We hear it all the time. “I’d love to sail but don’t know where to start/anyone with a boat/don’t have the money.” Well, there’s a whole lot of Pacific Northwest community sailing programs that would love to change your mind. If you have or know of a community sailing program that’s not on the list, please let me know. Check out the interactive Google map I borrowed from Northwest Youth Sailing at the bottom of this page. Click on it and enlarge to see programs in your area.
The Sailing Foundation
The Sailing Foundation’s mission is to “enhance the health of our sport.” It actively supports youth sailors, community organizations, coaches training and seamanship classes. It’s a great resource which traces its beginnings to the 1974 America’s Cup campaign. One of its missions is to help coordinate and support the amazing high school sailing in the area.
Northwest Maritime Center
“The mission of Northwest Maritime Center is to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life.” The Center offers lessons locally, but does much more to support sailing in the region, including sponsoring the Wooden Boat Festival, the Wooden Boat Foundation Workshop, the Race to Alaska and much more.
The Northwest Interscholastic Sailing Association
The Northwest Interscholastic Sailing Association is the organizing body for high school sailing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and BC. It is part of the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA). For high schoolers, sailing in the Northwest is a great and growing sport. It’s both highly competitive and highly social, with enthusiastic parental support. For the PNW sailing community, this is where the future of our sport is coming from.
Center for Wooden Boats – Seattle
Community Boating Center – Bellingham
Foss Waterway Seaport – Tacoma
Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center
Sound Experience – The Schooner Adventuress
Sea Scouts – Boy Scouts of America
Washington Yacht Club – Open to UW Alumni