BEGINNERS' COURSE - LEARN TO SAIL
JTown members may register for learn to sail courses, taught by qualified Sail Canada Instructors, hosted at our clubhouse. JTown does not offer beginner learn to sail courses to non-members. You can apply to become a member, here. Members must be aged 19+ years.
Our beginner sailing lessons follow the CanSail curriculum. Evaluation is conducted on a rolling, continuous basis by instructors. Confirmation of course completion is registered by the instructors with Sail Canada (using their accreditation software "Checklick") which makes certificates available to sailors.
All courses launch from our club and take place in Toronto's Outer Harbour:
Sign-Out Privileges
Students who complete the required criteria to the satisfaction of the instructors, during the scheduled course, will be granted revocable sign-out privileges for our fleet of Albacore dinghies (the same style of boat that students use in their CanSail 1&2 course). These sign-out privileges permit members to sail our Albacore dinghies, subject to the rules and expectations set out in our Membership Handbook. Completion of CanSail 1&2 also features as a mandatory pre-requisite to applying for sign-out privileges for our other fleets.
Challenge Exams
JTown is a community of 200+ people who love sailing, and members without current sign-out privileges are permitted and encouraged to sail while accompanied by any JTown member who holds sign-out privileges.
Students who register for classes but fail to complete the required criteria to the satisfaction of the instructors during the scheduled course, may - after continued sailing and mentorship throughout the season - apply to be re-evaluated, at one of three pre-scheduled days in August (at no additional cost).
New members with previous sailing experience who are looking to obtain sign-out privileges without taking a course, may apply for an "Old Salt Test".
More information is available here.
Pre-Requisites
Click here for a summary of JTown's course requirements and pre-requisites. The following pre-requisites are strongly recommended for beginners, for your safety and the safety of others:
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Recommended Cansail 1&2 Pre-Requisites |
Rationale |
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Ability to exit a swimming pool at a depth of at least 8 feet, unassisted (e.g. unassisted by steps, ladders, equipment, other people, etc.); and |
Dinghy sailboats are prone to capsize, so controlled capsize and recovery form part of the standard curriculum. You will need to be able to pull your own body weight out of the lake, at depth, and land yourself back inside the sailboat. This lifesaving skill can affect your safety and the safety of others. |
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Ability to swim, unassisted, continuously for a distance of at least 50m; and |
Most of your sailing will happen within the "Outer Harbour" (see map above) which is quite a large area. In the event that you become separated from your boat, you may need to swim to safety. This lifesaving skill can affect your safety and the safety of others. |
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Strong aural command of the english language. |
You will need to hear, understand, and follow, the frequent aural instructions given by instructors, from a distance, on water, in a noisy environment. These instructions will include real-time feedback on in-boat adjustments (learning to make technical corrections to sail, boat and body position etc.), and avoidance of hazards and collisions. This lifesaving skill can affect your safety and the safety of others. |
Course Format
Each course consists of one mandatory introductory session, plus approximately 30 mandatory class hours. The first date of each beginner course is a mandatory on-land lesson about boat-setup, sailing gear, and a brief introductory club orientation. Participation is absolutely essential to your continued success, integration and enjoyment as a JTown member. All subsequent classes include both an on-water component, and in-class component (wind/weather permitting). Classes are conducted rain or shine, and wind/weather permitting at the discretion of the instructor or commodore. No allowances are made for missed classes, unless a class is cancelled by the instructor or commodore. JTown invites returning members to join new students during their first and second on-water classes, to support students' initial sailing experiences.
Course Formats:
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Format |
Explanation |
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Weekday |
5 Weekdays, 9 am to 4 pm |
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Weekend |
5 Saturdays/Sundays, 9 am to 4 pm |
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Weeknight |
10 Weeknights, 6pm - 9pm |
Class Formats (Evening Example*):
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Timing |
Activities |
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6:00 - 6:15 pm |
Students arrive, dress for sailing, and setup and launch sailboats (tie to dock) |
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6:15 - 6:45 pm |
Students gather inside clubhouse for in-class instruction (class briefing) |
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6:45 - 8:30 pm: |
Students cast-off in sailboats, and receive on-water instruction |
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8:30 - 8:45 pm: |
Students return to dock, haul-out boats, and disassemble boats as instructed Students volunteering for meal prep & service duties, begin prep for service |
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8:45 - 9:00 pm: |
Students gather inside clubhouse for In-class instruction (class de-briefing) |
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9:00 - 10:00 pm: |
Meal service begins |
*Weekdays and weekend courses consist of two such units in the same day (morning/afternoon).
2025 SCHEDULE
This year we are offering three CanSail 1&2 courses, and hoping to add another in August, subject to instructor availability. We have also pre-scheduled the challenge exams for August:
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CONFIRMED |
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Forten Cohort |
Cansail 1&2 |
May Weekends |
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Class Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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5/1/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Outdoors, On Land, Rain or Shine |
Mandatory Workshop: Orientation & Rigging |
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5/3/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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5/4/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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5/10/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/17/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/18/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/24/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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CONFIRMED |
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Pinkney Cohort |
Cansail 1&2 |
May Weeknights |
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Class Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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4/27/2025 |
1:00 PM |
4:00 PM |
Outdoors, On Land, Rain or Shine |
Mandatory Workshop: Orientation & Rigging |
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4/29/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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4/30/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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5/1/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/6/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/7/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/8/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/13/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/14/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/15/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/20/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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5/21/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Tentative - Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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5/22/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Tentative - Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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CONFIRMED |
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Sinclair Cohort |
Cansail 1&2 |
June Weekdays |
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Class Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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6/21/2025 |
5:00 PM |
8:00 PM |
Outdoors, On Land, Rain or Shine |
Mandatory Workshop: Orientation & Rigging |
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6/22/2025 |
4:00 PM |
7:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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6/23/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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6/24/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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6/25/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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6/26/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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6/27/2025 |
9:00 AM |
12:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/2/2025 |
1:00 PM |
4:00 PM |
Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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7/3/2025 |
9:00 AM |
12:00 PM |
Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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CHALLENGE |
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Cansail 1&2 |
Re-Testing |
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Format |
Test Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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Weekends |
8/2/2025 |
5:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Tentative |
On-Water |
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Weeknights |
8/6/2025 |
5:00 PM |
8:00 PM |
Confirmed |
On-Water |
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Weekdays |
8/13/2025 |
9:00 AM |
1:00 PM |
Confirmed |
On-Water |
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TENTATIVE |
(MAY CONVERT TO CANSAIL 4) |
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Suzatu Cohort |
Cansail 1&2 |
July Weekdays |
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Class Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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7/12/2025 |
5:00 PM |
8:00 PM |
Outdoors, On Land, Rain or Shine |
Mandatory Workshop: Orientation & Rigging |
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7/13/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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7/14/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/15/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/16/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/17/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/18/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
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TENTATIVE |
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Kumanan Cohort |
Cansail 1&2 |
May-Jul Weekends |
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Class Date |
Start Time: |
End Time: |
Class Notes: |
Class Type |
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5/29/2025 |
6:00 PM |
9:00 PM |
Outdoors, On Land, Rain or Shine |
Mandatory Workshop: Orientation & Rigging |
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5/31/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class (Old Salt Day) |
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6/7/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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6/14/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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6/15/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/5/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Dress for Swimming - Rain or Shine |
On-Water & In-Class |
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7/12/2025 |
9:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
Instructor to confirm. |
Instructor/Weather Reschedule Day |
Student resources
Student policies
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- Course Prerequisites
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