BEGINNERS COURSE - LEARN TO SAIL
Our Learn to Sail programs can take you from, “Never sailed, but always wanted to learn” to competent sea-dog in as few as 10 three-hour classes.
The course schedule and sign-up links are here.
CANSAIL 1&2 ($120 course fee + membership fee)
CANSail 1&2, despite its name, is actually a single course that will provide you basic sailing skills, boating safety, and familiarity with our fleet of Albacore dinghies.
The course provides safe instruction for recreational and competitive dinghy sailing. On successful completion, you will be CANSail level 1 & 2 certified, and able to sail the club's Albacores in winds up to 10 knots.
All of our instructors are certified by the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA), and our course is based on the CANSail standard set out by the CYA. The CANSail 1&2 certification awarded at the end of a successful course is recognized nationally by the CYA.
Students must be club members before registering. Unfortunately, we cannot accept children in these classes.
Course Format
Each course consists of an introduction plus approximately ten class units of three hours each. There are three formats available:
- Weekday classes consist of 5 days from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
- Weekend classes consist of 5 days from 9 am to 4 pm, Saturdays and Sundays
- Weeknight classes consist of 10 evenings, 6 to 9 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The first date of each course is an on-land introduction. The club board members will be there to introduce you to the club, answer any questions, and show you how to set up the sails on our Albacores.
A typical lesson unit follows the following basic format (example is for weeknights):
6:00 - 6:15 pm: Arrive, setup and put the boats in the water
6:15 - 6:45 pm: In class instruction
6:45 - 8:30 pm: On water instruction
8:30 - 8:45 pm: Put the boats away
8:45 - 9:00 pm: Lesson debriefing
9:00 - 10:00 pm: Dinner and socializing
Weekdays and weekend courses consist of two such units in the same day.
Courses are capped at 7 boats (14 students).
Student resources
Student policies
- Student Attendance Policies
- Course Prerequisites
- Student Conduct Policies
- Course Cancellation and Refund Policies
Schedule and sign-up
We offer Learn to Sail courses from late April through August.
CANSail 1&2 - May Weekends, May 3 - 20, 2023. Auckland cohort
Wednesday May 3, 6 - 9pm, on-land Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Saturday May 6, 9am - 4pm
Sunday May 7, 9am - 4pm
Saturday May 13, 9am - 4pm
Saturday May 20, 9am - 4pm
Sunday May 21, 9am - 4pm
Saturday May 27, 9am - 4pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
CANSail 1&2 - May Weeknights Class, April 30 - May 23, 2023. Vancouver cohort
Sunday, April 30, 1-4pm, Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Tuesday, May 2, 6-9pm
Wednesday, May 3, 6-9pm
Thursday, May 4, 6-9pm
Tuesday, May 9, 6-9pm
Wednesday, May 10, 6-9pm
Thursday, May 11, 6-9pm
Tuesday, May 16, 6-9pm
Wednesday, May 17, 6-9pm
Thursday, May 18, 6-9pm
Tuesday, May 23, 6-9pm
Thursday May 25, 6-9pm (make-up day*)
Tuesday May 30, 6-9pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
CANSail 1&2 - June Weeknights, Class, June 4 - 27, 2023. San Diego cohort
Sunday, June 4, 1-4pm, Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Tuesday, June 6, 6-9pm
Wednesday, June 7, 6-9pm
Thursday, June 8, 6-9pm
Tuesday, June 13, 6-9pm
Thursday, June 15, 6-9pm
Sunday, June 18, 6-9pm
Tuesday, June 20, 6-9pm
Thursday, June 22, 6-9pm
Sunday, June 25, 6-9pm
Tuesday, June 27, 6-9pm
Thursday, June 29, 6-9pm (make-up day*)
Tuesday, July 4 6-9pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
CANSail 1&2 - June Weekdays, June 25-30, 2023. Portsmouth cohort
Sunday June 25, 3pm - 6pm, on-land Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Monday June 26 6, 9am - 4pm
Tuesday June 27, 9am - 4pm
Wednesday June 28, 9am - 4pm
Thursday June 29, 9am - 4pm
Friday June 30, 9am - 4pm
Saturday July 1, 9am - 4pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
CANSail 1&2, July Weekends, July 5 - 19, 2023. Quiberon cohort
Wednesday, July 5, 6pm - 9pm - on-land Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Saturday July 8, 9am - 4pm
Sunday July 9, 9am - 4pm
Saturday July 15, 9am - 4pm
Sunday July 16, 9am - 4pm
Sunday July 23, 9 am - 4pm
Sunday July 30, 9am - 4pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
CANSail 1&2, August Weekdays, August 13 - 21, 2023. Halifax cohort
Sunday August 13, 5pm - 8pm, on-land Orientation and boat rigging instruction
Monday August 14, 9am - 4pm
Tuesday August 15, 9am - 4pm
Wednesday August 16, 9am - 4pm
Thursday August 17, 9am - 4pm
Friday August 18, 9am - 4pm
Monday August 21, 9 am - 4 pm (make-up day*)
Before registering for this course, you'll need to be a full member of St. James Town. You can register for membership here.
* Make-up days are extra days that will be used only if previous sessions are cancelled (typically for lack of wind). They are not days that students can use to make up for missed classes.