Welcome to the Passion Yachts Sailing School!
Passion Yachts, formerly known as The Sailing Life, has provided 
sailing classes on the Columbia River since 2006. Our location has been know as the “The sailors destination for over 24 years”.
We offer fully sanctioned ASA sailing classes to both beginners and advanced students. In fact, 40% of our students have no boating experience. The American Sailing Association (ASA) is the oldest, and in our opinion, the best sailing curriculum available. ASA credentials are recognized world wide and enable certified sailors to charter sailboats at major charter companies in the world.
Passion Yachts teaches on Hunter sailboats with outboard/inboard power and tiller/wheel steering. Boat sizes range from 22 to 34 feet. Passion Yachts will even teach students on their own boat if it is properly equipped. “Hands-on instruction” is paramount in Basic Sailing to Bareboat Cruising. We believe that students learn best when 60%-90% of the instruction is on the water. Our instruction is comprehensive, yet relaxed! We want sailors to have fun while they are learning.
Read about a recent experience with Passion Yachts:
I was new to sailing and in fact had never owned my own boat until this year. I found Passion Yachts on the web when searching for sailing classes in the area. After attending a month-end open house and meeting your staff and one of the instructors, I felt confident about signing up for ASA courses.
I took the ASA Basic Keelboat course in March and the Basic Coastal Cruising course in June. The instruction was excellent and tailored to each individual student’s sailing background. It was great to get early experience on both a small day-sailor and a 34 ft cruiser. The course scheduling over two weekends assured a wide variety of weather, currents, and wind. I believe in training. The Passion Yachts ASA classes were fun and gave me the confidence to move ahead and purchase my own boat. ASA training at Passion Yachts was a first class customer service experience and just plain fun. Anyone considering ASA classes can’t go wrong taking them from from Passion Yachts instructors.
Your guidance during and after the purchase of my Cascade 27 this year is much appreciated. Buying a boat can be a scary experience. You made my first boat purchase process less intimidating and your help after the sale getting my boat and its new owner ready for Columbia River journeys was appreciated. It’s clear your Passion Yachts business model is focused on having customers depart with a smile on their faces. I think anyone working with you and your staff will come away a loyal customer.
Taking ASA classes and buying a boat from Passion Yachts only began my sailing experience. The training I received at Passion Yachts was put to immediate use. This included how to reef the main when the wind gets a little too powerful, boat handling in docking situations, and how to run on-board systems. Besides putting that training to immediate use, I wasted little time in adding running aground to my list of ‘accomplishments’. I put the keel onto the sandy bottom near my home marina. Fortunately, I had a friend on board and with his assistance was able to apply information acquired in my ASA classes at Passion Yachts about what you can do to get unstuck after running aground. The attached photo shows us heeling the boat over by weighting the boom. In this case, my 1st mate provided the ‘weight’. His help and some reverse power from the inboard and we were free to return to port with nothing more than a tale to tell. A panic situation was avoided thanks to knowledge gained from Passion Yachts ASA training.
Thanks from a happy customer,
Randy Williams
Cathlamet, Washington
Contact Us: lessons@passion-yachts.com or phone: 503-289-6306, School Calendar
ASA Standards / Curriculum
BASIC KEELBOAT (ASA 101)
Prerequisites: None
General Description: Able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory Standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
BASIC COASTAL CRUISING (ASA 103)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing Certificate
General Description: Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 34 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
BAREBOAT CHARTERING (ASA 104)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising Certification
General Description: An advanced cruising Standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as skipper or crew of a 30 - 50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.
COASTAL NAVIGATION (ASA 105)
Prerequisites: None
General Description: Able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no Sailing Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this sailing knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard.
INTRODUCTION TO SAILING (ITS)
Prerequisites: None
General Description:This three hour on the water class for the non-sailor will demonstrate the joy of sailing, the maneuvers and handling of a cruising sailboat. Class participants will have the opportunity to experience steering and handling of lines during the process of tacking and jibing and discuss required and recommended safety practices and equipment.
DOCKING ENDORSMENT (ASA 118)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat (101)
General Description: This course further develops basic docking skills, developing tehniques for handling single engine sailboats in tight quarters as well as methods of securing sailboats to docks in a variety of conditions.
ASA "TAKE THE CHALLENGE "
Prerequisites: None
General Description:Sailors who already have the skills necessary to pass the Basic Keel Boat level can challenge the course. There is a private on the water skills portion, including a knot test, as well the written exam. Sailors should read Sailing Made Easy by ASA to see if they will be prepared for the challenge. The challenge will generally take 3 ½ hours or less to complete.
SPINNAKER HANDLING
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat (ASA 101)
General Description: This 8 hour course teaches you how to use the grand daddy of them all, the spinnaker sail. The spinnaker sail adds performance and speed. This course covers the terminology and use of equipment, different types of spinnakers, how to pack, hoist, set, jibe, trim and douse the spinnaker. Using the spinnaker can add tremendous exhilaration to your sailing.
Contact Us: lessons@passion-yachts.com or phone: 503-289-6306, School Calendar
Boat Show Specials Limited Time
Boat Show Specials for Returning Students
260 NE Tomahawk Island Drive, Portland Oregon, 97217