Adult Sailing Courses

Our adult courses follow the CANSail program and are suitable for all ages. They are taught over a series of weekday evenings (6pm – 9pm) and/or weekend days (9am – 4pm) throughout the summer.

No sailing or boating experience is necessary to join the program. All participants, however, must be able to (a) swim 50 meters wearing a life jacket, (b) tread water, and (c) provide their own MOT approved personal flotation device (lifejacket) of the proper size. Dinghy sailing requires individuals to shift their weight quickly. Participants should expect to get wet.

Our adult courses are designed to get you on the water as quickly and as often as possible. New sailors will begin by learning the basic skills needed to safely handle a sailboat. Through brief, but informative, on-land lessons and fun and challenging on water drills you will work on the knowledge and skills required to attain your nationally recognized CANSail certification.

We provide the equipment (sailboats up to 16 feet) and the qualified coaches (that are fully trained and certified by Sail Canada) to make your learn to sail experience an unforgettable one. Participants who complete a CANSail 1 course and become club members can sail the Club’s boats at their leisure, and participate in club races and cruise nights.

Dates and Fees 2024

Click on the dates below for registration. NOTE: Member rate applies to 2024/25 family/household memberships only.

Session	Dates	Days	Rain Day	Member	Non-Member
A	June 1, 8, 15	Sat	June 22	$275	$375
B	June 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19	Mon/Wed	June 24	$275	$375
C	June 25, 27, July 2, 4, 9, 11	Tue/Thu	July 16	$275	$375
D	July 6, 13, 20	Sat	July 27	$275	$375
E	July 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31	Mon/Wed	August 7	$275	$375

Please note that these courses are intended for adult sailors working towards their CANSail 1 or 2 certification. Please contact us, if you are interested in higher CANSail levels.

Things to Bring to Sailing Camp

• A government approved personal flotation device (PFD/lifejacket) suitable to child’s weight/size
• Sunscreen
• Sun hat and sunglasses with retainers
• Swimsuit and towel
• Appropriate clothing for the forecasted weather (windproof jacket, rainwear, warm underlayers) – we sail rain or shine
• At least one complete change of dry clothes (shirt, shorts, long pants, underwear, sweatshirt)
• One pair of non-slip shoes that will get wet, preferably water shoes. All shoes should be closed and rubber soled. Flip flops, strappy or open shoes are a safety hazard and are NOT suitable.
  
• One pair of shoes that will stay dry for land activities
• Lunch/dinner and plenty of water to drink (there is a fridge in the Clubhouse to keep things cold and a BBQ available). All participants may make use of the Club facilities directly preceding or following their course.
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get to the Sailing Club?
The Conestoga Sailing Club is located about 30km northwest of Kitchener-Waterloo on Conestoga Lake, north of Highway 86, halfway between Elmira and Listowel. Public transit is currently unavailable. For directions please click here.

What if there is bad weather forecasted?
Our coaches constantly monitor the weather conditions and adjust lessons accordingly. If it is raining, with no severe weather, we go out sailing as per usual. Make sure your child comes prepared with appropriate clothing.

If we cannot go sailing but we can still be outside (for example if it is too windy or there is not enough wind) we continue with the on shore components (such as learning knots and other classroom instruction) of our program and play games such as capture the flag. If the weather does not allow participants to stay outside (for example, severe weather with thunder and lightning or very strong winds), we move our instruction indoors and continue with the lesson portion of our program. We also play indoor appropriate games like Pulse. In these situations it is also possible that participants will watch an age appropriate movie.

What safety measures do you have?
Our instructors are all qualified in life saving and first aid. A life jacket or PFD must be worn at all times when sailing on the water and on the club docks. We ensure that there are always an adequate number of instructors by limiting enrolment. Whenever students are on the water, there are instructors in support boats in attendance to provide assistance.

What is CANSail?
CANSail is a national curriculum designed by Sail Canada. Sail Canada’s CANSail dinghy curriculum is a progressive pathway to learn and develop fundamental dinghy sailboat handling skills. It also sets the foundation for athlete and sailor-leadership development regardless of type of dinghy being used (single handed or double handed).

CANSail programming means lots of time on the water in a safe, fun and active learning environment, with relatively less time spent in a classroom. Sailors learn the skills and enter into fun and challenging experiences suited to their age and stage of development. The programming is designed to get – and keep – sailors excited about sailing for life! 6 CANSail levels of standard promotes teaching and progressive training of core dinghy sailing skills.

What boats will the participants be using?
The adult courses uses the following boats: Topper Topaz, Club 420, Wayfarer.