WELCOME TO SAIL SALEM
A Salem Community Boating Center
Registration for the Youth Summer Sailing Camps program is open.
Fun, safe and accessible sailing!
Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Sail Salem is a community sailing program that conducts summer sailing camps with educational programs for children. We have introduced the sport of sailing to thousands of children from Salem and its surrounding North Shore towns. Sailing lessons are conducted in Salem Harbor right out of Salem’s Winter Island. We bring a love of sailing to many children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be on a boat. Scholarships and financial aid are available for Sail Salem programs. For details, see Youth Sailing Programs.
Sail Salem also has Adult Learn-to-Sail programs, covering the basics, using our 23-foot Sonar keelboats. For details, see Adult Sailing Programs.
The youth sailing programs are supported, in part, by generous donations; by the Sail Salem Pursuit Regatta, sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club; and by the Snowflake Regatta, a fun ski race for sailors and powerboaters.
“My oldest boy is on his third year with Sail Salem. It is by far his favorite camp! It will be my younger boy’s first year this season and he can’t wait. Sail Salem… you ROCK!”
Sail Salem Featured on Chronicle!
We are thrilled to share that Sail Salem was featured on WCVB-TV’s Chronicle during their special segment, On the Water, airing on July 30, 2025. It was a wonderful opportunity that showcased the spirit of our program and the young sailors whose lives are enriched every summer on Salem Harbor.
Adult Learn-to-Sail Programs
Sail Salem also conducts Tuesday evening and Thursday evening sailing programs for adults.
The Value of Sailing
“Sailing is a sport and is amazing in the life lessons that it can teach students. It’s all about leadership, empowerment, and respect for the environment. It also teaches teamwork by working with a crew through, sometimes, some real frustration depending on the levels of the wind and what the environment is doing on a given day.“
“There are always opportunities for racing sailboats, which we like to introduce to our sailing students. But then there’s also this world of just being on a boat, fishing, or just traveling along a coast with a crew of often many personalities.“
– Keegan Whitehair, former Director of Sail Salem
Our 8-year-old took beginners camp here and loved it. He is shy but had a great time with the counselors. I hope he can do it again next year. Its great and so very affordable!
Thank you, Sail Salem, for a wonderful sailing experience. Our kids from California wanted to learn how to sail while visiting Salem. Your program was well organized, safe, and most especially fun. We will definitely sign up again next year. Please let your wonderful sail instructors know they did a superb job!