2023 Sailing Courses Offered:

CANSail 1: For participants 9 years old and up who have either some or no sailing experience.  The goal of this level is to learn & apply the basic skills of sailing and teamwork in a Pirate-class training sailboat with other students.

CANSail 2: The next level up from CANSail 1 for those who have demonstrated basic sailing skills.  The goal is to increase their skills, gain confidence and synchronize their sailing duties with their crewmates in small boats.

CANSail 1 & 2 are offered together and we endeavour to add a level 2 student into each boat until novices gain confidence.

CANSail 3: For participants 12 years old and up who are ready to learn sailing single-handed in a Laser I or – for those wishing to sail with a partner – in a Laser II.

CANSail 4: For those with demonstrated sailing skills and confidence sailing a single-handed Laser 1 or Laser 2 with a partner, and wishing to increase their skills, sailing speed and fun on the water.

CANSail 3 & 4 are offered together and participants will generally single-hand their vessel.

Where & When: Courses are held at the boat launch at Hamilton Beach, which is near Browning Marina & Pub, Monday – Friday 9:00am–3:30pm.  Washrooms are available at the marina.

What to Bring: Each day, participants should bring:

• Water, sunscreen, hat, towel, swimming gear, shoes suitable for the beach & water, a change of clothes & layers in case it gets cold. The club will have extra water and sunscreen on hand, just in case.  PIJSA does have PFDs; if you bring your own it should NOT be the type that inflates on contact with water and should be Department of Transport approved.
• Snacks & lunch.  
• On Friday, a BBQ lunch is provided for everyone, participants and family.

PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS

• CANSail 1 & 2: The participants must be 9 years old on or before the start date of the course.
• CANSail 3 & 4: The participants must be 12 years old on or before the start date of the course and have completed Level 2.
• Adults: All ages are welcomed, but should recognize that moving from side-to-side in a small boat DOES require some flexibility & agility. 
• Capsizing: Near the beginning of the course, all CANSail 1&2 participants must learn how to capsize and right a capsized boat.  Please make sure your child/participant knows they will have to do this as this requirement is part of our Safety Plan. We respect an individual’s right to refuse but: IF NOT DEMONSTRATED, THE PARTICIPANT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SAIL & FEES WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.

Fees and Payment:

For 2023, each course is C$225.  Refer to the 2023 Registration and Payment Process sections on this site for details. Initial registrations will commence on May 1st for returning students and their household and May 15th for first time students.

Cancellation Policy:

If PIJSA has to cancel a course, the registration fee will be refunded. If a participant withdraws prior to the start of a course, the fee will be refunded only if another participant can be found. There will be a $30 charge to cover our initial fees disbursed to associated firms (e.g. Sail Canada and the credit card companies).

Notice to Parents/Guardians:

We are very pleased you have chosen to enroll yourself, your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) in our Summer Sailing School.   We will do our best to see that they have a lot of fun and learn to sail in safety.  As our attention must be focused on the water, the directors, volunteers and instructors are ONLY responsible for children who are participating in the sailing program.