The thought of jumping in a sailboat after a long day at work and catching the wind for a relaxing sail around Lake Pontchartrain seems like a pastime reserved only for only for those who can afford a sailboat.
But Community Sailing New Orleans is a local nonprofit working to change that notion by connecting local residents of all ages to the lake with sailing classes, boat rentals and maritime certification programs at affordable prices, and in some cases, free. Its mission is based on the principle that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of sailing on Lake Pontchartrain.
Jacob Raymond, executive director of CSNO, said he wants people from across the city who’ve never considered sailing to take advantage of classes and hopefully find a new passion, while making friends along the way.
“The general impression of sailing is that you need to own an expensive boat and it’s very much an elitist activity,” said Raymond. “That’s a myth we’re working to debunk.”
Life on the lake is a joyful experience for young sailing students.
For a city that’s defined by water, most residents never have the chance to spend time on the lake, even though it's a sailboat paradise with more than 360 square miles of open water. The lake is roughly three times the size of the city.
“It’s a wonderful natural resource that belongs to everyone,” said Raymond, who has a personal passion for racing small sailboats. “And I invite everyone who has never been on a sailboat to come out and get involved in our program.”
What it offers
CSNO is headquartered at the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor, and its campus has a modular classroom building and enough room to store 55 small sailboats. The program is open to ages 8 to 80, and there are classes for people of all skill levels and abilities. The fleet includes sailboats designed to accommodate almost any special needs request.
An emphasis is placed on introducing sailing to the next generation, and CSNO works with a network of more than 25 nonprofits and schools to get young people from across the city involved in the sport.
A recent race week on Lake Pontchartrain. Community Sailing New Orleans offers sailing for young people, adults and those with special needs.
There are a variety of programs for young people including a STEM-based after-school program where students design and build model boats, intensive summer camps and a three-year “Crew-to-Captain” program where students earn their Louisiana Safe Boaters License, US Sailing's Basic Keelboat Certification and US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Certification while also receiving CPR and first-aid training. The first Crew-to-Captain class is scheduled to graduate in May.
The after-school programs are free, and all of the programs are moderately priced with need-based scholarships offered.
Sailing classes are offered for adults, and other programs include Women in the Wind, an all-female group that encourages camaraderie while learning sailing skills, and free sailing courses for military veterans and active service members. Special Olympics sailing is free for all athletes. Last year more than 1,400 people participated in these programs.
Life on Lake Pontchartrain is good for young sailors.
Reaping the rewards
For many in the program, the challenge and enjoyment of sailing was both unexpected and rewarding. Brothers Benjamin and Jonathan Brockhoff joined the Crew-to-Captain program in 2020, and they are in the first graduating class.
Jonathan said he enjoys the freedom of being on the water. “Sailing is now a major part of my life, which is surprising,” said the high school freshman who became involved in CSNO through the nonprofit mentor program Son of a Saint. “Casually sailing around the lake is fun, but I really like racing.”
Benjamin said the experience was so enjoyable that he’s coming back to work at the CSNO summer camp. “I’ve learned so much more than I was expecting,” said Benjamin, who is a high school junior. “I sail several times a month, and I always look forward to it.”
Special needs sailors are quizzed on boating procedures.
How it started
CSNO officially opened in 2020 after many years of planning and fundraising. Raymond said the program was initially envisioned by members of the local sailing community who came together to rebuild the harbor after Hurricane Katrina.
In the years after the storm, momentum to bring community sailing to New Orleans was building, and CSNO was chartered as a nonprofit. Modeled after some of the more successful community sailing programs across the country, enough money was raised to build the campus, outfit the classroom, purchase a small fleet of sailboats and hire three full-time employees.
While there are several hundred community sailing programs across the country, CSNO is one of only 44 in the nation accredited by US Sailing, the governing body that sets professional standards in training, education, and safety for the sport.
Khari Parrish, CSNO director of operations, was recruited by Raymond in 2022 to help run the program. Parrish, who develops the curriculum and handles the day-to-day operations, said the program is designed to bring people who would never dream of sailing out to the lake. He took the job because he felt he could play a large role in building the fledgling program.
Learning to tie knots is part of the curriculum.
“We’re doing a lot more than just taking people sailing,” said Parrish, who was introduced to the concept of community sailing at Hampton University in Virginia, where he graduated with a degree in marine biology and environmental science. “We teach soft skills like leadership, teamwork and communication, and while they do learn how to sail, we’re really giving them lots of tools to be successful in life.”
Parrish considers Lake Pontchartrain to be a “huge playground” and the perfect place to learn sailing because it’s a recreation-oriented lake with very little commercial boat traffic. He said it has all the right conditions for beginners to safely learn the ropes.
Making sailing accessible to everyone is part of the CSNO’s mission and several boats are specifically designed to accommodate most special needs. Last year, Lighthouse for the Blind hosted a blind sailing outing for its members, and CSNO is the only accredited Special Olympics sailing training program in the state.
Finn Owens has been enrolled in the program for about a year. The soft-spoken 15-year-old doesn’t let autism keep him off the water. He goes sailing with CSNO almost every Friday, and his mom, Kimberlee Owens, credits the program with helping her son get out into the community while doing something constructive.
“He talks about it all week, and he wants to go back so I know he’s really happy,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful.”
For more information visit: www.nolacommunitysailing.org