Youth Racing
LWSA has a long history of youth racing and in fact there are many opportunities to learn and improve racing skills locally with our help.
Each summer, young sailors from LWSA participate in regattas (sailboat races), including our own W.A.R. Regatta (Winnipesaukee Annual Regatta) held annually in July. There are significant regattas on several New Hampshire lakes and at the seacoast, as well as in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and New York State.
Some of our young sailors choose to participate in just one or two local regattas, while others have had a lot of fun representing LWSA more frequently. It is very flexible, fun, and still leaves a lot of room for other summer activities.
When a number of LWSA youth racers want to attend a regatta together, LWSA usually can arrange to trailer a few of its own boats and send coaching staff, while a few parents join as chaperones. It is always a fun time !
Typical youth regattas in New England race in two-person boats (usually 420s) and single-person boats such as Optis, O'pen Bics, and Lasers. While some of our young sailors have boats at home, most of the kids learn to sail and race on LWSA boats.
LWSA has two programs which prepare young sailors for racing in regattas and provide a structured opportunity for practice too. Many kids compete in regattas by the end of their first summer with LWSA, others gain more confidence with a second summer or they are a year or two older, and most kids choose not to race at all - they simply enjoy the freedom of harnessing nature to sail a boat around the lake.
Participation in regattas with LWSA is not selective or competitive to join - it is open to all young sailors who participate in LWSA programs or membership. LWSA aims to cultivate a love of sailing that will last a lifetime and therefore we put our main emphasis on recreational sailing, while making it optional for kids to engage in competition - always with good sportsmanship and an appreciation for nature's forces of water and wind.
For those interested, the two racing programs which LWSA currently provides are listed below and full information and schedules can be found by clicking here:
R200: Opti Racing - 8 - 11
Ages 8 - 11; One-week course, full days (Mon-Fri); Fee: $295
click for Schedule or Registration or Email Us a Question
This course is to introduce our younger students to sailboat racing. It is open to students, ages 8-11, who have successfully completed the Level One class or have equivalent experience. This class is taught in our Optimist dinghies and is designed to cover the fundamentals of sailboat racing, and will include classroom instruction, on-the-water instruction, drills, and actual races. These closely-coached classes will cover starting, buoy rounding, boat speed, tactics, strategy, and the rules of racing.
Participants will have the opportunity to compete in youth regattas elsewhere in New England.
R100: Novice Racing - 11-16
Ages 11-16; One-week course, full days (Mon-Fri) $295
click for Schedule or Registration or Email Us a Question
This course is to introduce our older students to sailboat racing. It is open to students, ages 11-16, who have successfully completed the Level One class or have equivalent experience. This class is designed to cover the fundamentals of sailboat racing, and will include classroom instruction, on-the-water instruction, drills, and actual races. These closely-coached classes will cover starting, buoy rounding, boat speed, tactics, strategy, and the rules of racing.
Participants will have the opportunity to compete in youth regattas elsewhere in New England.
R300: Level 3 Racing 11-16
Ages 11 - 16; One-week course, full days (Mon-Fri); Fee: $295
click for Schedule or Registration or Email Us a Question
This course is for students with previous racing experience and would like to sharpen their current racing skills. It is open to all students, ages 11-16, who have successfully completed R100 or R200 or have equivalent experience.
This class is designed to cover all aspects of sailboat racing, and will include classroom instruction, on-the-water instruction, drills, and actual races. These closely-coached classes will cover starting, buoy rounding, boat speed, tactics, strategy, and the rules of racing. More advanced students will be coached in more advanced go-fast and tactical skills.
Participants will have the opportunity to compete in youth regattas elsewhere in New England.
R400: LWSA Youth Racing Club
Ages 8-18; Fee $350 for the whole season
click for Schedule or Registration or Email Us a Question
This is an opportunity for our racing students to further develop their skills. The LWSA racing club is a two day a week program that will run throughout our summer season (requires a minimum number of 6 participants to be run.) The team will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12:30 as well as selected regatta dates. The race club will give participants more coaching, more practice, and the ability to travel and represent the LWSA in off-the-lake regattas. Eligible students will have completed the Racing class, Level 3 class, or have equivalent experience. If interested in participating, or if you have questions, please contact us. Students will race in a combination of Optimist dinghies, Vanguard 420s and our hot O'pen Bic boats.
