Community Sailing New Orleans provides an inclusive and accessible environment where people of all abilities and their families are welcome.

Our fleet and facilities are purposely designed to accommodate all ranges of physical and developmental abilities.

We train the Southeast Louisiana Special Olympics Sailing Team and offer adaptive sailing clinics throughout the year in conjunction with our community partners, including Lighthouse Louisiana, Beignet Fest Foundation, and others.

Adaptive Sailing Clinics

Accessible Adventures

Veteran Sailing

Adaptive Sailing Clinics

Breaking Barriers and Building Independence on the Water

We partner with disability-serving organizations to offer Adaptive Sailing Clinics for youth and adults with intellectual, developmental, sensory, and/or physical disabilities. These clinics provide a safe, supportive, and fun introduction to sailing, with instruction and on-water experiences tailored to meet a wide range of needs.

Adaptive Sailing Clinics are designed as a collaborative partnership: participating organizations provide the support services and personnel their participants require, while Community Sailing New Orleans delivers the sailing instruction, boats, and trained staff. This model ensures each participant receives the individualized support they need while enjoying a high-quality on-the-water experience.

Our Sailing Center is purpose-built for accessibility, featuring ADA-compliant restrooms, classrooms, and accessible boat ramps. Our fleet of Independence 20 keelboats is outfitted with specialized equipment to support a wide range of abilities, providing a stable and secure platform for adaptive sailors to learn and enjoy time on the water.

Organizations may book single sessions or multiple-day clinics. Please fill out the form below if interested!

Community Sailing Interest Form

“Sailing opened up new adventures for my son, an autistic 15-year-old, making his closed world a bit wider in scope than before this unique experience.”

– Sensory Friendly Summer Camp Parent 2023

Accessible Adventures

Due to popular demand, our Accessible Adventures program is currently undergoing redesigns to better serve our adaptive sailing community. More information and registration information coming soon.

Check out this video highlighting our Adaptive Sailing Programs and the sailors who have joined us!

FINN
Special Olympics Sailing Athlete

“He talks about it all week, and he wants to go back so I know that he’s really happy. I’m incredibly grateful.”

– Finn’s mother

Finn has been a member of Community Sailing New Orleans Special Olympics Sailing program since it began in 2021. He trains weekly with his teammates at the sailing center. Last year Finn also attended our first Sensory-Friendly Summer Camp for tweens and teens with autism. Finn is a freshman New Harmony High School in its Diverse Learners program. As an example of our caring and inclusive community, at the beginning of the school year, our team reached out to another student at New Harmony who is part of the Crew to Captain program and asked her to keep an eye out for Finn. She responded, “of course!”

Military Sailing

Oscar J. Tolmas Military Sailing Program

The Oscar J. Tolmas Military Sailing Program welcomes active-duty service members and military veterans who have served in our armed forces. This program is made possible through generous support from the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust.

Participants learn the fundamentals of sailing as well as basic nomenclature, safety, knots, rigging, steering, how sails work, and the rules of the road. During each session, participants meet on Saturday and Sunday mornings for three weeks. Our facilities and fleet of boats can accommodate veterans with disabilities or mobility challenges. We provide specialized equipment, instruction, and support to enable veterans of all abilities to participate in sailing and enjoy the benefits of being on the water.

We also offer sailing clinics throughout the year in conjunction with our community partners who work and serve veterans, including the New Orleans VA and Bastion Community of Resilience.

  • Who: Active and Retired members of the US Military.

  • Requirements: No sailing experience required.

  • Cost: The fee for this course is $50.

  • When: Each course includes a total of 5 classes. Classes are from 9-11am on Saturdays and Sundays over a three-week period.

  • Where: Community Sailing New Orleans, 101 N. Roadway, New Orleans, LA 70124

  • What to Bring: Please be sure to wear or bring appropriate clothing, including closed-toed shoes, sun protection (sunglasses, hats, sunscreen), a rain jacket, and a water bottle. We will provide life preservers for each participant. You are more than welcome to bring your own as long as it is US Coast Guard approved.

“I’ve sat out here for 60 years on the wall looking at sailboats and never dreamed it was possible for me to be sitting in a boat and enjoying it. I suffer from PTSD, but while I’m out there on the water, I have no outside interference coming in. It’s just a calmness, you know, you’re like in your own world.

I’ve lived here all my life. I swim off the wall, I’ve fished off the wall, for years I watched the sailboats going. And as I was sitting on the dock, I have a picture and I was just saying, look at me now. I’m on the water looking at the people sitting on the land. It’s really peaceful, and I advise anyone to put your fears away and just come out and enjoy.”

– Harold
VA Sailing Clinic Participant

If you’re interested in any of our programs, email [email protected] or call 504-233-3292.

If you’re interested in any of our programs, email [email protected] or call 504-233-3292.