WATCH | Chronicle: Sail Salem opens up the waterfront to a new generation of young sailors
Posted on: August 1, 2025
Led by Salem High School sailing coach Schuyler Ward, this Salem nonprofit teaches sailing, confidence and community to hundreds of kids each summer — no experience required.
By Anthony Everett
SALEM, Mass. — On the waters of historic Salem, Massachusetts, Sail Salem is giving kids more than just summer memories — it’s offering them access, empowerment and lifelong skills. Led by high school sailing coach and board member Schuyler Ward, this nonprofit program introduces 300-400 children each season to the fundamentals of sailing. Through scholarships and outreach efforts, Sail Salem ensures no child is left on the dock, providing gear, instruction and even meals when needed. “We want them to know that their city is a place where they have opportunity,” says Ward, who learned to sail in a similar program on Cape Cod and now pays it forward with every tack and jibe.
