Community Sailing New Orleans Inc

Community Sailing New Orleans, Inc. (CSNOI) positively impacts lives by providing accessible educational and recreational opportunities on Lake Pontchartrain for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Patterned after highly sustainable models and best practices adopted from the over 400 successful community sailing programs in other cities, CSNOI brings high-impact sailing programs to New Orleans. In May of 2022, CSNOI became one of 42 community sailing centers accredited to national standards by U.S. Sailing.

Founded in 2010 by committed community leaders, the 501c3 organization secured a 65-year commercial lease with the City of New Orleans for a half-acre site on Lake Pontchartrain on the West End. The Sailing Center is thoughtfully designed to ensure accessibility to everyone – all ramps are ADA compliant, the finger piers for the wet slips are wide enough for wheelchair accessibility, and transfer equipment has been installed into the docks. Seven of the Independence 20s (20’ keelboats) are specifically designed for sailors with disabilities.

CSNOI has programming for everyone with a special focus on youth, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and anyone facing economic barriers to sailing. In collaboration with local community partners, CSNOI has developed programs specifically designed to increase independence, improve communication, provide rehabilitation support, and promote workforce readiness skills including focus, goal setting, problem solving, and conflict resolution abilities. CSNOI’s current major social impact programs include STEM Design Build Sail for middle school students, Crew to Captain – a three-year maritime career pathways program for high school students, summer camp for ages 9 to 13 (with scholarship opportunities), a Special Olympics Unified Sailing Team, and veteran sailing.