Sailing Instruction
Adult
While there are many sailing instruction programs available, the following links to certified and nationally accepted programs maintain uniform curricula and set standards for both student and instructor sailing proficiency.
Youth
WSC JUNIOR RACING PROGRAM
Willamette Sailing Club (WSC) offers the only junior racing program in the Portland area, with around 80 sailors from ages 7-18. The WSC Junior Race Program offers local youth a chance to improve their sailing, racing, and teamwork skills under the guidance of expert coaches. In addition to weekday practices on the Willamette River, kids have an opportunity to compete against other junior sailors in venues throughout the Northwest and Pacific Coast at weekend regattas.
Parents share in the volunteer duties at weekend regattas.
Willamette Sailing Club provides boats and US Sailing-certified coaching staff. Sailors aged 7-12 practice and compete in single-handed Optimists. High School aged sailors practice and compete in single-handed Lasers or double-handed Club 420s. High school-aged sailors with extensive racing experience are also eligible to practice and compete with the trapeze and spinnaker 420’s. Previous sailing experience is not required, but participants must be able to swim, commit to regular practices, and provide their own life jackets and cold-weather clothing.
The Spring season is February through May for High School Sailing and March through May for Optimist Race and Green Teams. The summer season is June, July, and August. The fall season is September through November. Depending on the program, practices are two or three days a week after school at Willamette Sailing Club.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Including how to register, call WSC (503-246-5345) or visit the club’s website.
SEA SCOUTS
The Sea Scouts were established in the US in 1912, following the form of the original British program. The original concept was to prepare young men for service in the Navy. Today, Sea Scouts is a young-adult oriented program open to men and women between 14 and 18. Sea Scouts is experiential learning with lots of fun, hands-on activities promoting the growth and development of adolescent youth. Programs offer leadership, fitness, outdoor activities, service to the community, social interaction, and career-building skills.
Sea Scout units are called “ships,” even though they might not actually meet and train aboard their vessel. There are active Sea Scout Ships throughout the country, though most are concentrated in metropolitan areas near the coastline. Sea Scout Ship 601, “City of Roses” is one of the oldest Sea Scout Ships in the Nation. Based in Portland, the unit was originally named “Viking” and has been continuously active since 1929. The name was changed to “City of Roses” in 1939 in honor of the ship’s home port.
The Ship has two training vessels. The 29-foot ketch-rigged Cascade sailboat named “City of Roses” was built from a kit by unit members in 1973. It has no auxiliary power and must be sailed or rowed by pulling four 13-foot oars. The other training vessel is the former US Coast Guard 44-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) 44372 acquired in 1998. Though in need of major mechanical repairs, including a complete rebuild of one engine, the boat was made operational by unit members in 1999 and has been used ever since for underway training. Ship 601 tries to make their program as hands-on as possible. The goal is to get a boat underway at least 4 times a month. In addition to underway training, the unit also participates in training with the USCG that has included incident preparedness, damage control, cold water survival, and the use of pyrotechnics.
Meetings are run by the crew with guidance from the adults. Most of the vessel maintenance is done by the crew with the exception of those too dangerous for them to perform; truly a hands-on program. The ship meets at Oregon Tackle Marina, 707 N. Hayden Island Dr. In the marina are ships BEAVER and VOYAGEUR.
For info or to join, contact Mark Littlepage (503-329-1387) or Pat Kelley (503-667-7835)
THE UNIT MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AT: WWW.SSS601.ORG
THE OFFICIAL SITE FOR SEA SCOUTS IS: WWW.SEASCOUT.ORG
PYC YOUTH SAILING SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The mission and purpose of the Portland Yacht Club Youth Sailing Scholarship fund is to provide scholarship money to encourage and assist young people to take junior sailing lessons in the greater Portland area If you know of someone that would like to get their kids out on the water we’d like to help! We offer scholarship money for lessons at the Willamette Sailing Club or Vancouver Lake Sailing Club.
For more information, email pycyouthsailing@portlandyc.com
OREGON YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION
Founded in 2007, Oregon Youth Sailing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that establishes programs and makes grants for the support of youth dinghy sailing in Oregon. As of 2022, OYSF has raised over $700,000 and funded boats, sails, facilities, equipment, travel, coaching, events, and free community sailing programs throughout the state.
OYSF aims to keep sailing alive and active in Oregon by making it accessible to young people, with a focus on those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be on the water. The programs we support connect youth to the joy of sailing and the life skills and confidence it helps build. OYSF succeeds by accomplishing its mission to Get More Oregon Youth Sailing from all walks of life!
OYSF’s current major projects include:
- Community Sailing Program provides free sailing and job training to teens in the Portland area with limited river access
- Sustainable Sailing Campaign for junior fleet replacement throughout Oregon
- Equipment Fund accepts cash and in-kind donations to provide equipment for youth sailing programs
- Collegiate Sailing Fund sustains college sailing in Oregon by supporting coaching and program costs
- The Annual Sailing Film Festival promotes our sport and inspires new sailors with a short film competition
For more information, including how to donate, visit oregonyouthsailing.com
Oregon Youth Sailing Foundation
4418 SE Henderson St
Portland OR 97206
College Programs
College sailing began on an informal club basis in the 1890s and organized racing started in 1928. It has grown to include more than 200 active colleges and racing now occurs every weekend during the fall and spring seasons and on many weekends during the winter. It is a truly coeducational sport and has proved itself the best incubator for the development of racing skills. Former college sailors have always numbered significantly among Olympic medalists and America’s Cup competitors. College Sailing is growing throughout the Northwest. Information on a national and regional level, as well as contact information for each school, can be found at the college sailing websites listed below.
LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE: Sally Goldman
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON: Marelie Vorster
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: Michael Levy
The list of prospective new members ranges from small private schools in Portland to schools at the southern edge of the state. College sailing programs are funded by your donations. Team captains can provide Gift Giving information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.collegesailing.org
http://www.collegesailing.org/nwicsa