This program provides newcomers with a taste of what cruising under sail is all about. It is an opportunity to experience firsthand what sailing is about without committing to a full Learn to Cruise Program.

The program can be shared as a couple, or a group. You and your friends or associates will spend the day cruising aboard a sailing yacht with the opportunity to experience many aspects of operating
the vessel.

Your Sail Canada certified instructors are veteran sailors with extensive and varied experience. You will be able to draw on their
knowledge and experience to gain insight into cruising, boat selection, boat operation, chartering, and provisioning. The educational components of the program will include basic terminology, the language of sailing, readying the vessel, and getting underway; basic sailing both as helmsman and crew.

The Basic Cruising Course is designed for the prospective cruising sailor who has minimal or no sailing knowledge or experience. The student is taught the necessary skills to safely sail local waters in moderate winds and sea conditions during dylight hours. The student will learn to perform the duties of both skipper and crew of a 25-29 foot sailing vessel.

We can take this course either:

1.  You can attend eight classes covering the ashore knowledge element of the program (winter or early spring), and then followed by three full days of on the water training during sailing season.
   
   OR
   
   
2. You can attend a FIVE FULL DAYS at a harbour where the
   theory and practical components of the course are delivered
   in a combined format.

Intermediate Cruising is a 5 day course and offers the skipper to develop skills required for bareboat chartering. The course is taught in familiar waters on 8-12 meter long sailing yachts in moderate sea conditions. The emphasis of this program is on the water skills with additional  omponents dealing with yacht systems, provisioning, and living afloat.

Pre-requisites for this course are the Basic Cruising Standard, acting as skipper for at least 10 day sails, Coastal Navigation, current First Aid
Certificate, VHF Radio Operators Certificate, and applied knowledge of the skills learned in Basic Cruising.

This is a 5 day live-aboard course that includes text books and course materials. Just bring your gear, a blanket, and a pillow!

To attain Coastal Navigation Standard Certification you will need to take two courses:

• Basic Navigation
• Intermediate Navigation

Basic Navigation Course will give you the ability to plan and to safely navigate by day in Canadian coastal and inland local waters. This introductory course offers basic knowledge of navigation theory and is
the pre-requisite to Intermediate Navigation. You will learn the meaning and use of chart symbols, tide and current tables, fixes, plotting courses, plotting danger bearings, etc. This course requires no pre- requisites and will run over seven, three-hours in class sessions.

Intermediate Navigation Course your will be required to demonstrate the navigational theory to safely plan and execute a long continuous passage including night sailing in unfamiliar coastal or inland waters, in all conditions of visibility, with or without electronic aids. The required pre-requisite is Basic Navigation. This course is done on water.

Learn how to communicate and handle emergency situations on a VHF marine radio. This seminar will cover all aspects of radio operation. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the VHF Marine Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate from Industry Canada.

Recreational Boaters

• Don't get caught without it!

In 2009, Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard brought in mandatory boating safety certification, all boaters require a PCOC card when operating a pleasure craft. Without this certification, boaters face fines and will have invalid liability insurance. Get your PCOC by taking this one day course, or by writing a challenge exam.