Nonprofit Private Sailing Club
Established 1935
Located on Webster Lake
1442 Acres
17 miles of shoreline
24/7 Facilities access
Two tier deck and patio
Clubhouse with full ammenities
About Webster Sailing
The Webster Sailing Association is a nonprofit private sailing club dedicated to the promotion of sailing and sailboat racing on Webster Lake. Established in 1935, we maintain a membership of about 100 members and their families.
Webster Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in the tri-state (MA, CT, RI) area. The lake is made up of three ponds connected by narrow channels. The area of the lake is 1,442 acres with about 17 miles of shoreline.
The club is located on the center pond in a protected cove. There is dry sail parking for approximately 60 boats. Just back your boat in the water, hoist your sails and you are ready to sail. There are also a limited number of moorings available with a club dinghy to retrieve your boat.
We are now offering winter storage to our members. For a small additional fee, members can store their sailboats December through March in our secure yard.
Our club house has a two tier deck and patio with picnic tables and grill. Inside there is a complete kitchen with stove, refrigerator, microwave oven and toaster oven. There are two bathrooms and an outdoor shower.
Membership is open to qualified individuals and families.
Amenities
Dry Sail Ramp
The Webster Sailing Association's launch ramp offers members convenient water access for their sailing adventures. Our well-maintained concrete ramp provides a gentle slope for easy launching and retrieval of boats, accommodating the various vessel types used by our membership.
The ramp's location in our protected cove creates ideal conditions for getting underway, allowing members to simply back their boats into the water, hoist sails, and immediately begin their sailing experience. The launch area is equipped with tie-up cleats for temporary docking while parking trailers. Our launch facility is designed with safety and accessibility in mind, making it suitable for sailors of all experience levels and physical abilities.
Moorings
For members who prefer not to trailer their boats, Webster Sailing Association maintains a limited number of moorings in our protected cove. These moorings offer a secure option for keeping your sailboat ready for use, with a club dinghy available to help members access their moored vessels.
Our Mooring Master carefully manages this area, ensuring proper spacing and security for all boats. Located in a sheltered section of Webster Lake's center pond, our moorings provide protection from prevailing winds while allowing quick access to open sailing areas. Members interested in mooring availability should contact the Mooring Master, as these spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to be in high demand.
Boat Yard
Webster Sailing Association offers convenient boat storage solutions to meet the needs of our diverse membership. We provide dry sail parking for approximately 60 boats, allowing members to easily back their vessels into the water, hoist their sails, and be ready to sail within minutes.
Our facility accommodates boats up to 20 feet in length, with designated spaces assigned to members on a seasonal basis. The boat parking area is organized to maximize accessibility and efficiency, with our experienced Compound Master overseeing space allocation. Winter storage options are also available for members who wish to keep their vessels on-site during the off-season. Our boat parking amenities ensure your sailing experience begins with convenience and ease.
Club House
The Webster Sailing Association clubhouse serves as the heart of our community, providing a welcoming space for members to gather, socialize, and celebrate their shared passion for sailing. Our clubhouse features a two-tier deck and patio with picnic tables, offering spectacular views of Webster Lake. This comfortable facility hosts our monthly membership meetings, educational programs, and various social events throughout the sailing season.
The clubhouse is equipped with restroom facilities and a kitchen area for event preparation. Members enjoy relaxing on the deck after a day on the water, watching races, or simply appreciating the natural beauty of our protected cove. With Wi-Fi access and notice boards featuring club information, the clubhouse serves as our communication hub and the center of WSA's vibrant community life.
Race Committee
Webster Sailing Association proudly maintains dedicated facilities to support our active racing program. As a club devoted to the promotion of sailing and sailboat racing on Webster Lake since 1935, we have developed excellent resources for organizing and running competitive events.
Our race committee facilities include a committee boat, timing equipment, course markers, and all necessary gear for setting up and managing races of various formats. A dedicated Race Committee, comprised of experienced volunteers, oversees our racing calendar and ensures events run smoothly according to established sailing rules. Whether you're a seasoned racer or a novice interested in developing competitive skills, our race committee facilities provide the foundation for enjoyable and fair competition.
Community Events
Webster Sailing Association thrives on its vibrant community spirit, fostered through a rich calendar of events throughout the sailing season. We host regular sailing races, family picnics, holiday celebrations, and educational workshops designed to enhance members' skills and enjoyment of the sport.
As a nonprofit private sailing club established in 1935 with approximately 100 members and their families, we're committed to creating a welcoming environment for sailors of all ages and experience levels. Annual traditions include our Opening Day ceremony, Fourth of July celebration, Labor Day cookout, and end-of-season awards banquet. These community events strengthen our bonds as fellow sailors and create lasting memories on and off the water, embodying our mission to promote sailing and fellowship on beautiful Webster Lake.
