OUR STORY · OUR PLAN · FUNDING THE PLAN
Eleuthera Sailing Academy
Partner with usDonate

OUR STORY

A community grows, one season at a time.

Follow ESA’s growth from first lessons in Savannah Sound to local leadership and international opportunities.

ESA’s early group in 20202020

Our early group in 2020

A place to begin. A place to belong.

Three Optimists and Craig Symonette’s vision gave ESA its start in Savannah Sound. Martin and Carlien ran our first camp in June 2020. School lessons and Saturday sailing built the community through Seasons 1 and 2.

Read more →
Coaching at ESA2021–2022

Learning together at ESA

Train together. Travel together.

National-team camps and Easter clinics brought Eleuthera and Lyford Cay sailors together. In 2022, 20 local sailors travelled to Nassau for Nationals, and five joined the North Americans. School partnerships and volunteer swimming lessons widened participation.

Read more →
Team Bahamas at the 2023 Optimist Worlds2023

Team Bahamas at the 2023 Optimist Worlds

Shared preparation opened world horizons.

Shared training helped Bahamian sailors reach Spain and Antigua. Finley McKinney-Lambert finished 35th at the Optimist Worlds. Eliza Denning won the North American female title. Make Them Sailors, ESA, BAHODA and families helped young sailors travel.

Read more →
Team Bahamas at the 2023 Optimist North Americans in Antigua
Team Bahamas at the 2023 Optimist North Americans in Antigua.
Eliza Denning sailing at the 2023 Optimist North American Championship in Antigua
Eliza Denning · North American female champion, Antigua 2023.
Photographed at the 2023 Optimist North American Championship, English Harbour. © Matias Capizzano.
ESA sailors beside the yellow Sugar Loaf sloop at the 2024 National Family Island Regatta in Exuma2024

Our Sugar Loaf team at the 2024 National Family Island Regatta

Heritage met new horizons.

Sugar Loaf won E-Class at ESA’s National Family Island Regatta debut. Lorenzo and Finley raced at the Optimist Worlds in Argentina. Finley became National Champion, and Patrick Tomlinson placed 17th at the North Americans.

Read more →
Young Bahamian sailors at the 2024 Optimist Worlds venue in Mar del Plata, Argentina
Young Bahamian sailors at the 2024 Optimist Worlds in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
The 2025 Pleon exchange community2025

Our 2025 Pleon exchange community

An exchange opened doors.

Deja and Denee joined Pleon’s camps in Marblehead for sailing, 420 racing and junior-instructor experience. School programmes and teen apprentices strengthened local leadership. Eliza Denning won women’s ILCA 6 gold at the Junior Pan American Games.

Read more →
Young sailors and coaches gathered outside ESA’s clubhouse, from the 2024–2025 report
Young sailors and coaches outside our clubhouse, 2024–2025.
Summer camps at ESA in 2026: sailing, watersports, instruction and friendships2026

Summer camps at ESA, 2026

Summer camps and local leaders.

More than 30 children joined summer camps. Our first instructor course opened a pathway into paid maintenance and assistant coaching. The South Eleuthera (at CEIS) programme began. Yemaya and Makayla joined the Pleon exchange, and The Heights School visited for sailing and exploration.

Read more →
The Heights School student trip film thumbnail: Eleuthera sunset and sailing
The Heights School · March 2026
Crescite in Eleuthera: the students told the story of their visit. Film by SullydEdits.
Watch their trip film ↗
Young sailors gather beside their boats in EleutheraNOW → NEXT

Young sailors gathered beside their boats in Eleuthera

More local children. More often.

The next chapter connects local instructors, stronger school programmes and three bases. Transport brings children and coaches together for lessons, camps and shared racing.

Funding the plan →

Write the next chapter with us

Explore our plan