Dinghy Sailing

Discover the excitement, challenge, and freedom of dinghy sailing with our Sail Canada–certified adult programs. Whether you’re stepping into a dinghy for the first time or looking to sharpen your high-performance skills, our courses provide hands-on training, personalized coaching, and internationally recognized Sail Canada certification. Taught on our RS Zests, Fevas, and 420s, these programs help sailors build strong technical skills, confidence, and independence on the water. From essential foundations in CANSail 1/2 to the speed and precision of CANSail 3/4, we offer a clear and engaging pathway for adult sailors at every level.

Sail Canada Basic Dinghy CANSail 1/2

$595 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee
(Sail Canada certifications are internationally recognized)

The Sail Canada Basic Dinghy – CANSail 1/2 course teaches and strengthens the essential skills that form the foundation of all dinghy sailing. Ideal for complete beginners and returning sailors looking to improve their technique, this course follows the CANSail 1 & 2 national standards and is taught aboard our RS Zests and Fevas.

Through a fun, active, and engaging blend of on-water practice and on-land instruction, sailors learn the fundamentals of direction, balance, boat handling, seamanship, and on-water safety. Dinghy sailing is dynamic and hands-on — be prepared to get wet during certain manoeuvres, and bring a change of clothes!

Course Details

Duration: Multi-day course
Cost: $595 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee
Boats Used: RS Zest & RS Feva
Includes: Certified instruction, safety equipment, and all course materials
Certification: Sail Canada CANSail 1 and/or 2 (internationally recognized)

Important Note

Due to the amount of practice required to master these skills, beginner sailors may not achieve both CANSail 1 and 2 in a single session. Certification is awarded upon meeting Sail Canada performance standards.

Next Step

Graduates can continue to Sail Canada Intermediate Dinghy – CANSail 3/4, where sailors learn advanced boat handling, performance sailing, and racing fundamentals.

Course Dates 2026

1 week: Wednesday, Friday 6-9pm;  

Saturday & Sunday 9am-6pm 

13A June 3, 5, 6, 7 

13B July 22, 24, 25, 26 

Long Weekend: Sat, Sun, Mon 9am-5pm 

14A June 27, 28, Jul 1 

14B Sept 5, 6,7 

Sail Canada Intermediate Dinghy – CANSail 3/4

$625 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

This course is all about speed, performance, and refinement. Designed for sailors who have mastered the fundamentals in CANSail 1/2, this program focuses on high-performance boat handling and introduces the skills needed for racing and advanced technical sailing.

Sailing on our Club 420 dinghies, participants learn to sail efficiently in a variety of conditions and develop the confidence to react quickly, apply tactical awareness, and optimize boat speed. This course demands precision and active sailing — students must demonstrate strong boat control and performance to achieve the level.

Note: dinghy sailing is active and hands-on — you will get wet! Bring a change of clothes and prepare for an exciting week on the water.

Course Details

  • Duration: Multi-day on-water course

  • Cost: $625 + $25 Sail Canada Student Fee

  • Boats Used: Club 420 dinghies

  • Prerequisite: CANSail 1/2 certification, or Equivalent dinghy sailing experience demonstrating strong foundational skills

  • Certification: Sail Canada CANSail 3 and/or 4, internationally recognized

  • Location: Toronto Harbour and Inner Harbour sailing areas

  • Equipment: PFDs required; wetsuit recommended for cooler days

Please note: because of the technical skill and on-water time required, we cannot guarantee that students will achieve both CANSail 3 and 4 in one session. Additional sailing experience after completing CANSail 2 is recommended for the best chance of success.

Course Dates 2026

1 week: Wednesday, Friday 6-9pm;  

Saturday & Sunday 9am-6pm 

15A July 8, 10, 11, 12 

15B Aug 12, 14, 15, 16 

Next Step: Dinghy Membership

After completing CANSail 3/4, sailors are encouraged to continue developing their skills through a THNC Dinghy Membership. Boat ownership is no longer a barrier — with a full fleet of club boats available, you can enjoy all the benefits of sailing without the cost, maintenance, or storage responsibilities.

Dinghy Membership gives you access to a variety of sailboats, allowing you to choose the right boat for your goals, weather, or crew size each time you go out. Members gain experience at their own pace while becoming part of a friendly and supportive sailing community.

Our membership structure is simple: pay one flat annual fee, and enjoy seasonal dinghy sailing. There is no volunteer requirement, and all repairs, maintenance, insurance, and dockage are taken care of — so you can focus solely on time on the water.

More information can be found our our website: Dinghy Memberships — TORONTO HARBOUR NAUTICAL CENTRE 

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.