John and Pamela Paquette have enjoyed their cabin cruiser “Blown Fuse” on Lake Winnipesaukee for 35 years. Early on it provided great experiences for their kids, and more recently it has provided a way for John and Pamela to continue to enjoy beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee.
Having recently made the tough decision to retire from boating, they have donated the boat to the Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association. “This boat gave us a lot of good years,” says John, “and we wanted to pay it forward where it would do the most good. For years we have enjoyed watching the LWSA’s young sailors darting about in their little dinghies, so we decided to help them out with this donation.”
The Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association is a nonprofit organization that has run a youth sailing school for 34 years. One of their key revenue sources comes from generous donations of boats, which they often sell to help keep their organization afloat.
“We have 35 sailboats and six motorboats,” says Al Posnack, who is youth sailing chairman for the organization. “It is hard to imagine how expensive it is to maintain a fleet of this size, so our boat donation program is a huge help. The local community has been extremely generous in their donations. In fact, since 2012 we have received 105 donated boats, from little Sunfish to half a dozen 30-footers.”
“We never turn any youngsters down because of inability to pay,” says Executive Director Amy Tripp. “Through the generosity of our community we have been able to give out many, many scholarships over the years.”
In a typical season, the LWSA’s sailing school will put well over 200 youths on the water. They range in age from seven to 16, and in experience from beginner to advanced. Through a staff of nationally certified instructors, these kids not only learn to sail, but also develop self-confidence, sportsmanship, concentration, and teamwork — skills that will last them a lifetime.
To learn more about the LWSA, visit www.lwsa.org or email info@lwsa,org .
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