Sailing Courses

Discover the joy of sailing with our Sail Canada–certified programs, designed to take you from your first time on the water to confidently skippering your own boat.

If you’re simply curious to try sailing, our Introduction to Sailing offers a fun, two-hour on-water experience — no experience required. Those looking to earn certification can start directly with our Sail Canada Basic Cruising Course, where you’ll gain the skills and confidence to skipper keelboats up to 24 ft. Continue on to Intermediate Cruising, a five-day live-aboard adventure that prepares you for bareboat chartering and coastal sailing anywhere in the world.

All courses are taught by Sail Canada–certified instructors — with Intro to Sailing and Basic Cruising taking place in Toronto’s scenic Inner Harbour, and Intermediate Cruising held aboard our training yachts on Lake Ontario.

Introduction to Sailing

Saturdays, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
2 Hours / $175

If you’ve never been on a sailboat before, this relaxed two-hour on-water experience is the perfect way to get a feel for sailing before committing to a full course.

Join one of our professional Sail Canada–certified instructors for a fun and engaging introduction to sailing on Toronto’s beautiful Inner Harbour. You’ll learn the basics of sailboat handling, feel the wind in your sails, and experience the excitement of being on the water — no experience required.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 hours

  • Schedule: Saturdays, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  • Cost: $175

  • Includes: On-water instruction and all safety equipment

  • Prerequisite: None — this is a short, introductory experience only

If you’re inspired to learn more and earn certification, the Sail Canada Basic Cruising Course is the perfect next step. You can even apply 50% of your Intro to Sailing fee toward your Basic Course when you sign up!.

2026 Course Dates

Saturday 1-3pm 

9A May 23 

9B Jun 13 

9C Jul 4 

9D Jul 18 

9E Aug 8 

9F Aug 15 

9G Aug 22 

9H Sept 12 

Sail Canada Basic Cruising

$895 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

Our most popular course — and the perfect place to start your sailing journey! Designed for beginners, the Sail Canada Basic Cruising Course teaches you the essential skills to safely skipper keelboats up to 24 ft while gaining confidence on the water.

Through hands-on instruction on our custom-designed training keelboats, you’ll learn boat handling, sail trim, docking, safety procedures, and basic navigation — all while exploring Toronto’s scenic Inner Harbour. With our supportive instructors and proven teaching methods, it’s no wonder we have a 98% success rate!

Course Details:

  • Duration: Multi-day on-water and classroom course

  • Cost: $895 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

  • Includes: Use of training keelboats, safety gear, and all course materials

  • Certification: Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard (internationally recognized)

  • Prerequisite: None — ideal for beginners

Course Highlights:

  • Learn to skipper keelboats up to 24 ft

  • Gain confidence in sail theory, boat handling, and safety techniques

  • Earn internationally recognized Sail Canada certification

  • Qualifies as equivalent to the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) — graduates may purchase a discounted PCOC card without writing the exam

  • Eligible for the Basic Cruising Graduate Membership — just $125/month

    Next Step:

    Continue your sailing education with the Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Course and build the skills to cruise confidently on larger keelboats and coastal passages

2026 Course Dates

For groups of four or more, we can accommodate to suit your specific schedule 

2 weekends - Saturday & Sunday, 9am-5pm  

1A May 23, 24, 30, 31 

1B Jun 6, 7, 13, 14 

1C Jul 4, 5, 11, 12 

1D Aug 8, 9, 15, 16 

1E Aug 22, 23 & 29, 30 

1F Sep 19, 20, 26, 27 

Long weekend - Fri 6-9pm, Sat, Sun & Mon 9am-6pm 

2A May 15, 16, 17, 18 

2B Jun 26, 27, 28, Jul 1 

2C Jul 31, Aug 1, 2, 3 

2D Sep 4, 5, 6, 7 

1 week - Mon, Wed, Fri. 6-9pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm 

3A Jun 15, 17, 19, 20, 21 

3B Aug 17, 19, 21, 22, 23 

Weekdays - Tuesday to Friday  9am-5pm 

4A Jun 16, 17, 18, 19 

4B Sep 8, 9, 10, 11 

Tuesday & Thursday evenings 6-9pm (4 weeks)  

6A May 19, 21, 26, 28, Jun 2, 4, 9, 11  

6B Jun 23, 25, 30 Jul 2, 7, 9, 14, 16 

Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising

5 Days Live Aboard / $1,585 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

Take your sailing skills to the next level with this immersive five-day live-aboard course, designed for graduates of Sail Canada Basic Cruising or those with equivalent experience.

Living aboard one of our training yachts, you’ll refine your seamanship and leadership skills while learning to plan, provision, and execute a multi-day voyage. You’ll rotate between skipper and crew roles, perform advanced sailing manoeuvres, prepare meals on board, and safely pilot the vessel into unfamiliar harbours and anchorages.

Upon successful completion, you’ll earn the internationally recognized Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Standard — the recommended minimum certification for bareboat chartering worldwide.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 5 days live aboard

  • Cost: $1,585 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

  • Includes: Instruction, accommodations aboard, and all course materials

  • Certification: Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Standard (internationally recognized)

Prerequisites (Required Before Course):

  • Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard (or equivalent experience)

  • ROC-M (VHF-DSC Radio License)

  • Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) or equivalent

  • Sail Canada Basic Coastal Navigation or Coastal Navigation Standard

Recommended Before Course:

  • Recognized First Aid & CPR certification

  • Sail Canada Intermediate Coastal Navigation Standard

To Maximize Success:
Students are encouraged to:

  • Have skippered at least ten day sails (or equivalent experience)

  • Be confident applying the skills learned in Basic Cruising and Coastal Navigation

  • Consistently demonstrate safe, competent boat handling and seamanship

Next Step:
After earning your Intermediate Cruising certification, you’ll be eligible to challenge the IYT International Certificate of Competency (ICC) and Bareboat Skipper (BBS) exam — opening the door to international chartering and offshore adventures.

2026 Course Dates

2 weekends, Friday 6pm to Sunday 5pm 

7A May 29, 30, 31, & Jun 5, 6, 7 

7B Jul 17, 18, 19 & 24, 25, 26  

Long Weekend, Thursday 6pm to Monday 5pm 

8A Jun 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 

8B Sep 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 

A $2.95 booking fee is applied to all course registrations at checkout. This supports secure online payment processing and booking system maintenance.
For all Sail Canada courses, a $25 Sail Canada Student Fee is added once per participant, per calendar year when you take a Sail Canada course. This national fee supports Sail Canada’s certification system, insurance, instructor training, and the maintenance of Checklick — the online platform where students can view their certifications and track their sailing progress.