Sail Canada Navigation Courses

Master the art of marine navigation through our progressive series of Sail Canada-certified courses — designed to take you from the basics of chart reading to advanced celestial navigation. Whether you’re preparing for coastal cruising, offshore passages, or simply want to deepen your confidence on the water, these courses provide the essential knowledge and practical skills every sailor needs.

Each course includes comprehensive study materials, hands-on chart work, and expert instruction from certified Sail Canada instructors. Progress through Basic, Intermediate, and Celestial Navigation to earn internationally recognized certifications and expand your capabilities as a skilled and self-reliant navigator.

Basic Coastal Navigation

$495 (+ $25 Sail Canada Student Fee)

Learn the essentials of coastal navigation with this comprehensive Sail Canada course. Participants will develop a solid understanding of chart reading, position plotting, and course planning — foundational skills for every confident skipper.

Course topics include:

  • Use of marine charts and Chart #1: Symbols, Abbreviations & Terms

  • Identification and interpretation of Aids to Navigation

  • Plotting bearings, fixes, and courses using traditional navigation instruments

  • Practical exercises with Chart I/C 9997

Course Details:

  • Includes a comprehensive study guide, Chart I/C 9997, Chart #1, and use of all required navigation instruments

  • Taught by certified Sail Canada instructors

  • Classroom-based with hands-on plotting exercises

  • Prerequisite for the Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Standard

Course Dates 2026

One weekend - Fri. 6-9pm, Sat. & Sun. 9am–5pm   

16A Apr 3, 4, 5 

16B Sep 11, 12, 13 

16C Oct 2, 3, 4 

16D Nov 6, 7, 8   

Intermediate Coastal Navigation

$395 (+ $25 Sail Canada Student Fee)

Expand your navigation skills with this advanced Sail Canada course. Building on the fundamentals learned in Basic Coastal Navigation, this course introduces more complex techniques used in real-world coastal cruising scenarios.

Course topics include:

  • Advanced chart work and position fixing, including the Running Fix

  • Calculating and compensating for Set and Drift

  • Advanced understanding of Tides and Currents

  • Determining the scope required for anchoring in tidal waters

Course Details:

  • Includes a comprehensive study guide and practice charts

  • Taught by certified Sail Canada instructors

  • Classroom-based with hands-on plotting exercises

  • Prerequisite for the Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Standard.

Course Dates 2026

One weekend - Saturday and Sunday, 9am–5pm   

17A Apr 11, 12 

17B Sep 19,20 

17C Oct 17, 18 

17D Nov 14, 15

Celestial Navigation

$795 (+ $25 Sail Canada Student Fee)

Discover the art and science of finding your position anywhere on Earth — using only the sun, moon, planets, and stars. This advanced Sail Canada course takes you beyond electronic navigation, teaching the time-honoured techniques mariners have relied on for centuries.

Course topics include:

  • Understanding celestial bodies and the celestial sphere

  • Use of the sextant for accurate celestial observations

  • Sun-Run-Sun and other sight-reduction methods

  • Applying Sight Reduction Tables (HO 249)

  • Calculating and plotting celestial fixes

Course Details:

  • Includes a comprehensive study guide, practice materials, and use of all required navigation instruments

  • Taught by certified Sail Canada instructors

  • Classroom-based with hands-on sextant and plotting exercises

  • Prerequisite: Completion of Sail Canada Basic and Intermediate Coastal Navigation Standards (Full Standard)

Course Date 2026

Two weekends  - Saturday & Sunday, 9am–6pm                 

18A Apr 18,19 & 25,26    

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.