Welcome to SSA
Scholarships!
SSA is pleased to offer both need- and merit-based scholarships. See our registration info page for more details. Applications are confidential.
Greetings from SSA! We are currently planning our 78th season (summer 2025) 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!
FIRST SAIL 8/16 — CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF WIND 🙁
Light/no wind this morning mean we've cancelled our First Sail this weekend. Apologies to all who'd hoped to sail with us! Look for more offerings next year! If you'd love to get out for a trial, we do offer private lessons and can for a few more weeks. This is a paid lesson, but will get you out on the water!
KIDS CAMP – Has concluded after another great season! Look for a photo gallery from our awards night soon!
ADULT SAILING — Adult sailing is wrapping up the regular season as well. We've had some good fun and some good sunsets! If you're still wanting to get out on the water, we do offer private lessons and may be able to accommodate in these last few weeks of summer. Contact us at senecasailingacademy@gmail.com. Depends on instructor availability.
Our Season: We offer a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will begin the week of June 30 with an Advanced Sailors Week for kids ready to up their experience. After that we'll have an Opti Week for younger sailors 7-8 years old, then we'll begin our 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 11th. 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!
What's it like during our sessions? Find out with these pictures! We typically host more than 90 sailors, both kids and adults, and have a blast in the process! Check out these galleries for a taste of summer sailing camp and the much anticipated awards ceremony: SSA Awards Picnic, SSA Adventure Week Sampler, SSA 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!
Welcome to SSA
Scholarships!
SSA is pleased to offer both need- and merit-based scholarships. See our registration info page for more details. Applications are confidential.
Greetings from SSA! We are currently planning our 78th season (summer 2025) 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!
FIRST SAIL 8/16 — CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF WIND 🙁
Light/no wind this morning mean we've cancelled our First Sail this weekend. Apologies to all who'd hoped to sail with us! Look for more offerings next year! If you'd love to get out for a trial, we do offer private lessons and can for a few more weeks. This is a paid lesson, but will get you out on the water!
KIDS CAMP – Has concluded after another great season! Look for a photo gallery from our awards night soon!
ADULT SAILING — Adult sailing is wrapping up the regular season as well. We've had some good fun and some good sunsets! If you're still wanting to get out on the water, we do offer private lessons and may be able to accommodate in these last few weeks of summer. Contact us at senecasailingacademy@gmail.com. Depends on instructor availability.
Our Season: We offer a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will begin the week of June 30 with an Advanced Sailors Week for kids ready to up their experience. After that we'll have an Opti Week for younger sailors 7-8 years old, then we'll begin our 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 11th. 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!
What's it like during our sessions? Find out with these pictures! We typically host more than 90 sailors, both kids and adults, and have a blast in the process! Check out these galleries for a taste of summer sailing camp and the much anticipated awards ceremony: SSA Awards Picnic, SSA Adventure Week Sampler, SSA 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!
Opti Week!
Opti Week: 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, but newcomers up to 11 may benefit. All sailors must be 7 years of age before the first day of session, no exceptions.
Up to 12 sailors.
Please see our Youth Program page for more guidance.
Adventure Week!
Multiple weeks, M-F 9am-4pm.
Adventure Weeks are designed for all skill levels ages 9-17. All sailors must be 9 or older by the first day of camp.
Up to 16 sailors.
See our Youth Program page for more information.
Girls Week!
Girls Week
Up to 16 sailors.
See the Youth Sailing page for more information!
Race Week
Race Week is a four-day race clinic for children ages 12 to 17 with previous sailing experience who want to learn how to race or refine their racing skills. Students will use Club 420's and Lasers for racing fun through a variety of games and activities both on and off the water. Children must be 12 years or older by the first day of class.
Please see our Youth Program page for more guidance.
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.
See our Adult Sailing Page for more information.
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.
First Sail Events 2025
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 7 and up, no exceptions; very weather dependent!) 😉
Planned Dates 2025:
Saturday June 14 – 9:00-noon
Saturday July 19 – 9:00-noon
Saturday August 16 – 9:00-noon Cancelled due to wind (lack of) Please check back with us next year!
And we hope to add more. Check back in season!
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