Toronto J-Town Sailing Club - Course Requirements & Prerequisites

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Sail Canada's CanSail Requirements for all levels are summarized here. A summary of JTown's courses/clinics, requirements and pre-requisites are located below. JTown teaches Cansail using its Albacore Fleet, and also offers courses and clinics for its Laser Fleet and Catamaran Fleet.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks (optional) may be purchased from Ontario Sailing.

Canada's Department of National Defence, has published very detailed booklets for their naval cadets, containing information regarding the recommended CanSail curriculum, here, here, and here, which you may find helpful.

JTown has also released an informal guide for new sailors, on sailboat setup for CanSail 1&2 (Albacore Rigging Guide) which all members may find useful.

Our next-door neighbours, at Mooredale Sailing Club, have also released a guide for new sailors for CanSail 1&2.

MENTORSHIP

JTown is a cooperative club, rooted in its social connections. JTown has no employees and is entirely volunteer-member operated. Members share boats, space, knowledge, resources and more. It often takes more than a shared love of sailing and commitment to a common set of rules to make our club operate smoothly. A strong culture of volunteering and mentorship is one way that JTown continues to thrive sustainably.

No matter your sailing background (or lack thereof), you too can benefit from giving or receiving mentorship at JTown. Mentors can introduce new members, not only to sailing skills, but also to community culture, to other members/mentors, and to club norms/expectations.

Members requiring assistance connecting with mentors are encouraged to reach out to education@sailtoronto.com.

Members seeking to provide mentorship, should review our page about "Old Salts".

COURSE LIST (REQUIREMENTS & PRE-REQUISITES)

Program List

Albacores	Lasers	Catamarans
CanSail 1&2 Course	Laser Helm Clinic	Cat 1 Clinic (Intro to Cats)
Albacore - Old Salt L1 Test	Laser - Old Salt L1 Test	Cat - Old Salt L1 Test
CanSail 3 Course		Cat 1 Skills Building Technical Clinic
Albacore - Old Salt L2 Test		Cat 2 Clinic
CanSail 4 Course		Cat - Old Salt L2 Test
Monday Night Race Training		Cat Race Practice

Pre-Requisites & Criteria etc.

Below you will find a summary of recommended and mandatory pre-requisites to enrollment in our instructional and testing sessions:

CanSail 1&2 Course

Skills Evaluated

See these examples of CanSail 1&2 Requirements here and here; and
JTown Person Overboard Maneuver; and
JTown Rigging; and
JTown De-Rigging; and
JTown wet capsize and righting.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

N/A - (15 hours completed in-class)

Pre-requisite Skills

Ability to exit a swimming pool at a depth of at least 8 feet, unassisted (e.g. unassisted by steps, ladders, equipment, other people, etc.); and
Ability to swim, unassisted, continuously for a distance of at least 50m; and
Strong aural command of the english language.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

N/A

Back to Program List

Albacore - Old Salt L1 Test

Skills Evaluated

See these examples of CanSail 1&2 Requirements here and here; and
JTown Person Overboard Maneuver; and
JTown Rigging; and
JTown De-Rigging; and
JTown wet capsize and righting.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours (with JTown mentor)

Pre-requisite Skills

• See CanSail 1&2 requirements above; and

• rigging and de-rigging the albacore according to JTown standards; and

• sign-in/out according to JTown requirements; and

• demonstrate JTown's crew-overboard maneuver; and

• demonstrate JTown's wet capsize & recovery maneuver.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

N/A

Back to Program List

Laser Helm Clinic

Skills Evaluated

See these examples of CanSail 1&2 Requirements here and here; and
JTown Person Overboard Maneuver; and
JTown Rigging; and
JTown De-Rigging; and
JTown wet capsize and righting.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours after CanSail 1&2 completion as a JTown Helm on Albacores

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A - (to be learned in-class)

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

CanSail 1&2; or
Albacore - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

Laser - Old Salt L1 Test

Skills Evaluated

See these examples of CanSail 1&2 Requirements here and here; and
JTown Person Overboard Maneuver; and
JTown Rigging; and
JTown De-Rigging; and
JTown wet capsize and righting.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours after CanSail 1&2 completion as a JTown Helm on Albacores

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A - (to be learned in-class)

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

CanSail 1&2; or
Albacore - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

CanSail 3 Course

Skills Evaluated

See summary of CanSail 3 requirements here; and
Rudderless Sailing; and
Backwards Sailing.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours after CanSail 1&2 or Albacore - Old Salt L1 Test completion

