Training for NSC boaters, racers and volunteers in 2026
Sailing skills are improved through experience gained over time. The Fleet Training program is offered every year to help this process. It is all about sharing knowledge and helping sailors and volunteers strengthen their skills.
This year NSC Fleet is offering courses that will teach you how to lay out race marks, practice and develop sailing and racing skills, drive an NSC powerboat safely and handle a Rescue/ Safety Boat.
Dinghy Sailors and Cruisers: Opportunities to improve sailing skills and confidence.
Racers: On water opportunities to practice multiple starts, boat handling away from the pressure of a week-night race.
Fleet Volunteers: Gain the skills needed to help run our high-level racing program – the largest in Canada.
Many of these courses are run by NSC volunteers and staff and are free. Others are run at NSC by Ontario Sailing, who charge a moderate fee for each course. NSC will refund club members who complete these courses. Click on the + below to find out more about each event.
Skills Training for Racers
Fleet Building Round Table
- Part of NSC Winter Speaker Series.
- This will be a moderated panel discussion on how to build participation in sailing at the Fleet level. In the first half of the evening, four speakers will describe their difficulties and successes in building participation in Dinghy and Keelboat fleets at NSC. In the second half of the meeting we hope to have a lively discussion with the audience on what they think would help maintain sailing in their Fleet.
- See the NSC Winter Speaker Series for further information.
Docking Essentials
- Following on last year’s NSC Winter Speaker’s Series talk on docking essentials, Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Instructor Mike Roper will provide live demonstrations of various boat handling techniques helpful to anyone engaged in two of the most essential—and often nerve-wracking—skills in boating: docking and departing a dock.
- The original talk and presentation will be reposted this Spring for anyone interested in reviewing the theory before the live demo. See the NSC Winter Speaker Series for further information
- The demonstration will take place along the harbour wall below the club-house. Open to all Racers and Cruisers who would like to see theory put into practice on someone else’s boat!lines, and execute smooth docking and anchoring maneuvers with confidence.
- Perfect for racers and cruisers, new sailors or seasoned skippers.
Keelboat Race Practice
- These three Friday evening practice sessions are FREE and open to novice and experienced keelboat racers alike. They provide an opportunity to practice starts and sailing on a short upwind / downwind course, early in the season and without the competition of an actual race.
- Each session starts with a briefing and review of the Sailing Instructions which will be held in the NSC Sailing Room at 1730.
- The race practice course will be set up on Alpha course between NSC and BYC, with the aim, weather permitting, of having at least 5 starts and laps of the course.
- Boats may participate in any sessions or all three.
- Not part of a racing crew yet; we will have limited space for Crew Bank members to participate as well.
- Registration details to follow in April.
Dinghy Race Practice
- These three Friday evening practice sessions are FREE and open to novice and experienced dinghy racers alike. They provide an opportunity to practice starts and sailing on a short upwind / downwind course, early in the season and without the competition of an actual race.
- Each session starts with a briefing and review of the Sailing Instructions which will be held in the NSC Sailing Training Center at 1730.
- The race practice course will be set up on Alpha course between NSC and BYC, with the aim of having at least 5 starts and laps of the course. Coaching will be provided to novice racers from a coach boat.
- Boats may participate in any sessions or all three.
- Registration details to follow in May.
- Contact leonoreevans1@gmail.com for more information.
Dinghy Skills Training
- These skills improvement clinics for dinghy sailors will be led by a professional instructor
- The focus will be on skill development and racing basics and will include both on-land and on-water elements.
- Two separate, 4-week courses will be held.
- The program is open to dinghy sailors who have passed CanSail 2 and will be held at NSC’s Sail Training Centre.
- There will be a nominal cost for this program. Registration information will be posted by May.
- Contact leonoreevans1@gmail.com for more information
Dinghy Skills Training
- These skills improvement clinics for dinghy sailors will be led by a professional instructor
- The focus will be on skill development and racing basics and will include both on-land and on-water elements.
- Two separate, 4-week courses will be held.
- The program is open to dinghy sailors who have passed CanSail 2 or have equivalent experience. and will be held at NSC’s Sail Training Centre.
- All participants must be NSC members.
- There will be a nominal cost for this program. Registration information will be posted by May.
- Contact leonoreevans1@gmail.com for more information
Skills Training for Volunteers
Club Judge Course
- In person at NSC.
- Registration Deadline is March 15, 2026
- In conjunction with Ontario Sailing, NSC is offering a Club Judge seminar. If you race, this seminar will add to your skills and knowledge. If you want to become a certified judge, this is the starting point.
