Courses

The Portland Sailing Center is an American Sailing Association teaching facility dedicated to the understanding and enjoyment of the sport of sailing. The next round of classes starts Saturday, September 18 or Sunday the 19th. Call 503-281-6529 any time to reserve a place in a class:

  • Classes run mostly on weekends, 1:00 or 4:00 Saturday or Sunday, and run for six weeks, then another round starts. Call Tom at the office for the starting date for the next round. Groups of three or more can often be accomodated outside the normal rotation.
  • Classes are limited to four students per instructor and boat.
  • The basic classes have six two-and-one-half-hour lessons, mostly on the water.
  • Classes meet once or twice each week until the six lessons are completed. In this format students sail in a variety of wind conditions and have time to absorb the material.
  • The text, Sailing Fundamentals, is required for Basic and Coastal. It's available at PSC for $22.95.
  • American Sailing Association certification is available with all classes. Some extra study is required and a certified written exam. Add $49.95 for the first (Basic Keelboat) certification, and $9.95 each for any subsequent certification exams.
  • Call 503-281-6529 for more information or to sign up, or come see us at the end of the dock at Harbor One Marina, 3307 NE Marine Drive.

 

Basic Keelboat Sailing (ASA 101)
• 15 hours — $299
• No prerequisite

This course prepares a student to sail a small keelboat (18 to 25 feet) in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. The course includes:

  • Safety and safety equipment
  • Boat nomenclature
  • Sailing terminology
  • Knots (six)
  • Rules of the Road
  • Crew overboard recovery (under sail!)
  • Motoring and docking
  • Basic sail trim
  • And practice, practice, practice of basic sailing maneuvers


 

Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103)
• 15 hours — $299
• Prerequisite: Basic Keelboat Sailing

Prepares students to sail in local waters both as skipper and crew on auxiliary powered sailboats of about 20' to 30' in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions. Course is primarily concerned with honing the skills of basic sailing, and adding detail, depth, and a few new topics:

  • Safety and safety equipment
  • Anchoring
  • Crew overboard recovery (under power)
  • Two new knots
  • Reefing and heaving to
  • Nautical charts (maps)
  • Points of sail
  • More practice!

 

Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104) (See "Sea Trials" on the Adventures link)
• 48 hours living aboard — $429 without ASA Certification; $589 with.
• Prerequisites without ASA: Basic sailing experience is desirable, but a venturesome spirit is essential!
• Prerequites with ASA certification: Basic 101 and Coastal 103. Textbook CRUISING FUNDAMENTALS is available at PSC.

This is a hands-on, live-aboard cruising experience designed to prepare students for "bareboating," the practice of renting a bare boat and providing your own provisions and crew for vacation sailing all over the world. We have bareboated many times in Mexico, the Caribbean, and other places. Course includes:

  • Coast Guard required equipment
  • Fuel and water planning
  • Charts, tides, weather considerations
  • International diplomacy (papers please!)
  • Food provisioning
  • Boat mechanical and life support systems
  • Safety with fuel and cooking
  • Large boat handling

Our Bareboat class which we call "Sea Trials" goes down the Columbia River, over the bar and out on the ocean for a spin, then back up river to Portland, all in one long weekend. This is a challenging, fun, and interest-packed adventure, and open to sailors of all levels of experience. Go to www.messengersailing.com for details and schedules, or talk to Cliff or Tom in the PSC office, or check the sign-up board in the office for upcoming cruises.


 

Coastal Navigation (ASA 105)
• Cost: $225
• Prerequisites: none

Batteries die in your GPS? Better know a cardinal point from a bowsprit! This challenging classroom course covers all the basics of coastwise navigation including charts and plotting, tide and current calculations, terrestrial fixes, running fixes, aids to navigation (buoys, etc.), and more. We offer this class as demand dictates. Talk to Tom in the PSC office.


 

Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA 106)
• Four to six days — $699
• Prerequisites with ASA certification: Sea Trials, Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal, Intermediate Coastal, Coastal Navigation
• Prerequisites without ASA: Basic Keelboat and Sea Trials

Our version of ACC takes students off shore, so you need to be experienced and ready to go. Go to www.messengersailing.com for details and schedules or ask Cliff or Tom in the PSC office.


 

Bonneville
• Overnight — $169.00
• Prerequisites: interest in sailing

This is an easy overnighter that goes from Portland Sailing Center up river and through Bonneville Locks. We sail on the amazing waters above the dam, overnight on the boat and return the next day. It is just for fun, and though there is a lot to learn along the way, it is not a structured class and there is no certification attached to it. Go to www.messengersailing.com for details and schedules, or talk to Cliff or Tom in the PSC office, or check the sign-up board in the office for upcoming cruises.


 

 

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