YOUTH SAILING

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club is one of the world’s oldest Yacht Clubs, with a long history of achievement in international competition as well as national and local sailing. The RCYC’s dedication to encouraging proficiency in sailing excellence and competitive racing is clearly reflected in its Youth Sailing Program.

The Junior Club, since its inception in 1925, has produced international champions and skilled sailors across many different disciplines. As the Junior Club celebrates its 99th year in 2024, it continues to be a leader in sailing excellence and sharing the passion for sailing to develop sailors for life.

All Junior Club participants will have the opportunity to experience the sport of sailing in a safe, fun-filled and challenging environment.  We recognize the potential of every young sailor and strive to help them grow in their chosen sailing pathway by bringing the best instructors so they can learn and enjoy the best sailing possible.

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club's Junior Club is a sailing camp where you make lasting friendships, learn life skills, and fall in love with the sport of sailing. RCYC Sailing programs are grouped into Youth Learn to Sail(ages 5-16) Youth Racing(ages10-18) and Adult Sailing (ages 18+).

                                                                              

                  

 

Youth Learn to Sail

RCYC offers a variety of youth sailing programs. Whether you’re a new or returning sailor; there is a fun and exciting sailing experience here for you! The fundamental sailing skills taught in our program will enable youth to explore a future in cruising, racing or wherever their passion takes them.

RCYC follows the CANSail Development Program, Sail Canada’s national training program for sailing in dinghies. The program is a standardized system that promote progressive training of dinghy sailing skills and knowledge. The CANSail model is a standardized system used by the majority of sailing schools in Canada, ensuring all are taught with the same tools.

It's time to start planning for a new season full of sunny days, big smiles. Click on the link below to review the youth programs for 2024.

Junior Club looks forward to welcoming all sailors for the upcoming 2024 season.


Youth Racing Programs

RCYC has a rich history of producing some of Canada’s best sailors. Many of our sailors were members of the Canadian Sailing Team and went on to represent Canada at Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, World Championships, Europeans, North American Championships, Canada Summer Games and other major events.

Our Racing programs are designed to develop lifelong sailors through top quality coaching, individual training plans, goal setting sessions, nutrition, and fitness. Our racing programs feature development and high-performance levels for the Optimist, ILCA (formerly Laser), C420 and 29er.

Race Teams will train and compete in regional and national competitions, and possibly continental events. Emphasis will be on personal development to achieve their best possible result. Sailors will be encouraged to qualify for international and National youth teams if and when possible.

                                                                              

Registration

2024 Registration is now open!

Register Here

Non-Member Registration

Registration for Summer Programs is now open!

Please note that all programs will be released as waitlist only from January 8th to February 6th. On February 7th, RCYC Members will be given priority placement and have their registrations confirmed. Remaining availability will be allocated to non-members on the waitlist and confirmed based on date of registration received. As of February 7th, remaining spots will become open to everyone on a first come-first serve basis. 


Register Now!

For more detailed program information please review our Program Guide found here.
 
Contact juniorclub@rcyc.ca  for any other inquiries.


 

Need-to-Know Information for Junior Club!

Typical Day

The following schedule is a typical day at Junior Club. All times and daily activities are subject to change and are weather dependent. Race team schedules may differ due to regattas or training schedules.
 
8:15 or 8:45 Launch to Island
Approx 9:00 Rigging of boats
9:30 -10:00 On Shore Lesson
10:30 -12:00 On water sailing
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 
13:00 - 15:30 Afternoon Sailing session
15:30 – 16:00 Derig boats
16:00 or 16:30 Launch to City Station
   

What to Bring

Sailing is an outdoor sport so you will be in the sun for long periods.  It is important that you have proper protection and clothing for any weather. Here are some suggestions that participants should bring with them:
 
 Sunny Days  Rainy Days
  • Closed toed shoes - Mandatory
  • Refillable Water bottle
  • Snacks
  • Long sleeve Shirt (not cotton)
  • Sunscreen
  • Shorts
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Bathing Suit/Towel
  • Extra dry clothes
  • Closed toed shoes - Mandatory
  • Refillable Water Bottle
  • Snacks
  • Rain Gear
  • Fleece sweater
  • Pants
  • Hat
  • Towel
  • Extra dry clothes
 
A Canadian Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is required to participate. RCYC does not have extra PFD’s for participants, please be sure to bring your own.

Closed toed shoes are mandatory. No bare feet, sandals, slides or flip flops will be allowed.

Rowan's Law - Concussion Policy

  • Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.

Rowan’s Law and Rowan’s Law Day were established to honor her memory and bring awareness to concussions and concussion safety. The last Wednesday of each September has been designated as Rowan’s Law Day to help raise awareness about concussion safety.


Rowan’s Law - Rules

In 2019, new concussion rules came into effect through Rowan’s Law, to improve concussion safety in amateur competitive sport. If you are an athlete under 26 years of age*, parent of an athlete under 18, coach, team trainer or official you need to follow the rules of Rowan’s Law below:
 

  • Review any one of Ontario's official Concussion Awareness Resources before registering or serving with your sport organization; and
  • Review your sport organization’s Concussion Code of Conduct that they will provide to you; and
  • Confirm that you have reviewed both of these resources every year with your sport organization(s)

* Exception: A sport organization that is a University, College of Applied Arts and Technology or other Post-Secondary Institution will be advising athletes of any age that they need to follow the rules of Rowan’s Law.
 

Involved in more than one sport?

No matter how many sport organizations you register with in a given year, you are only required to review a Concussion Awareness Resource once within that year. You are however required to confirm your review of a Concussion Awareness Resource with each sport organization with which you register.
 
You are also required to both review and confirm your review of the Concussion Code of Conduct for each sport organization with which you register. The RCYC follows the Ontario Sailing recommendations and code of conducts.

Review the appropriate Ontario Official Concussion Awareness Resources:

  1. Review any one of Ontario's official Concussion Awareness Resources, linked below in English
  1. Review Ontario Sailing Concussion Code of Conduct
  2. Review EModule
 

Removal From/Return-to-sport

The Rowan’s Law Removal-from/Return-to-sport requirements came into effect in 2020. Sport organizations will be required to have a removal-from/return-to-sport protocol. RCYC will follow the Ontario Sailing procedures:
 


Additional Information:
 

Contact Information

Should you require additional information please direct your inquiries as follows:

Junior Clu Inquiries, Head Instructor - juniorclub@rcyc.ca


Racing Teams, Osvaldo Padron, Head Coach - osvaldo.padron@rcyc.ca

Other RCYC Programs & Information - sailing@rcyc.ca