The Merrill Family Sailing Center is Cornell University's sailing facility on Cayuga Lake, and its Community Sailing Youth Class is a week-long day camp for ages 8-17 running five days, 9am to 4pm. Sailors learn the fundamentals of sailing, water safety and seamanship through daily lessons in steering, sail handling and knot tying, backed by extensive on-water practice with certified instructors. Days also include sailing races, treasure hunts and water games, weather and navigation basics, and the week ends with a regatta where sailors show off their new skills. Registration is open to the community, with discounts for Cornell affiliates and a deposit option to hold a spot.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Merrill Family Sailing Center directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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★★★★★Sir Kenneth McLaurinTook sailing lessons on Saturday and Sunday, and was solo sailing on Tuesday. This is great for anyone who wants to sail and spend more time on the lake. It's like a bike share for boats.🤯🤯🤯
★★★★★Kevin AlyonoGreat views, clean facilities, and friendly staff. Special thanks to Ivan for showing this newbie sea monkey some of the basics.
★★★★★steve juniorAbsolutely the friendliest staff. SUPER knowledgeable and NO judgment. From first time ever on a vessel to hardy old salts they are there to help with a smile! Interesting in sailing lessons? Leave you fears at the dock and drift on over to the Merrill Family Sailing Center to talk with one of the guys and go have a some fun on the lake!
★★★★★Edward FieldingI hope more people start to take better advantage of the classes and opportunities this sailing center offers. Can’t find anything that offers sailing lessons and free access to boats for members in such an affordable and accessible way anywhere else. And the staff is great! Contemplate moving back to Ithaca just for this place some times.
★Eva Milstein-TouesnardOnline it says that this is open to the public but if you even walk over from East Shore the staff will yell at you very rudely and tell you to leave. So, it is a beautiful place with a wonderful luke entrance area. But, it is only accessible to those that can afford a spot. Spaces for Windsurfs are somewhat affordable which is what I have but I find it very rude that this Cornell Sailung center does not actually serve the local community and further limits the already limited lake accessibility. It would not hurt anyone for them to be more inclusive and to allow people on their extended space (especially with COVID when people are trying to socially distance and East Shore is very busy).