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BEGINNERS COURSE - LEARN TO SAIL

Thanks very much for your interest in J-Town. Our beginner courses for 2023 are now sold out. Please check our website in March/April 2024 for next year's course schedule.


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.

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 courses start at the club and take place in Toronto's Outer Harbour. The cities mentioned in each course title is just a name to differentiate the courses.

Students must be club members before registering. Unfortunately, we cannot accept children in these classes.


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 ) FULL

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) FULL

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 ) FULL

Sunday, June 4,  5-8pm, 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) FULL


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) FULL


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) CANCELLED

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**)


(NB: This course is open only to current members of St. James Town.)


Course Format

Each course consists of an introduction plus approximately ten class units of three hours each. There are three formats available:

  1. Weekday classes consist of 5 days from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
  2. Weekend classes consist of 5 days from 9 am to 4 pm,  Saturdays and Sundays
  3. Weeknight classes consist of 10 evenings, 6 to 9 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays 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.

The first two on-water classes introduce you to sailing. You'll be paired with an experienced sailor from the club - an "Old Salt," as we like to say. You'll get a chance to control the sails and gain a feel for steering.

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



*All courses take place in Toronto's Outer Harbour. The cities mentioned in each course title is just a name to differentiate the courses.

** 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.