image of boat

Welcome to SSA

Register Now!

Scholarships!

SSA is pleased to offer both need- and merit-based scholarships. See our registration info page for more details. Applications are confidential.

Welcome to SSA! We are embarking on our 77th season (summer 2024) of instilling the love of sailing in kids and adults. We strive not only to teach our students how to sail, but also to cultivate a sense of responsibility that will keep Seneca Lake a place that all can enjoy. See you out on the lake!


UPDATES!

Preparations for SSA’s upcoming season are well under way! Registration will go live very soon!


Our Season: We are offering a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will began July 8 with Adventure Week for kids with experience (or starting sailors 9 and older). The remaining sessions include more Adventure Weeks, an Opti Week for younger sailors 7-8 years old,  and a week for  Girls and Young Women. Instruction will continue through the week of August 12th. Please see our instructional pages for more information about the nature of these offerings and the Program Schedule page for a quick view of all dates.

FIRST SAIL events! Not sure if sailing is for you?  Most Geneva residents have never been on a sailboat! Now’s your chance to hop on for a short while and give it a try.  Learn more about our First Sail events at the Geneva Farmers Market. Scroll down for dates and more info!

Splash, Paddle, and Sail – SSA will host several evenings of play on the water at Seneca Yacht Club this season. Kids and adults will be able to float, row, paddle, and (weather and staffing permitting) go for a sail using SSA watercraft. Keep your eyes on this space for details and dates!

What’s it like during our sessions? Find out with these pictures! Our summer 2023 season was a great success. We hosted over 90 sailors, both kids and adults, and we had a blast in the process; it was a very successful season! Check out these galleries for a taste of summer sailing camp and the much anticipated awards  ceremony: SSA Awards PicnicSSA Adventure Week SamplerSSA Opti Weeks

Please do contact us (senecasailingacademy@gmail.com) with questions, comments, suggestions, and dreams!

Finally, you can also visit our Donation page to think about how you can help us continue to bring sailing, the outdoors, and a love of this beautiful place together for you and for our community. Thanks for visiting!

goat image

Welcome to SSA

Register now!

Scholarships!

SSA is pleased to offer both need- and merit-based scholarships. See our registration info page for more details. Applications are confidential.

2024 April

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Welcome to SSA! We are embarking on our 77th season (summer 2024) of instilling the love of sailing in kids and adults. We strive not only to teach our students how to sail, but also to cultivate a sense of responsibility that will keep Seneca Lake a place that all can enjoy. See you out on the lake!


UPDATES!

Preparations for SSA’s upcoming season are well under way! Registration will go live very soon!


Our Season: We are offering a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will began July 8 with Adventure Week for kids with experience (or starting sailors 9 and older). The remaining sessions include more Adventure Weeks, an Opti Week for younger sailors 7-8 years old,  and a week for  Girls and Young Women. Instruction will continue through the week of August 12th. Please see our instructional pages for more information about the nature of these offerings and the Program Schedule page for a quick view of all dates.

FIRST SAIL events! Not sure if sailing is for you?  Most Geneva residents have never been on a sailboat! Now’s your chance to hop on for a short while and give it a try.  Learn more about our First Sail events at the Geneva Farmers Market. Scroll down for dates and more info!

Splash, Paddle, and Sail – SSA will host several evenings of play on the water at Seneca Yacht Club this season. Kids and adults will be able to float, row, paddle, and (weather and staffing permitting) go for a sail using SSA watercraft. Keep your eyes on this space for details and dates!

What’s it like during our sessions? Find out with these pictures! Our summer 2023 season was a great success. We hosted over 90 sailors, both kids and adults, and we had a blast in the process; it was a very successful season! Check out these galleries for a taste of summer camp and the much anticipated awards ceremony: SSA  Awards PicnicSSA Adventure Week SamplerSSA Opti Weeks

Please do contact us (senecasailingacademy@gmail.com) with questions, comments, suggestions, and dreams!

Finally, you can also visit our Donation page to think about how you can help us continue to bring sailing, the outdoors, and a love of this beautiful place together for you and for our community. Thanks for visiting!

grounded boats

Opti Week!

Opti Week (1 session, August 5-8) Four days, 9 am to 4 pm.

This course is geared toward fun and learning! Opti week focuses on beginning and reinforcing skills in Optimist Dinghies, a single handed boat tailored towards newer/younger sailors. Suited for kids 7-8 years.

Up to 12 sailors.

We will follow updated CDC and NYS Department of Health guidelines for social-distancing and mask-wearing, both on and off the water.

Please see our Youth Program page for more guidance.

kids leaning over the edge of a boat

Adventure Week!

Multiple weeks starting July 8, July 15, July 29, and August 12. M-F 9am-4pm.

Adventure Weeks are designed for all skill levels ages 9-17.  Children ages 7 – 8 may be approved after with consultation with Head Instructor.

Up to 16 sailors.

We will follow updated CDC and NYS Department of Health guidelines for social-distancing and mask-wearing, both on and off the water.

See our Youth Program page for more information.

boats in water

Girls Week!

(1 session, week of July 22-26) 

Girls Week

As part of a global movement to create more sailing opportunities for girls and young women, SSA is offering an Adventure Week dedicated to sailors who self-identify as girls, ages 9 to 17.

Up to 16 sailors.

We will follow updated CDC and NYS Department of Health guidelines for social-distancing and mask-wearing, both on and off the water.

 

See the Youth Sailing page for more information!

Silhouetted kids jumping at sunset

Splash, Paddle, and Sail

Splash, Paddle, and Sail

Splash, Paddle, and Sail:  three-hour sessions to help children 
new to water sports get comfortable splashing and playing in Seneca Lake. “Splash, Paddle, & Sail” will be held  at the Seneca Yacht Club, 3270
 Boody’s Hill Road, Geneva NY 14456.
 Click here for more info: Splash, Paddle, and Sail Dates for SPS will be posted soon.

adult learning to sail

Adult Sailing courses

Adult Sailing courses for individuals and groups. 4-evening course.

We use our fleet of Flying Scots. Capacity is 3 adults plus instructor per boat. No experience required.

We will follow updated CDC and NYS Department of Health guidelines for social-distancing and mask-wearing, both on and off the water.

See our Adult Sailing Pagefor more information.

child working a sail

Private Instruction

Private Instruction for individuals, couples, parent/guardian & children, children/youth. Beginners and experienced sailors welcome. Maximum capacity of 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children (<13yrs) or 1-4 children/youth. Contact us for information on availability.

COVID-19 NOTICE: SSA is monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, following guidelines set in place by the New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as NYS regulations on business activities.

First Sail Events 2024

Look for our “First Sail” opportunities at the Geneva Farmer’s Market; you can sail with us right off the Geneva waterfront!

We’ll be at a booth at the market and we’ll have several of our Flying Scots – stable, fun, and great teaching boats – on hand with experienced skippers to take you out for a short sail on Seneca. Free! Open to all! (Ages 6 and up; weather dependent!) 😉

Planned Dates:

Saturday June 22 – 9:00-noon

Saturday July 27 – 9:00-noon

Saturday August 17 – 9:00-noon

Contact us

Who we are

Sailing is fun! Seneca Sailing Academy (SSA) was formed in 2012 as a non-profit organization focused on community members with access to responsible seamanship skills. Specifically, we promote and provide:

  • sailing instruction for youth and adults
  • race training
  • the exchange of sailing and boating information
  • public awareness regarding boating safety
  • public awareness regarding the ecology and preservation of Seneca Lake