Beginner & Intermediate Sailing Courses
There’s nothing quite like the first time you raise the sails and turn off the engine. The sound of the water on the hull, the feel of the wind in your hair and the joy of the sun on your face is something you’ll never forget! Start your journey with Beginner Sailing Courses. Give it a try, become competent crew, or learn how to skipper a keelboat through one of our fully accredited Sail Canada programs.
Introduction to Sailing
If you’re just beginning to sail and want to dip your toes in, then this course is for you. We’ll “show you the ropes” so to speak – but actually, we’ll show you a lot more than just the ropes.
Session Details
- Sail Canada Introduction to Sailing Standard
- 3-hour on-water experience
- Min 3 – Max 6 persons per session
- $195 per person (+hst)
Start Keelboat Sailing
Learn how to sail safely as the crew of a sloop-rigged keelboat, 6 to 12 meters in length, with an outboard or inboard motor in 5 – 20 knots (not gusting over 25 knots) of wind by day. This Standard is ideal for individuals with limited on-water experience. The focus is on the initial development of practical skills while participating in the operation of a keelboat.
Session Details
- Sail Canada Start Keelboat Sailing Standard
- 12 – 15 hours of combined classroom and on-water practical experience
- Min 2 – Max 4 persons per session
- $650 per person (+hst)
Available Sessions
- Custom schedule can be arranged with minimum 3 persons booking together
Basic Cruising Standard
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sloop-rigged keelboat of 6 to 10 meters with an outboard or inboard motor in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. This standard focuses on developing basic sailing and seamanship skills as well as the knowledge needed to make the decisions expected of a skipper.
Session Details
- Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard
- 28 hours of combined classroom and on-water practical experience
- Min 3 – Max 4 persons per session
- $925 per person (+hst)
Available Weekday Sessions
- Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm
- May 26 – 30, 2025
- September 29 – October 3, 2025
- Custom schedule can be arranged with a minimum of 3 people booking together
Intermediate Cruising Standard
This live-aboard course follows the Basic Cruising Standard in the Sail Canada keelboat and cruising training system. Students will participate in operation of the vessel as crew and as skipper. The vessel will be operated under sail and power while making daytime passages. The ability to act as skipper and crew in operation of a sailing vessel by day in unfamiliar waters will be developed, while building the skills and experience needed for live-aboard cruises and bareboat charter.
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to cruise safely as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 9 to 12 meters, sloop rigged with an inboard engine, in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. The standard emphasizes on-the-water skills at a level acceptable for extended cruises in coastal and inland waters and for bareboat chartering.
Prerequisites: Sail Canada Basic Cruising (or equivalent sailing experience), Sail Canada Basic Coastal Navigation, VHF License RoC(M), Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC). Intermediate Cruising Theory must be completed prior to boarding.
Practical training includes but is not limited to:
- Sail selection and trim controls
- Anchoring and mooring pickup
- Enhanced docking techniques
- Navigation skills
- Pilotage and passage planning
- Vessel systems management
*Prices include course and materials. Does not include provisioning, refuelling, meals ashore, transportation to/from start or finish location, or any hotel stays before or after the course.
Session Details
- Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Standard
- 5 day/4 night liveaboard practical experience
- Min 3 – Max 4 persons per session
- $1,845 per person (+hst) based on double occupancy
- In collaboration with Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC) Adult Learn to Sail program
Available Sessions
- Western Lake Ontario
- June 19 – 23, 2025
- Sept 11 – 15, 2025
- Women Only – PCYC to the 1000 Islands
- July 10 – 14, 2025
- 1000 Islands to PCYC
- July 24 – 28, 2025
- Sessions run Thurs 10am – Mon 4pm
Fully Accredited Sail Canada Training & Certification
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing. We are committed to excellence in performance, developing our leaders and training our sailors. The pursuit of Olympic success fuels our focus not only on our Team athletes but also on Canada’s next generation of performance sailors, and all the partners, clubs and coaches who support them.