Experience
At Webster Sailing Association, the true value of membership extends far beyond our physical facilities—it's found in the wealth of knowledge, skills, and passion shared among our community of sailors. Since 1935, we've fostered an environment where expertise is freely exchanged, creating a living repository of sailing wisdom that benefits everyone from novices to seasoned captains.
Sailing for All Levels
Our membership includes sailors across the full spectrum of experience—from those just discovering the joy of harnessing the wind to competitive racers with decades on the water. This diversity creates natural mentoring relationships that help newcomers develop confidence and competence quickly. For beginners, our more experienced members offer informal guidance on basic boat handling, understanding wind patterns on Webster Lake, and essential safety practices. Intermediate sailors find abundant opportunities to refine their skills through impromptu coaching and organized clinics, while advanced sailors continually challenge each other to sharpen their techniques and strategies.
Teaching and Learning
Education lies at the heart of WSA's mission. Throughout the season, members organize workshops covering fundamental sailing concepts, advanced racing tactics, navigation skills, and weather interpretation. Our "Saturday Skills" sessions provide hands-on learning in a supportive environment, while our youth sailing program introduces the next generation to the lifelong pleasures of sailing. The beauty of WSA's approach to learning is its organic nature—knowledge flows naturally from those eager to share to those eager to learn, creating bonds that transcend the traditional teacher-student relationship.
Cruising Adventures
While racing captures many headlines, cruising forms an equally important dimension of WSA's sailing culture. Members regularly share favorite destinations around Webster Lake's three connected ponds, including secluded coves perfect for swimming and picnicking. More experienced cruisers mentor those new to overnight stays, sharing expertise on anchoring techniques, onboard cooking, and maximizing comfort in compact quarters. The stories and photographs shared from these explorations inspire others to venture beyond familiar waters and discover their own special places on our beautiful lake.
Racing: From Casual to Competitive
Racing at WSA offers something for every competitive spirit. Our informal Tuesday evening series provides a relaxed introduction to racing fundamentals, perfect for those new to the starting line. Weekend events range from casual pursuit races to more structured competitions that follow racing rules with greater precision. Whatever your racing ambition, you'll find members ready to crew on your boat or welcome you aboard theirs, sharing tactics and techniques that have been refined on Webster Lake's waters for generations. After races, our lively debriefs on the clubhouse deck become informal masterclasses where races are good-naturedly analyzed and lessons shared.
Boat Maintenance and Repair
The collective mechanical and technical knowledge within our membership represents centuries of hands-on experience. Members regularly assist one another with maintenance tasks, from routine upkeep to more complex repairs. Need to troubleshoot an outboard motor? Someone at WSA has likely faced the same issue. Wondering how to repair a small fiberglass crack? You'll find expert guidance from fellow members who've mastered such repairs. These collaborative maintenance sessions often become social events themselves, with knowledge and stories exchanged alongside tools.
Trailer Expertise
Proper trailering is an essential skill for many of our members, and WSA serves as an informal center of excellence in this domain. Experienced members share wisdom on trailer maintenance, safe towing practices, and launch/retrieval techniques that preserve both equipment and peace of mind. From guidance on backing down our ramp to advice on winterizing trailers, the practical knowledge shared among members saves countless hours of frustration and costly repairs.
Boat Building and Restoration
Several of our members have undertaken boat building or restoration projects, creating vessels that now sail proudly on Webster Lake. These ambitious endeavors become community projects, with members stopping by to offer advice, an extra hand, or simply encouragement during challenging phases. The wealth of woodworking, fiberglass, and design knowledge within our membership has supported everything from traditional wooden boat restoration to modern composite construction, with each project becoming part of our club's living heritage.
Marine Photography
The stunning combination of sailboats, water, and changing light has inspired a passionate contingent of photographers within our membership. These members generously share their images of boats, races, and club events, creating a visual chronicle of our community's life on the water. Informal photography workshops help members capture better images, while our annual photo contest and calendar showcase the remarkable beauty of sailing on Webster Lake throughout the seasons.
Community of Shared Passion
What truly distinguishes the Webster Sailing Association experience is the genuine enthusiasm members bring to sharing their knowledge and skills. This isn't an environment of closely guarded secrets or competitive advantage—it's a community where helping others enjoy sailing more fully becomes its own reward. The sailor who helps you tune your rig today may be the one you assist with a tricky electrical issue tomorrow.
The camaraderie extends beyond sailing itself to encompass all aspects of our lives. Lasting friendships form naturally as members work side by side on boat projects, celebrate together after races, or simply share quiet conversations watching the sunset from our deck. Children who learn to sail together often remain friends for life, and multiple generations of families find connections through their shared love of the water.
At Webster Sailing Association, we believe that sailing knowledge only gains value when it's shared, and that the joy of our sport multiplies when experienced in community. Whether you're seeking to master a new skill, maintain your beloved vessel, or simply find people who understand your passion for wind and water, you'll discover at WSA that the most valuable amenity we offer is the collective experience of our membership—freely shared with warmth, humor, and genuine delight in helping others embrace the sailing life.