43°37'26.5"N,  79°22'13.6"W    
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ADULT SAILING PROGRAMS

 

Adult Sailing at RCYC offers sailing programs for every skill level. Let RCYC help make your first step to becoming a confident sailor, pick up where you left off years ago, or join a program to meet other sailors and continue developing your abilities.
 
Why choose RCYC Adult Sailing?

  • Friendly, experienced instructors & race coaches
  • Fantastic environment in Toronto Harbour & Island
  • Meet RCYC sailors and make long-lasting relationships
  • Continue sailing with new programs every season
RCYC offers 3 different courses; Learn to Sail, Keelboat Cruising and Learn to Race. Our cruising and racing courses are taught on a keelboat which is larger boat, has a weighted keel for stability, and prepares participants to become keelboat owners. Our Learn to Sail course is taught in either smaller keelboats or dinghies which are small, more manoeuvrable and where body weight provides stability. Both are excellent ways to start your sailing career. Specific information on each course is listed below.
 
Please contact the Sailing Office for more information at 416-967-7245 ext.521or sailing@rcyc.ca
 


Learn to Sail

Intro to Sailing - A one day introductory course designed to give a quick overview of sailing before joining a full course. 

Adult CANSail 1&2 - This learn to sail course follows the Sail Canada curriculum that teaches the basic fundamental skills in a safe and fun environment. This is a Sail Canada certification course.

Keelboat Courses

Basic Cruising - Focus of this course is on the development of basic sailing and seamanship skills, as well as knowledge needed to make the decisions expected of a skipper. This is a Sail Canada certification course. 

Racing Programs
 
Intro to Racing - Participate in a local club white sail (non spinnaker) race as crew and/or helm to better understand racing procedures, racing rules and race strategy. 
 

Private Lessons

Looking for more specific training? Book a private lesson and cater a lesson to suit your needs. Private Lessons are open to both members and non-members and are run from our Toronto Island Clubhouse with launch service to the Island included. Email sailing@rcyc.ca for further information.
 


RCYC Member Only Programs

Club Ideal 18 Fleet - Join the Club-owned fleet to access our sailboats all season and become part of the active community.

Women's Sailing - This sailing program for our female sailors is always popular and engaging for RCYC Members to connect every week.

Skills Clinics - Join one of our clinics to improve your sailing skills. 

Family Learn to Sail - Learn to sail with a family member. This one day clinic covers the basics of sailing to help you get started or improve your skills. 

Learn to Sail

Intro to Sailing  

A one day introductory course designed to give a quick overview of sailing before joining a full course. Sailors are guided by friendly instructors in small class sizes to create a memorable adventure with friends or family. The day begins with a lesson on basic theory followed by demonstrations before heading out on the water for some practical experience. This course is perfect for beginners or as quick review. Bring a friend and spend your day on Toronto Island learning how to sail. Intro to Sailing is a foundation to begin working towards the Adult CANSail 1&2 certification.

Dates: 
Course 1 - May 27th 
Course 2 - May 28th 


Registration Coming Soon
 

 

Adult CANSail 1 & 2

Begin your journey towards becoming a certified sailor this summer with CANSail 1 or continue building your basic sailing skills with CANSail 2. The Sail Canada CANSail program is designed to be a set of progressive learn-to-sail standards focused on providing sailors with a solid foundation of core skills. It allows sailors to learn and progress in any type of boat and consolidates key skills and solid experiences before adding complex skills.   
 
With RCYC's CANSail program, participants learn theory on shore and develop fundamental skills on the water. Lessons include sail trim, helming, boat maneuvers and safety procedures taught by experienced instructors in small class sizes. Sailors can continue to work on CANSail levels with private lessons throughout the year. Over the 6 weeknights, sailors will be evaluated on their developing skills and provided with updates on their tracked progress. A Sail Canada certification course.
 

