NSC Sailing School - Youth Courses

Wet Feet

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: None

Description: Wet Feet is a program aimed at young participants who want to learn about sailing and water safety. The curriculum includes lifejacket safety, and how to balance, sit, and move in a small sailboat. Additional activities include arts, crafts, and beach activities. The goal of this program is to get participants comfortable in small boats and introduce basic sailing concepts. Although participants will learn basic sailing skills, participants will not be able to sail on their own at the completion of this course.

Length: 1 week

* Jul 3-6 & Aug 7-10: single-week session fees discounted 20% for holiday Mondays.

White Sail Level 1 (CANSail-1 part 1)

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: Wet Feet recommended but not required

Description: White Sail 1 is a program aimed at introducing basic sailing concepts to participants through games and activities on and off the water. The curriculum includes water safety, knots, rigging and capsizing. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and weekly theme days. By the end of the course, participants will comfortably be able to sail around a course with a partner. Participants may also achieve the CYA White Sail 1 standard and progress towards the new CANSail-1 standard will be tracked through their personalized CANSail-1 checklist.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

White Sail Level 2 (CANSail 1 part 2)

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: White Sail 1 (CANSail-1 part 1)

Description: White Sail 2 is a program aimed at building on the basic sailing concepts introduced in White Sail I through games and activities on and off the water. The curriculum includes terminology, docking, sail trim (points of sail), and turtling. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and weekly theme days. The goal of the program is for participants to sail on a course independently and under instructor supervision. Participants may achieve the CYA White Sail 2 standard and/or the new CANSail-1 standard depending on individual progress tracked through their personalized CANSail-1 checklist.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

Adventure Sailing

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: White Sail 2 (CANSail-1)

Description: Adventure Sailing is a program aimed at introducing the fundamentals of destination sailing. The curriculum includes crewed sailing trips, camping, chart reading, weather reviewing and trip planning. Other program elements include arts, crafts and beach/shore-side activities. The goal of the program is to allow participants to use their sailing skills in a collaborative/non-competitive environment. Additional costs for an overnight sailing trip may be required (estimated $15).

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

Introduction to White Sail Level 3 (CanSail-2 part 1)

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: White Sail 2 (CANSail-1)

Description: Introduction to White Sail 3 is a program aimed at building on the basic sailing theory introduced in White Sail 2 through games and activities on and off the water. The curriculum includes the lateral buoyage system, rules of the road, and man overboard drills. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and weekly theme days. By the end of the program participants will be able to sail in double sailed boats (aka double handed) under instructor supervision. Participants progress towards the new CANSail-2 standard will be tracked through their personalized CANSail-2 checklist.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

White Sail Level 3 (CANSail-2 part 2)

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: Introduction to White Sail 3 (CANSail-2 part 1)

Description: White Sail 3 is a program aimed at completing the basic sailing theory requirements outlined by the CYA through games and activities on and off the water. The curriculum includes towing, sailing by the lee, seamanship and boat handling. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and weekly theme days. By the end of this course, students will be able to comfortably sail in a double handed boat. Participants may achieve the CYA White Sail 3 standard and/or the new CANSail-2 standard depending on individual progress tracked through their personalized CANSail-2 checklist.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

Bronze Sail 4

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: White Sail 3

Description: Bronze 4 is a program aimed at introducing advanced double handed boating skills to participants. The curriculum includes self rescue, advanced sailing terminology, rudderless sailing and sailing backwards. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and an adventure sail to Alymer Island. The goal of the program is to get participants to master both their helming and crewing skills. Sailors wishing to achieve the CYA Bronze 4 standard will require two or more two-week sessions.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

A one week Make Up Session (Bronze Sail M4) is also available

Bronze Sail 5

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: Bronze 4

Description: Bronze 5 is a program aimed at introducing spinnaker work and trapezing. The curriculum includes parts of a spinnaker, trapezing technique, anchoring and flying spinnaker. Additional activities include swimming, beach activities and an adventure sail to Alymer Island. The goal of the program is to get participants to master both their spinnaker and trapezing skills. Sailors wishing to achieve the CYA Bronze 5 standard will require two or more two-week sessions.

Length: 2 weeks

** Jul 3-13 & Jul 30-Aug 10: two-week session fees discounted 10% for holiday Mondays.

A one week Make Up Session (Bronze Sail M5) is also available

Silver Sail 6

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: Bronze 5

Description: Silver 6 introduces racing techniques and concepts to sailors wishing to explore competitive sailing. Instructors will teach sailors starting techniques, racing tactics and racing theory. Students are expected to participate in racing throughout the year, including two regattas out side of the club. By the end of the course, sailors will be able to race competitively at the local sailing level. Students can either use their own boat or a Club 420 in this course. Participants may achieve the CYA Silver 6 and/or CYA Learn to Race standard by the end of the course.

Length: 8 weeks

NOTE: The youth registration discount applies if the student is part of a Family Membership. Silver Students will receive a Student Membership valid for the Membership year.

A one week Make Up Session (Silver Sail M6) is also available

Youth High Performance Race Team

Recommended Age:

Prerequisites: Silver 6 or Coach/Instructor Recommendation

Description: Joining the Youth High performance Race Team program allows sailors who have achieved a Silver 6 level of sailing/racing experience to advance their racing skills through advanced coaching and participation in provincial and national regattas over an entire sailing season. On-the-water training starts with weekend days & one night per week in May & June, and full weekdays throughout July & August. The team will attend at least 6 out-of-town regattas (usually weekends) and will typically travel to the regatta locations 1-2 days early in order to train/acclimatize to the sailing venue. Club 420's are available for use in this program, however participants will need to provide their own boat if sailing Laser/Radial, Byte/C-II or 29er.

Length: 16 weeks (8 full time and 8 part time weekends/ evenings)

Note:The YHPRT registration discount applies if the student is already part of an NSC Family Membership. All YHPRT Students will receive an NSC Student Membership valid for the Membership year.

Junior Keelboat Training

Recommended Age:

Description: The Junior Keelboat Training program is designed for juniors who have little to no sailing experience. Participants are introduced to the fundamentals of sailing while aboard 22 - 24 foot keelboats. They will be taught all the sailing basics to achieve their CYA Basic Crew or/and Basic Cruising standard as well as their CYA Operator's Card.

Length: 1 week