PORTLAND GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Three Days to Bareboat Confidence: Skippering the Oregon Coast from Portland
A three-day ASA 103–104 combo run by Windward Seaventures in Portland that teaches skippering, coastal navigation, safety and boat systems (ASA 101 required; $875 per person).
Three Days to Bareboat Confidence: Skippering the Oregon Coast from Portland.
Embark on a thrilling three-day sailing adventure, mastering the art of skippering a 40-foot sloop-rigged sailboat. Learn essential skills like navigation, boat maintenance, and safety procedures while cruising through challenging coastal conditions. This immersive experience promises to elevate your sailing expertise and confidence on the water.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands‑On Skippering on a 40‑Foot Sloop
Students take the helm of an approximately 40-foot sloop-rigged inboard-engine sailboat to build practical skippering skills, intermediate and advanced sail trim, inboard engine operation, and maintenance procedures.
Coastal Cruising in Moderate to Heavy Seas
The course runs in coastal conditions that can be moderate to heavy, giving students real-world experience interpreting weather and handling a cruising sailboat in challenging water and wind.
Docking, Mooring and Safety Drills
Focused practice covers docking procedures, mooring with multiple anchors, dinghy/tender operation, and safety and seamanship drills so students can operate independently on coastal passages.
What the day feels like
What the course actually feels like
Across three days aboard a coastal cruising vessel, participants rotate through active onboard roles: helming the sloop, running navigation exercises (chart plotting and GPS), managing galley and provisioning, tending boat systems and the inboard engine, and rehearsing docking, anchoring and safety procedures.
THE SKILLSET
Hands‑On Skippering on a 40‑Foot Sloop
Students take the helm of an approximately 40-foot sloop-rigged inboard-engine sailboat to build practical skippering skills, intermediate and advanced sail trim, inboard engine operation, and maintenance procedures.
THE CONDITIONS
Coastal Cruising in Moderate to Heavy Seas
The course runs in coastal conditions that can be moderate to heavy, giving students real-world experience interpreting weather and handling a cruising sailboat in challenging water and wind.
THE PRACTICE
Docking, Mooring and Safety Drills
Focused practice covers docking procedures, mooring with multiple anchors, dinghy/tender operation, and safety and seamanship drills so students can operate independently on coastal passages.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course matches — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Provisioning is part of the course and galley operations are covered; participants should be prepared to assist with provisioning and meal prep aboard.
Expect active roles in dinghy/tender operation, inboard engine handling, systems maintenance and hands-on seamanship tasks during the course.
Training includes boat systems, safety and seamanship and emergency procedures; students will participate in drills and system checks.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the ASA 103–104 combo?
The course runs three days.
Are there prerequisites to enroll?
Yes — ASA 101 is required prior to enrollment.
How much does the course cost?
The rate is $875.00 per person.
What kind of boat will we sail?
Students skipper an approximately 40-foot sloop-rigged sailboat with an inboard engine.
What will students learn during the course?
The curriculum covers skippering in coastal conditions, provisioning and galley operations, cruising terminology, boat systems, inboard engine operation, maintenance procedures, docking, intermediate and advanced sail trim, navigation rules, coastal navigation (chart plotting and GPS), mooring with multiple anchors, weather interpretation, safety and seamanship, and dinghy/tender operation.
Who operates the course and where is it based?
The program is operated by Windward Seaventures in Portland, Oregon.