Portland Sailing Center

PSC Notes

Winter was long and wet. The boat show was fun, sailing in Mexico was funner, but that's all behind us. Spring lessons are under way, and Messenger has been down the river once already!

Welcome!

Portland Sailing Center was established in the early 1980s and has been offering high quality, low cost sailing lessons and adventures ever since. Our focus is education through experience, and all our classes reflect this. Boats are never overloaded, and schedules are never rushed--there is no fitting a round lesson into a square day. Students will participate from day one, and we spend as little time as possible sitting at the dock and talk talk talking!

Our instructors are U.S. Coast Guard licensed Masters, veteran sailors as well as experienced teachers. All are adept at mixing education, safety, and fun. Our two ocean skippers have been over the Columbia River Bar hundreds of times, and their knowledge of the river approaches that of professional river pilots.

So...why Portland Sailing Center?

Only PSC offers fifteen hour Basic classes spread over five or six days, meeting once or twice a week (maximum four students per boat). We believe this is the best way to learn to sail. You have more time to absorb the material, and you experience a variety of wind and weather conditions. And it's more fun!
We are the only sailing school in town that is not on Hayden Island. We're on Marine Drive, near the airport, easy to access any time or day of the week. And our docks are mere seconds from the main stem of the Columbia River.
Talk about local! PSC is not bound by the constraints of any syndicated sailing program. Ours is tailored to the vigorous demands of northwest sailing, a much higher standard.
Only PSC offers an advanced class that includes extensive ocean sailing.
We offer weeknight classes. Evenings tend to have light river traffic, fair winds, and some great sunsets!
We were the first (by a good twenty years) school to take students up to the Gorge or out on the ocean. We love doing these extended trips, and our clients think we do them well. (Check out Sailor's Reviews in the "Adventures" section.)
Sailboat rentals are available to PSC graduates.
And oh-by-the-way, PSC's price are and always have been the best in town.

See "Sailing Courses" under "Learn to Sail" for more information. Also have a look under the "Adventures" tab. Email to the address below or call the office at 503-281-6529 to ask questions or sign up.