LWSA Dedicates Dave M. Adams Memorial Sailing Center

GILFORD — The Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association dedicated the Dave M. Adams Memorial Sailing Center in a gathering held at its new facility on Smith Cove on Wednesday afternoon.

The facility is named in memory of David Adams of Alton, a sailing enthusiast who was a student and later instructor in the association's programs, who died at the age of 25 in 2006 after a 10-year battle with various illnesses, including complications associated with a bone marrow transplant.

Adams was a graduate and instructor of the association's Youth Sailing Academy who raced competitively at the University of New Hampshire and claimed several Junior National and Junior Olympic titles.

Former LWSA President Tom Mullen read from a plaque celebrating Adams' life during the ceremony, which was attended by Adams' parents and sister.

The association purchased the David Road property last year as a permanent home for the LWSA's programs. LWSA President Kevin Hayes praised Mullen as the driving force in obtaining the .64 acre property on Davis Road which has 160 feet of shorefront on Smith Cove.

The property is located next to a plot of land on Smith Cove owned by the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club, which along with nearby Fay's Boat Yard have been among the chief supporters of the non-profit sailing association since it was first formed in 1988 as a nonprofit corporation.

The LWSA operates instructional, recreational and competitive sailing programs for youths between six and 16 each summer.

Anthony Sperazzo, the sailing school's program director, who is also the principal at Gilford High School, said he has been involved in the school for seven years and that it ''has been amazing to see it grow.''

He said that this summer the school, which offers youth sailing lessons from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, has had about 30 students signed up for each of the eight weeks in which the school operates. It has a fleet of 26 boats, ranging from single passenger prams to collegiate 420 racers as well as two keel boats.

''We've had 220 student weeks this year as well as offering half day programs for younger kids as well as adult and private lessons,'' says Sperazzo, who introduced sailing school staff members, many of whom have had between six and 10 years experience as students and as instructors.