Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community sailing center located on Boston Harbor

Boston Harbor

Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...

. The sailing center is composed five programs: adult, adaptive, youth, racing, and coastal.

History

Piers Park, located on Marginal St. in East Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, was constructed by the Massachusetts Port Authority

Massachusetts Port Authority

Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, is a port district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It operates seaports and airports in eastern and central Massachusetts, mainly the Port of Boston. Its headquarters is located in the Logan Office Center, adjacent to Logan Airport in East Boston,...

 in 1995. The facility for the sailing center was constructed shortly thereafter, however sailing programs did not begin until 1997.

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)

Sonar (keelboat)

The Sonar is a 7 m one-design keelboat for three to five people. It is bermuda-rigged, with a large mainsail and a 100% jib. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation....

 sailboats. The dynamic of PPSC changed in 2002, when the great Harley Petrillo was first introduced to sailing. Harley has become the sailing center's most valuable employee. Harley is proficient in all aspects of the sailing center's day to day operation and is the grease that makes the wheels of the sailing center turn.

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

US Sailing

The United States Sailing Association, better known as US Sailing, is the governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, particularly yacht, dinghy, windsurfing, and radio sailing racing...

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.