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A - (to be learned in-class)

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

CanSail 1&2; or
Albacore - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

Albacore - Old Salt L2 Test

Skills Evaluated

See summary of CanSail 3 requirements here; and
Rudderless Sailing; and
Backwards Sailing.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours (at JTown)

Pre-requisite Skills

See summary of CanSail 3 requirements here; and
Rudderless Sailing; and
Backwards Sailing

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Albacore - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

Cat 1 Clinic (Intro to Cats)

Skills Evaluated

Rigging & De-Rigging the Nacra 500; and
Tacking & gybing safely in under 12 knots; and
Launching & Docking; and
Sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
'wide & close' mark roundings;
Parking in irons; and
wet capsize and recovery; and
JTown person overboard manoeuvre;

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

9 hours (with Cat1 or Cat 2 mentor) (plus 6 hours completed in-class)

Pre-requisite Skills

Rigging & De-Rigging the Nacra 500; and
Tacking & gybing safely in under 12 knots; and
Launching & Docking; and
Parking in irons.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

CanSail 3; or
Albacore - Old Salt L2

Back to Program List

Cat - Old Salt L1 Test

Skills Evaluated

Rigging & De-Rigging the Nacra 500; and
Tacking & gybing safely in under 12knots; and
Launching & Docking; and
sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
'wide & close' mark roundings;
Parking in irons; and
wet capsize and recovery; and
JTown person overboard maneuver;

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours (with Cat1 or Cat 2 mentor) (plus 1.5 hours completed during testing)

Pre-requisite Skills

• Rigging & De-Rigging the Nacra 500; and

• Tacking & gybing safely in under 12knots; and

• Launching & Docking; and

• Parking in irons; and

• Wet capsize & recovery; and

• JTown's catamaran crew overboard maneuver.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Albacore - Old Salt L2; or
CanSail 3

Back to Program List

Cat 2 Clinic

Skills Evaluated

Tacking & Gybing safely in up to 22 knots without slamming the traveller; and
Popping the mainsail batten with ease; and
Wet capsize & recovery; and
Sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
Efficient' wide & close' mark roundings; and
Parking in irons.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

15 hours helming the catamaran as Cat 1; and
15 hours with Cat 2 mentor (plus 3 hours completed in-class)

Pre-requisite Skills

Tacking & Gybing safely in up to 12 knots without slamming the traveller; and
Popping the mainsail batten with ease; and
Wet capsize & recovery; and
Sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
Efficient' wide & close' mark roundings; and
Parking in irons; and
Past participation in masts-up and masts-down.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Cat 1 Helm; or
Cat - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

Cat - Old Salt L2 Test

Skills Evaluated

Tacking & Gybing safely in up to 22 knots without slamming the traveller; and
Popping the mainsail batten with ease; and
Wet capsize & recovery; and
Sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
Efficient' wide & close' mark roundings; and
Parking in irons.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours (with Cat 2 mentor) (plus 1.5 hours completed during testing)

Pre-requisite Skills

Tacking & Gybing safely in up to 12 knots without slamming the traveller; and
Popping the mainsail batten with ease; and
Wet capsize & recovery; and
Sailing a tight upwind/downwind course; and
Efficient' wide & close' mark roundings; and
Parking in irons; and
Past participation in masts-up and masts-down.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Cat - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

CanSail 4 Course

Skills Evaluated

See summary of CanSail 4 requirements here;

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours after CanSail 3 completion as a JTown Helm

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A - (to be learned in-class)

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Albacore - Old Salt L2; or
CanSail 3

Back to Program List

Monday Night Race Training

Skills Evaluated

N/A - This is a community driven practice session.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

7.5 hours after CanSail 1&2 completion as a JTown Helm on Albacores

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

CanSail 1&2; or
Albacore - Old Salt L1

Back to Program List

Cat Race Practice

Skills Evaluated

N/A - This is a community driven practice session.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

15 hours helming the catamaran as Cat 1 Helm

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Cat 1 Helm or Cat - Old Salt L1 - up to 12 knots including gusts; or
Cat 2 Helm or Cat - Old Salt L2 - above 12 knots including gusts.

Back to Program List

Cat 1 Skills Building Technical Clinic

Skills Evaluated

N/A - This is a community driven practice session.

Strongly Recommended Pre-Requisites

Previously Logged Sailing Hours @ JTown

15 hours helming the catamaran as Cat 1 Helm

Pre-requisite Skills

N/A

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Pre-Existing JTown Helm Status

Cat 1 Helm; or
Cat - Old Salt L1