image of boat

Welcome to SSA

Registration Is closed – come back soon!

Scholarships!

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

2025 January

Week 1

Mon 30
Tue 31
Wed 1
Thu 2
Fri 3
Sat 4
Sun 5
Mon 6
Tue 7
Wed 8
Thu 9
Fri 10
Sat 11
Sun 12
Mon 13
Tue 14
Wed 15
Thu 16
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Wed 29
Thu 30
Fri 31
Sat 1
Sun 2
  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

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!

KIDS CAMP – We are currently planning summer 2025’s offerings and schedule. We hope to open registration in March; check back with us to see what’s up.

AWARDS COOKOUT 2024– Our annual awards banquet was full of fun, dunking the instructors, bashing a pinata, lots of good food, the paper plate awards, and the presentation of the shiny trophies!

ADULT SAILING — Adult Sailing classes will be on offer in summer 2025 as well! Last season, Adult Sailing classes were so successful that we were fully booked. We are looking to increase our offerings for this coming season so get your sailing self ready! Contact us for more info: : senecasailingacademy@gmail.com


Our Season: We offer a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will begin  the week of July 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 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

Registration is closed! Come back soon!

Scholarships!

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

2025 January

Week 1

Mon 30
Tue 31
Wed 1
Thu 2
Fri 3
Sat 4
Sun 5
Mon 6
Tue 7
Wed 8
Thu 9
Fri 10
Sat 11
Sun 12
Mon 13
Tue 14
Wed 15
Thu 16
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Wed 29
Thu 30
Fri 31
Sat 1
Sun 2
  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

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!

KIDS CAMP – We are currently planning summer 2025’s offerings and schedule. We hope to open registration in March; check back with us to see what’s up.

AWARDS COOKOUT 2024– Our annual awards banquet was full of fun, dunking the instructors, bashing a pinata, lots of good food, the paper plate awards, and the presentation of the shiny trophies!

ADULT SAILING — Adult Sailing classes will be on offer in summer 2025 as well! Last season, Adult Sailing classes were so successful that we were fully booked. We are looking to increase our offerings for this coming season so get your sailing self ready! Contact us for more info: : senecasailingacademy@gmail.com


Our Season: We offer a full summer of sailing instruction and fun. Sailing camp opportunities will begin  the week of July 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 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:  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.

kids leaning over the edge of a boat

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.

Two girls sailing a boat

Girls Week!

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, no age exceptions.

Up to 16 sailors.

See the Youth Sailing page for more information!

Silhouetted kids jumping at sunset

Advanced Sailors Week

Advanced Sailors Week

Five days, Monday-Friday 9-4

This week will cover more advanced topics and may include racing rules and strategy, use of the trapeze, use of the spinnaker and more. See our Youth Sailing Page for more info.

Two women, sailing a boat, with spreading clouds in background

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.

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.

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

And we hope to add more. Check back in season!

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