or yours! We will work with you to set up a time that fits
Embark on a personalized sailing adventure with our private lessons tailored exclusively for your needs. Led by a certified instructor, this one-on-one experience is crafted to cater to your unique needs and pace, ensuring a safe and enjoyable introduction to the world of sailing.
Our instructor will meet you where you are and build on your skills from there.
Level 1A
Beginner level, morning & afternoon sessions - offered 9:30am-12:30 or 3-6pm
For ladies looking to learn how to sail in a small team environment with lots of positivity and patience. Learn the basics of a sailboat including sails, rigging and steering, plus the fundamentals of sail trim based on wind direction. You will have a chance to act as both crew and skipper, and will experience actually making the boat move. Each class begins with a chalk talk, then you head out to the keelboat as a team to set the sails, motor out of the cove and sail on Lake Winnipesaukee. You will help derig the boat at the end of the lesson.
Ideally you could bring a friend or fill a class with a group. Offered morning and afternoons. To be followed by 1B.
Level 1B
Beginner level, morning & afternoon sessions, offered 9:30am-12:30 or 3-6pm
Designed to build on the concepts introduced in the Level 1A class, this will require more participation in rigging, steering and controlling the sails. Similar format with a chalk talk to start, then out to the boat to rig, sail, and derig. All in a low key, patient delivery by your instructor. You will learn basic seamanship rules relative to other boats (both power and sail), care of sails and how to secure a boat at mooring. You will also learn the basics of anchoring.
Multiple sessions to allow flexibility in scheduling.
Level 2 On Your Own in an Emergency
2 sessions, offered 9:30am-12:30, 1:30pm-4:30pm (to be offered if there is sufficient interest)
This course is for ladies who have the desire to be competent in the event of being the only personal capable of sailing should that scenarion occur. Using our standard format of a chalk talk followed by sailing on a keelboat, it includes steering, setting and/or reducing sail, , turning on the motor and driving/docking/mooring. Chart review and radio protocols will be covered, along with handling lines and several key knots/line tying techniques.
Private Lessons
Personalized instruction in our boat or yours! We will work with you to set up a time that fits
Embark on a personalized sailing adventure with our private lessons tailored exclusively for your needs. Led by a certified instructor, this one-on-one experience is crafted to cater to your unique needs and pace, ensuring a safe and enjoyable introduction to the world of sailing.
Our instructor will meet you where you are and build on your skills from there.
Pram
Single Handed Dinghy
The Pram is a durable, self-bailing dinghy that is a perfect training boat for beginner sailors. The simple design is very low maintenance, and offers a platform very similar to an Optimist for kids to get excited about sailing. The Pram is more stable and easier to handle than an Optimist for our younger students.
At LWSA we use the Pram as a great introduction to sailing for our Mighty Minis and Level 1 classes.
Optimist
Single Handed Dinghy
The Optimist dinghy is a small sailing boat designed for children aged up to 14. It's about 8 feet long, 3 feet and 8 inches wide, and weighs around 77 pounds. The Optimist has a sprit-rigged sail and hull shape that provides a stable platform for learning to sail.
At LWSA we use the Opti as both an introductory boat as well as a racing boat for our younger racers.
RS Tera
Single Handed Dinghy
The RS Tera is a monohull dinghy in the RS Sailing range of sailing boats. It is recognised by the International Sailing Federation as an international class, and is a popular boat for beginners and for children to race.
At LWSA we use the Tera as a great introduction to sailing for our older Level 1 classes as well as our more experienced racing students.
C 420
Double Handed Dinghy
The Club 420 Dinghy is a fiberglass sailing dinghy with internal buoyancy tanks that is popular for racing and teaching. It has a large sail-area-to-weight ratio, is designed to plane easily, and can be rigged to be sailed single-handed. The 420 is 420 centimeters (13 ft 9 in) long, and has a spinnaker, and trapeze. It is an International class recognized by World Sailing and the International Sailing Federation.
At LWSA we use the 420 to challenge our Level 2 and 3 students as well as a double handed racing boat for our more experienced racers.
RS Feva
Double Handed Dinghy
The RS Feva is a double-handed dinghy for young sailors and parent-child teams. It's a popular choice for youth sailing because it's a better size than traditional fiberglass boats, and is suitable for younger or smaller sailors. The RS Feva is part of the International Class and has events around the world. It's chosen by families, clubs, and National Authorities as a way to help people develop a lifelong interest in sailing.
At LWSA we use the RS Feva as a stable double-handed boat for our less experienced sailors. Additionally we use the Feva to teach our Level 3 students how to sail a dinghy with a asymmetrical spinaker.
J80
One Design Keelboat
The J80 measuring 8 meters, it is a versatile performer designed to have market appeal among those entering the performance arena for the first time, dinghy sailors stepping up to a keelboat, big boat racers seeking a simpler method of going around the buoys, and daysailors.
At LWSA we use the J80 to teach asymmetrical spinnakers, practice keel boat crewing skills and race with J80 Fleet 1 here on Lake Winnipesaukee. Our J80s are also used as a daysailor for Fun Fridays.
Sonar
One Design Keelboat
The 23' Sonar is a one design keelboat high-performance racer and also a comfortable daysailor just right for getting the entire family or friends on the water together. It was designed by Bruce Kirby and almost 700 boats have been built since 1980. The Sonar has recently achieved status as an International Class.
At LWSA we use the Sonar to teach symmetrical spinnaker and for Fun Friday day trips.
What to Bring to Class
All students should bring the following items to class each day, including the first day:
Wear a swimsuit and closed-toe footwear (no flip-flops).
Bring:
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Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits properly (see safety concerns section)
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Sunglasses and/or hat
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Raincoat
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Sunscreen 15+
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A water bottle (no glass)
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Lunch
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A couple of packaged snacks (e.g. granola bars) that can be passed out on the water
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Towel
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Change of clothes or warm clothes, as necessary, such as a sweatshirt and sweatpants.
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A note indicating any current medications and dosages (not previously indicated on the medical form) to update the medical records, in the event of an emergency.
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Most importantly a sense of adventure!
Please arrive between 8:50AM and 9:00AM each morning, and plan to pick up your child by 4:00 each day. (For half-day classes: 9:00AM – 12:00PM or 1:00PM – 4:00PM)
You will be required to check your child in on the first day and check them out of the program in the afternoon. We hope you’ll take this as an opportunity to meet our staff and be directly involved in the daily activities in and around the classroom, and on the water!
Financial Aid
LWSA is committed to removing financial barriers so that affordability does not prevent youth in our communities from enjoying of the sport of sailing. We believe that sailing can and should be a lifelong pursuit that fosters water safety, self-confidence, teamwork, honesty, positive sporting values, and an appreciation for our environment.
If your child or a child in a family that you know would like to sail this summer, but cannot afford it, then please Contact Us by email or by phone on (603) 589-1177 to see if we can help make it a reality for them. Every inquiry is confidential and you might be opening the door to a lifetime of enjoyment of sailing and appreciation of the water.