This full-day course is open to any member of a club affiliated with Sail Canada, so please invite your crew/friends from other clubs to join in. - Judge Seminar Content and Format:
Judge seminars are provided through the Sail Canada Judges Program, and are led by certified International Judges and Senior National Judges from Ontario. (NSC’s Greg Dargavel in this case.) They are based on principles of adult education with mini lectures and group activities to involve the learners in the application of the theory and practice of judging. - Units of study include:
Planning the hearing, conducting hearings; Writing facts and Conclusions; Requests for Redress; Tricky situations that arise at regattas; Details of the Sail Canada Judges program; insurance and participation. - Register at Ontario Sailing. Contact megan@ontariosailing.ca for more information on the application process.
- NSC will give our members get a full rebate of fees and training materials on completion of the course.
Ontario Sailing Assistant Race Officer Course
- A pair of courses hosted at NSC, taught by Ontario Sailing. In person. Attend one or both.
- Registration Deadline is March 15, 2026
- Saturday – Assistant Race Officer (entry level). An Assistant Race Officer helps to run races as a member of the Race Committee.
- Sunday – Club Race Officer (next level up). A Club Race Officer manages the on the water activities of regattas at the club level.
- Register at Ontario Sailing . Contact megan@ontariosailing.ca if you need more information on the application process.
- NSC members and staff get a full rebate of fees and training materials.
- Participants: Volunteers and interested racers from any club. Optional certification is available by adding on-water experience. Contact Ted Ceelen rcs-r-us@nsc.ca for more information.
Ontario Sailing Club Race Officer Course
- A Club Race Officer manages the on the water activities of regattas at the club level.
- This course, held on Sunday can be taken by anyone who has completed the Assistant Race Office Course on the preceeding Saturday or previously.
- Register at Ontario Sailing . Contact megan@ontariosailing.ca if you need more information on the application process.
- NSC members and staff get a full rebate of fees and training materials.
- Participants: Volunteers and interested racers from any club. Optional certification is available by adding on-water experience. Contact Ted Ceelen rcs-r-us@nsc.ca for more information.
Ontario Sailing Mark Laying Course
- This event includes the Sail Canada Assistant Mark Layer Course on day one and the Sail Canada Mark Layer Course on day two. Day two includes on-the-water practice.
- Registration Deadline is May 10th, 2026
- A mark layer sets the marks on a race course from the markset boat. Trained Mark Layers are essential for the running of our regattas, filling a vital role as part of the regatta Race Committee.
- A Mark Layer, who has completed both courses, is capable of managing the mark laying operations of a regatta under a variety of conditions.
- Register at Ontario Sailing Contact megan@ontariosailing.ca if you need more information on the application process.
- Participants: Volunteers and interested racers from any club. NSC and BYC race bosuns are strongly encouraged to attend as part of their job training. Optional Mark Layer certification is available by adding on-water experience.
- NSC members and staff get a full rebate of fees and training materials. Contact Ted Ceelen rcs-r-us@nsc.ca for more information.
NSC Powerboat Familiarization
- Learn how to drive the NSC-owned powerboats safely.
- This course is mandatory for NSC members who volunteer at Fleet events, regardless of past experience.
- There is no fee for this course, but attendees must have a valid PCOC.
- Meet at west lawn tent.
- 10am-noon: big boats (Andy Haydon).
- 12:30-2:30pm RIB boats.
- The big boats are used to host the Race Officers and run the regatta, RIBs are used for mark-setting, coaching, support and recovery .
- Attend either one or both courses depending on how you want to help out on the water.
- Register by sending an email to Ted Ceelen rcs-r-us@nsc.ca.
Rescue / Safety Boat Handling
- Learn to support dinghies and catamarans from an NSC support boat.
- This course is free.
- Participants: NSC members who want to volunteer at dinghy/catamaran activities.
- Some attendees who are fit enough will take turns being in the rescued boat or in the water.
- Ideally, you also attend the NSC Powerboat Familiarization on rib boats, but this is not mandatory.
- Registration by email – to be announced.
- You can attend this session multiple years. Practice makes perfect.
- We also need a couple of dinghies and catamarans to be rescued – let Gad know.
- 10am-noon Theory – at NSC Sail Training Centre
Noon-12:30 Lunch (bring your own), rig boats, get out on the lake
1-3pm On-the-water practice - This event will NOT train you to support Able Sailors. Contact sailtraining@nsc.ca if that is your interest.
More information
General questions: Contact Fleet Captain.
Page maintained by Fleet Captain