Belknap Landscape & Appletree Nursery behind effort to establish a sailing education center at Ellacoya State Park

GILFORD – Local companies Belknap Landscape (Gilford) and Appletree Nursery (Tilton) have joined forces to support a local non-profit association providing sailing instruction for area youth.

The Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, Inc. (LWSA) was founded in 1988 to promote sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee. One of the primary activities of the LWSA is to operate a youth sailing school in Gilford. But they do a lot more than that, also promoting organized sailboat cruising and racing on the lake, including a one-design J/80 racing fleet. The LWSA sponsors various adult racing activities throughout the sailing season. Mixed-fleet (PHRF) racing typically happens on summer weekends. Annual dues, donations, and proceeds from organized racing are used to finance and support the youth sailing program. The LWSA runs a summer Sailing School for children from 6 to 16 years of age. With a fleet of over 20 sailboats, the program offers a boat and a program for all interests, abilities and means.

The LWSA is currently in discussions with the State of New Hampshire’s Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) to possibly utilize a portion of the waterfront at Ellacoya State Park in Gilford to establish a new sailing center.

For years the LWSA has been operating its annual classes at Fay’s Boat Yard, courtesy of Merrill Fay. It is always a welcome site to see a group of sailing students walking through the yard to their boats at the adjacent Winnipesaukee Yacht Club’s storage yard. The classroom’s size and its location in an attic room at the Boat Yard have always limited student enrollment to 180 per year and the room is not easily accessible to people with disabilities.

The LWSA has chosen to dedicate the proposed facility to a former student and instructor, David Adams, who was a product of the early years of the LWSA. Before his untimely death, LWSA members enjoyed his presence on the sailing scene and the contributions he made later as an instructor to local youth. The Association’s objective is the development of many more student sailors like David Adams and to provide access and sailing instruction to all, regardless of physical limitations.

In recognition of David’s sailing accomplishments and in memory of his courageous battle against the disease that finally took his life, the LWSA’s Board of Directors, with the support of its membership and with the permission of Dave’s family, recently blessed the concept of establishing The LWSA/Adams Memorial Sailing Center on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. The proposed Center would boost the student capacity from 180 to as many as 500 youngsters per season, if approved by DRED.

The LWSA would use a new facility at Ellacoya to start an Adaptive Sailing Academy. In specially designed and equipped boats, the LWSA plans to introduce sailing to physically and mentally challenged children and adults regardless of the nature or severity of their disabilities. Similar programs around the country have taught sight and hearing-impaired students how to sail as well.

According to Tom Mullen, LWSA Commodore “The LWSA is seeking widespread financial support for this ambitious undertaking. The LWSA is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporation. Donations to the LWSA are, in most cases, tax deductible to the contributor.” Mullen continued, offering two ways to help. “First we’d like to extend an invitation to join us the evening of August 21 for an unveiling of the schematic plans for the new Sailing Center at ‘Caribbean Night At Ellacoya’. We're gathering right on the site of the proposed facility at Ellacoya State Park starting at 5:30 p.m. LWSA Sailing School students will put on a demonstration of their proficiency, right off the beach. Then, there will be a cash bar with tropical drinks, a Caribbean theme buffet dinner catered by Fratello's Italian Grill and music and dancing to the tunes of Annie and the Orphans!”

Mullen added, “Belknap Landscape and Appletree Nursery are graciously providing live plants to decorate the event, plants which will be raffled off to generate funds for the proposed Sailing Center. A silent auction will be going on through the evening and during the festivities there will be a live auction of a few fabulous items including a week on a Hatteras 48 Long Range Cruiser in the British Virgin Islands along with the use of a 31 foot J-Boat. Caribbean Night At Ellacoya dress is Caribbean Casual with an award for the most colorful Caribbean attire.”

Mullen finished with, “Second, the LWSA invites individuals and businesses to make a donation for this new Sailing Center. One may make checks payable to The LWSA David Adams Memorial Sailing Center. Upon receipt, these donations will be deposited into a special fund earmarked for the purpose of establishing the new sailing center.”

Contributions in any amount should be sent by mail to: LWSA/Adams Memorial Sailing Center Fund c/o Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, PO Box 7047 Gilford, NH 03247