Piers Park Sailing Center
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Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing center located on Boston Harbor. The sailing center is composed five programs: adult, adaptive, youth, racing, and coastal.
[edit] Programs
Youth - The largest of PPSC's programs, approximately 400 children enroll each summer. The program consists of a morning session for novice students and an afternoon session for advanced students. There are a total of ten sessions over the summer season. Each Friday the program brings a group of up to 60 students out to a Boston Harbor Island.
Adult - The adult program at PPSC allows members to reserve boats for sailing with family and friends. The program includes a "Learn to Sail" course for adults. The curriculum is taught in seven classes by US SAILING certified instructors. Upon completion of the course each student is evaluated and granted both membership and a US SAILING basic keelboat certification.
Adaptive - The adaptive program at PPSC provides lessons for handicapped students of all ages. The instructors use equipment to adapt the boats for the needs of each individual student.
Racing - PPSC holds weekly racing events. The sailing center also hosts a number of regattas.
Coastal - PPSC allows members to reserve small cruising boats for personal use.
[edit] History
Piers Park, located on Marginal St. in East Boston, Massachusetts, was constructed by the Massachusetts Port Authority in 1995. The facility for the sailing center was constructed shortly thereafter, however sailing programs did not begin until 1997.[1]
Funding for the sailing center came primarily from MASSPORT; however after September 11, 2001 MASSPORT dropped funding and Piers Park Sailing Center has since relied completely on grants and nominal funds raised through the adult program. PPSC retains the property through an extended $1 lease from MASSPORT. MASSPORT also donated the sailing center's fleet of ten 23' Sonar_(keelboat) sailboats.
