School | Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing

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

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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.

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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.

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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, O'pen Bic sailboats, 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.

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Private Lessons

Personalized instruction in our boat or yours!

Embark on a personalized sailing adventure with our private lessons tailored exclusively for 8-10-year-old sailors. Led by a certified instructor, this one-on-one experience is crafted to cater to the unique needs and pace of your young sailor, ensuring a safe and enjoyable introduction to the world of sailing.

Our instructor will guide students through the basics of steering, sail handling, and instill a fundamental understanding of water safety—all within a fun and supportive environment. With individualized attention, your child will build confidence on the water and develop a lifelong appreciation for the exciting sport of sailing. Private lessons can be helpful in advancing to the next level. Dive into the wonders of sailing with a private lesson designed to spark enthusiasm and skill in our youngest sailors!

Please note that students must possess basic swimming abilities and will be required to successfully complete a swim test. Private lessons cost $75 per hour for one person; add a second person for only $30 more per hour, and an additional third person is only $10 more per hour. We recommend a minimum of a three hour lesson.

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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.

Enroll

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 Vanguard 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.

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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 Vanguard 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.

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Level 3

Advanced level, two-week course, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri)

This course, taught in Vanguard 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.

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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 Vanguard 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.

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Private Lessons

Personalized instruction in our boat or yours!

Embark on a personalized sailing adventure with our private lessons tailored exclusively for 11 -18 -year-old sailors. 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 students where they are and build on their skills from there. This is a great resource for students who need the extra push to advance to the next level.

Please note that participants must possess basic swimming abilities and will be required to successfully complete a swim test. Private lessons cost $75 per hour for one person; add a second person for only $30 more per hour, and an additional third person is only $10 more per hour. We recommend a minimum of a three hour lesson.

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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.

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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 Vangaurd 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.

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Race Club

Ages 8-18, 9 weeks, Monday Mornings 9am to Noon and Wednesday Afternoons 4:30 to 7:30pm

Unfortunately Race Club will not be able to take place in its usual format this summer. Due to some staffing constraints, we will not have the coverage to run Race Club in parallel with our normal youth camp classes.

However, our goal is to schedule some racing clinics and opportunities for learning and practice in a new format, so we encourage all students who are interested in racing to "sign up" by registering for the Race Club at no cost. We will work on structuring our offerings moving forward and keep everyone who registers up to date on what we will be able to offer. Thank you for your understanding!

Level 1

Beginner level, 4 sessions, offered 9am - noon, 1pm - 4pm, 5pm - 8pm

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. .

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Level 2

Intermediate level, 4 sessions, offered 9am - noon, 1pm - 4pm, 5pm - 8pm

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.

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Level 3

Advanced level, 4 sessions, offered 9am - noon, 1pm - 4pm, 5pm - 8pm

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 reach out to our Adult Lesson Coordinator, 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.

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Private Lessons

Personalized instruction in our boat or yours!

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.

Book a Lesson

Pram