  • Tuesday or Thursday evenings – from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  
Dates:
Tuesday Evening
Session 1 - June 6th to July 11th
Session 2 - July 18th to August 22nd

Thursday Evening 
Session 1 - June 8th to July 13th 
Session 2 - July 20th to August 31st (no class on August 24th) 

Register

 

Keelboat Courses

Basic Cruising Course

Learn to Cruise safely as both skipper and crew of a keelboat in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. The focus of this course is on the development of basic sailing and seamanship skills as well as the knowledge needed to make the decisions expected of a skipper. This is a Sail Canada Certification course.
 
Course runs weeknights (2 nights/week for 6 weeks) or weekends 2 full back-to-back weekends). 

Dates: 
Weeknights (Monday & Wednesday) 
Session 1 - June 5th to June 28th 
Session 2 - July 5th to July 31st 
Session 3 - August 8th to September 6th 

Weekends 
Session 1 - June 3/4 & June 10/11
Session 2 - June 17/18 & June 24/25
Session 3 - July 8/9 & July 15/16
Session 4 - July 22/23 & July 29/30
Session 5 - August 12/13 & August 19/20
Session 6 - September 9/10 & September 16/17

Register
 

Racing Programs

Intro to Racing

Interested in Learning more about racing. Join the crew on Tuesday evening and be right in the action. Participants will compete in the RCYC Tuesday club racing with an experienced instructor guiding them around the course. Participants will rotate to learn the various positions in the boat. Open to both Youth (14+) and Adults.

Dates: 
Session 1 - June 6th, 13th & 20th 
Session 2 - June 27th, July 4th & 11th 
Session 3 - July 18th & 25th, August 1st 
Session 4 - August 8th, 15th & 22nd 

Registration Coming Soon

Member Only Programs

Ideal 18 Fleet

Access our fleet of Club-owned boats from May to September and head out for a sail in the harbour. RCYC Members can sail any day of the week in this simple 18-foot keelboat that is great for up to 3 adults or a small family. Racers = and sailors looking for a community - can join the fleet for an entire season of weeknight racing, regattas and find fast friends in a large group of active sailors.

Club-owned boats are only available for RCYC Members. Non-members can book extra time on the water with a private lesson by contacting us directly.

More information on the Club Fleet. 

Women's Sailing

The popular sailing group meets every week to bring together female Members from all corners of the Club. The Monday night sessions run throughout the season and will focus on specific skills development. After sailing enjoy a social gathering with participants to chat about your sailing experiences. 

More information on Women's Sailing. 


Skills Sessions

Spinnaker Clinic #1 - June 25th
Learn the basics of sailing with a spinnaker. This one day course will cover hoisting, dousing, proper poles set up and sail trim. All levels welcome.

Spinnaker Clinic #2 - August 6th
This is an advanced clinic that builds on the skills from sSpinnaker Clinic 1. This clinic will cover complex hoists and douses, gybing and tactics. It is recommend to have completed Spinnaker Clinic 1.

Starting Clinic - June 14th (6:00 - 9:00 PM)
Participants will learn the basics of starting before practicing on the water. This course will cover time& distance, favour sides and crew communications. This clinic is recommended for Intermediate to advanced levels.

Intro to Racing 101 - June 24th or August 5th
This clinic follows up on our winter seminars. After a short review, participants will hit the water and run through various drills to better understand racing. This clinic will the different aspects of the race course include starts, how to sail the course and tactical decisions. Coaching will be provided through the racing for immediate learning. Recommend for new or beginner racers.

Intro to Racing 201 - July 16th
Building upon Intro to Racing 101, this clinic will focus on starting techniques and race strategy to help get around the course faster. Coaching will be provided through the racing for immediate learning.


Family Intro to Sailing

Enjoy this one-day clinic with a family member as you learn the basics skills of sailing. 1 The course will cover fundamental on shore and on water skills. No experience is necessary. 

Date: 
Saturday, July 29th, 2023

Registration Coming Soon

Stand Up Paddleboard

Paddle Canada Basic SUP Skills Course

Whether you are new to SUP, seeking to improve your SUP skills, a nationally accredited SUP Instructor or even seeking to become a SUP Instructor Trainer, Paddle Canada's National SUP program is designed to help you achieve your goals with a high-degree of confidence, proficiency and safety.

Further Information Coming Soon