What about sailing?

When you think of boating on the lake, you probably think about motor boats.  Most people do. Of course, there are also kayaks, canoes, and row boats, each with its charms and physical fitness requirements.  But, how about sailing? Have you ever thought about enjoying the water, sun and breeze without all of the noise of an engine ? Never needing the gas dock?

Does it require physical fitness ?

For centuries, sailing was the fastest way to get from A to B on the water - five times faster than rowing, yet anyone can do it without breaking a sweat.  This is not a physically demanding pastime. In fact, you will see lots of retired folks sailing on the lake in all sizes of boat, while you will also see elementary school kids sailing boats themselves.

Is it affordable?

Sailing has sometimes had a reputation of being for the rich and famous with their large yachts and yacht clubs.  Today, sail boats are more affordable than motor boats - no big engine, no big fuel costs, annual taxes often equal the cost of a meal at McDonald’s, and - for the smaller 12’ to 16’ boats - you don’t even need a slip or a dock - they can be launched right from the shore.

How does it work ?

Sailing works by taking the energy of the wind and converting it into forward motion of the sail boat.  It can do this in two ways, put simply. If the wind is behind you or beside you, the wind hits the sails and pushes your boat forward.  If the wind is in front of you, it treats your sail like the wing on an airplane and sucks your boat forward. You steer the boat with a rudder that is controlled by your hand on smaller boats or by steering wheel on larger boats.  You control the sails with a couple of ropes that you use to let the sails out or pull the sails in. A sailboat can sail in just about any direction (except stright into the wind) and in the Lakes Region we are blessed with regular winds that will propel a sailboat along at 5mph to 15mph almost every day.

How do I get started ?

Getting started sailing on the Lake is easy.  There is no requirement to have a boating license (NH Boater Safety Certificate), though it is always a good idea to know the laws and rules, and to have proper safety equipment (life jacket) and know how to be safe on the water.  But, before you decide to buy a boat, you might want to try sailing out first. Maybe you sailed a bit at summer camp or on vacation somewhere years ago, maybe you;ve never sailed before. Either way, it is a good idea to take a course to learn to sail or have a couple of lessons to brush up.  These are very affordable (again - sailing is a low-cost sport compared to motor boating) and available from the local non-profit sailing school in Gilford (www.lwsa.org) from May to September.  You can arrange individual private lessons for adults or kids, group lessons for adults, a week of summer sailing school for kids and teens, or a family excursion guided by an experienced instructor who can show you the ropes.

Where do I get a boat ?

You will see all different types and sizes of sail boats out on the Lake.  Some people prefer small one- or two-person 12’ boats with one sail; some prefer medium-sized boats for 3-4 people with two sails, and some people are looking for a bigger boat of 20-35’ to fit the whole family and up to 10 people.  Whatever you preference, there are a few good sources locally. For new sail boats, the most visible place to go is “The Ship” on Route 11 in Gilford opposite Sawyer’s Dairy Bar, where Fay’s sells a variety of new sail boats from small to large.  If you are looking for a good deal on a used sail boat, the boat donation program of Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association in Gilford accepts donated boats (tax deduction for the donor) and resells them at a discount (great deal for you the buyer) - and the income goes to support the local non-profit sailing school kids programs - so everyone wins. (www.lwsa.org/buy-a-boat)

Whether your interest in sailing is new or renewed, whether its you or your kids who want to try it, there is a big lake out there to explore.  Get the out and experience the thrill of using the power of nature to move a boat fast through the water. See the sparkle in your kid’s eyes when they captain a small boat on their own during sailing school or on a small boat of your own.