Wednesday Night Sails
Wednesday Night Sails brings OWSA members and community skippers together for free, weekly evening sails throughout the season. WNS builds confidence, expands your sailing network, and gives you experience on a variety of boats with different crews.
From summer into early fall, community skippers and the OWSA fleet host members for evening sails on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Boats typically depart at 6:00 pm and return before dark, followed by a short dockside debrief and shared snack. The season wraps up with a late-August raft-up potluck.
Who Can Join?
- Current OWSA members only
- Participate as crew (not a passenger)
- Be willing to learn and follow skipper instructions
- Be able to move safely around the boat
All experience levels are welcome, including beginners. Be honest about your skill level when signing up. Email wns@owsa.net if you have questions about the abilities required.
How to Sign Up
- Watch for the invitation email sent Sunday before each sail
- Sign up on the OWSA calendar by Monday at noon
Spots are first-come, first-served. Crew lists are emailed Monday night with boat location and contact information for skipper and crew. Wait-listed members are prioritized the following week. First Mates may have additional sailing opportunities because experienced crew is needed to balance out the boats.
What to Bring
Arrive by 5:30 pm at your assigned dock with:
- PFD (required—ask if the skipper has extras if you dont have one)
- Closed-toed, non-marking shoes
- Layers, gloves (optional), hat or hair tie
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, water
- Remove jewelry or attire that can get caught
- Snack to share after the sail
Snacks & Social Time
Each crew member brings a simple snack to share dockside (2030 minutes). Suggestions include salami or cheese, veggie tray, crackers, dip, fruit, chips, and bars. Coordinate with your crew to avoid duplicates and accommodate allergies. Alcohol is only allowed after sailing, while docked, AND with skipper approval.
Where to Meet
Most boats sail from Hayden Island or Marine Drive marinas. Boat location and marina/boat ramp access details are included in the crew list email. Plan for brutal traffic if coming from Portland—coming from Washington is usually easier. If you have any questions, contact the skipper and/or other crew members.
Cancellations
Cancel before Monday night if possible. If you must cancel after crews are posted, contact your skipper AND email wns@owsa.net immediately. Make sure you confirm contact with your skipper; many do not read email on Wednesday afternoons. You don't want people waiting at the dock for you if you're not coming.
Expectations & Guidelines
- Everyone participates—no spectators
- Ask questions, help others, and sail respectfully
- The skipper has final authority; safety comes first
- Communicate clearly if you're uncomfortable with a task
WNS is an educational, participatory event. Non-members may not join WNS sails—do not ask your skipper for special consideration to bring a friend and put them in the uncomfortable position of saying no. If this rule is broken, you will not be able to go on WNS for the remainder of the sailing season.
Crew Requests
Special requests (carpools, sailing partners, women skippers, boat size) may be noted during signup but are difficult to support and cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility helps crew assignments and supports WNSs goal of introducing members to new boats, skippers, and crew. Put in the notes if you prefer not to go out if your request can't be granted. The WNS Chair will try to accommodate mother/daughter pairs and carpools. To improve your chances, sign up at about the same time so you appear close together on the list (if theres a conflict, the later signup time is used). Both participants must include the same request in their signup notes (e.g., Im carpooling with Gail/Stephanie).
Email wns@owsa.net with questions or concerns. See you on the water!
OTHER RELATED OWSA PROGRAMS
First Mate Program: Review the First Mate Assessment skills checklist on owsa.net under Opportunities > First Mate. Use it to assess your current skills and set goals for becoming a First Mate. When you've achieved about 80% of the listed skills, you're eligible to join the First Mate team for the upcoming season. First Mates often enjoy more Wednesday Night Sail opportunities, helping balance crews with experienced sailors. Questions? Email firstmate@owsa.net.
BOAST program: Boat Owner and Skipper Training (BOAST) provides opportunities to sign onto an OWSA fleet boat for extra sailing privileges. For a very reasonable monthly fee, you can learn what it is like to own a boat, learn how to skipper, take non-OWSA friends sailing and get more time on the water. See the description of the program under Opportunities > BOAST. OWSA Fleet boats and crew are expected to go out on Wednesday Night Sails as much as their personal schedule allows. Sometimes we need crew, and sometimes we need the boat and a skipper! Write to boast@owsa.net for more information.
SEE THIS PAGE FOR INFO ON BECOMING AN OWSA COMMUNITY SKIPPER
