Home is on Boston Harbor
Founded in 1998 on the East Boston waterfront, we’re a community-based organization dedicated to inclusive empowerment through community sailing and marine science.
With fully ADA-accessible facilities and deep roots in the neighborhood, we host welcoming, high-impact programs for people of all ages, abilities, and identities, building confidence, leadership, environmental stewardship and lifelong connections to Boston Harbor.
Our Impact
25+ years
Serving our local community
Piers Park Sailing Center was founded in 1998 and has provided inclusive waterfront programs ever since!
3,000+
Participants yearly
Over 3,000 children each year sail and learn through PPSC's youth programs.
100%
Inclusive leadership
100% of PPSC's leadership team grew up in its programs, showing long-term community engagement and generational impact.
Our Team
Meet the dedicated people who believe in the mission!
Executive Director
Alex DeFronzo (he/him)
Alex first joined Piers Park Sailing Center as a child in 2001 through the Inclusive Youth Development Program, where he learned to sail and developed a passion for community engagement. After building a career in nonprofit leadership and human services, he returned to PPSC in 2017 as Executive Director.
A lifelong East Boston resident, Alex is deeply committed to PPSC’s mission and works closely with local partners to create lasting community impact. He holds a BA from UMass Lowell and a Master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University.
Education Director
Omar Sahrour (he/him)
Omar joined Piers Park Sailing Center at age 8 through a partnership with the East Boston YMCA and has been part of the community ever since. After growing from student to instructor, he became Education Director in 2023, overseeing out-of-school and teen development programs.
He studied Biology at Suffolk University and is completing his MBA at UMass Lowell.
Director of Youth Sailing & Impact Driven Collaboration
Sophia Gomez (she/her)
Sophia joined Piers Park Sailing Center at 7 years old, and has not missed a summer since. She started as a harbor explorer, then became a student in the sailing program where she developed her sailing skills, then became a Future Leader and soon after an instructor for Science of Sailing. She worked for three years as Director of Science of Sailing and now oversees all youth sailing programs as Youth Sailing Director.
Sophia has a degree in psychology from Husson University.
Harbor Explorers Program Director
Erick Morales (he/him)
Erick first joined piers park in 2017 and has been learning the ropes ever since. He first began as a staff member and worked his way up to becoming HE sailing coordinator and now the HE program director.
Erick has a degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Bookkeeper
Catherine Domina (she/her)
Catherine has been part of Piers Park since 2007. She started as a student in the youth program and worked her way up from Future Leader to Instructor to Assistant Youth Coordinator to Youth
Program Director.
Catherine now oversees PPSC's bookkeeping. She graduated Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, studying the humanities on their New Hampshire and Rome campuses. In the
off-season, she teaches high school math in Winthrop, and enjoys coaching their sailing team during the spring.
Our Mission
Piers Park Sailing Center’s mission is to provide free and low-cost access to sailing, marine science and Boston Harbor for people of all ages and backgrounds. Rooted in East Boston, we build confidence, new skills, and environmental awareness, empowering young people and the wider community to feel a sense of belonging on the waterfront and to become lifelong stewards of the harbor.
FAQs
Everything you need to know about getting started with us.
Piers Park Sailing Center welcomes children, teens, adults, families, and community groups of all backgrounds and ability levels.
No experience is needed. Many of our programs are designed for beginners, and our instructors support participants every step of the way.
Yes. We work hard to keep programs free or affordable, especially for local youth, and offer scholarships to reduce financial barriers.
We’re based at Piers Park in East Boston, with direct access to Boston Harbor.
No experience is necessary. Our instructors teach from the beginning and work at your pace. We welcome sailors of all levels.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet and bring a towel. We provide life jackets and all sailing equipment. Sunscreen and water are
recommended.
Still have questions?
If you have any questions, big or small, contact our team and someone will get back to you as soon as possible
Contact us
Your support helps keep our programs going.
Donate today to help more people set sail and discover everything the harbor has to offer.
