Programs
Swim, sail and build with us
Every program runs from Guma Sakman, our canoe house in Susupe, or our teaching boatyard in Lower Base. Find the one that fits you.
Swim
Every sailor starts in the water
Our swim programs meet at Guma Sakman, on the beach in Susupe. Whether you are learning to float or training for open water, there is a group for you.
Ask about swimming
Adult Learn-to-Swim
Lessons for adults who never learned or want to feel safe in the water. It is also the first step for anyone who wants to join our sailing classes.
For adults
The Sirena Project
Swim lessons for women and teenage girls in a safe, supportive setting.
For women and teenage girls
The Gamsun Project
Training that helps teens pass the swim test they need to become certified lifeguards.
For teens preparing for lifeguard certification
Dolphin Club Saipan
Daily group swims and open water swimming events, with support from the San Francisco Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club. There is no cost to join or swim.
For swimmers who want company in the water
Sail
Learn to sail a Chamorro canoe
Sailing happens at Guma Sakman. Start with a ride, then learn to handle the canoe yourself. Our free guide, Lalåyak: A Beginner's Guide to Sailing a Chamorro Canoe, walks you through the basics.
Ask about sailing
The Lalåyak program
Free classroom and on-the-water training over several weekends. Pass the on-water, swim and written tests, and you can sail 500 Sails canoes on your own. Not a swimmer yet? Start with Adult Learn-to-Swim.
For adults and teens. Teens register with a parent.
Sunday Sails
Canoe rides and informal sailing lessons led by a Carolinian navigator. Rides depend on tide and weather. Life jackets are provided, so just wear clothes that can get wet.
For adults, and children with a parent or guardian
Build
Build a canoe in our boatyard
Our public teaching boatyard in Lower Base is fully tooled and provisioned. Anyone can come learn and help build canoes, guided by skilled canoe builders we call Sakman Leaders.
In our fleet: a 47-foot Sakman, a 41-foot Sakman, four 26-foot Lekleks and two Duduli.
On the build list: another 41-foot Sakman, another Duduli, two galaide paddling canoes and a 20-foot Carolinian canoe.
Each semester, high school juniors and seniors build alongside us through the PSS Co-op program.
Youth and schools
Summer camps on the water
Each summer, students from Saipan, Tinian and Luta come to Guma Sakman to swim, sail and learn about canoe culture through our cultural presentations.
Camp partners include
4-H Marianas
NMC CREES Family, Community and Youth Development
NMC Project PROA
Western Pacific Fisheries
Projects
Underway and coming up
New canoes, new art and new ways to bring navigation into the classroom.
Songsong Måmi (Our Village)
Young artists learn canoe building and sailing, then create new artwork, dances and songs about building, sailing, voyaging and navigation.
A Carolinian proa
We are building a Carolinian proa based on wa Mikael, a traditional voyaging canoe built on the island of Polowat.
A regional fishing canoe
A twin-hulled sailing canoe designed for local waters. Its sail cuts fuel use, and an outboard engine holds position for bottom fishing and runs when there is no wind.
Canoe Building Instructional Videos
Step-by-step videos on how to build a Chamorro canoe from fiberglass.
Peskan Taddong
Teaching adults and youth the art of open ocean deep bottom fishing.
Navigation in our public schools
We bring traditional knowledge into classrooms by teaching Pafiu, a song in the Carolinian language about the star compass at the heart of Carolinian navigation.
Ready to start?
Tell us where you want to begin
Call 670 323-SAIL (7245) or send us a message with the program you are interested in, and we will get back to you.
Contact us