Learn to Sail at J-Town

Learn to sail in downtown Toronto with St. James Town Sailing Club this season! We offer adult sailing lessons for sailors of all skill levels, from total beginner ("How do you get in the boat?") to seasoned racers (race training clinics).

At J-Town, we do not compromise on safety. While anyone is welcome to crew, all members need to have sufficient skills to helm (be responsible for taking a boat out). To helm our albacores, you either need to successfully pass your CANSail 1&2 course at J-Town or be an Old Salt . There are additional requirements to helm lasers or catamarans (see corresponding pages).

We offer members beginners' Sailing Lessons covering CANSail 1 and 2 curriculum, as well as more advanced CANSail 3 & CANSail 4 courses. All these classes are taught on Albacores.

BEGinner COURSE (CANSAIL 1&2)

Beginner's course is called CANSail 1&2. It is offered between May and August. 

Old salts are needed to helm albacores during the first sessions of each course. If you are available to do so, please sign up using the Old Salt 4 CANSail Sign up spreadsheet.

The 2024 fee for CANSail 1&2 courses is $130 (no tax), plus membership fees.

Click here for more details on beginner courses, including schedule and registration links.

INTERMEDIATE COURSEs (CANSAIL 3 & CANSail 4)

More advanced sailors can follow the more advanced CANSail 3 and CANSail 4 courses. They are offered once or twice a year.

The 2024 fee for CANSail 3 and CANSail 4 courses is $150 (no tax), plus membership fees.

Click here for more details on intermediate and advanced courses, including schedule, fees and registration links.

Cansail Instructors

All of our instructors are certified by the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA), and our course is based on the CANSail standard set out by the CYA.  The CANSail 1&2 certification awarded at the end of a successful course is recognized nationally by the CYA.

Our two lead instructors are George Chenery and Claire Shenstone-Harris.

George has taught sailing at J Town since 2011, and been involved with the club since long before he could drive. He has a passion for getting people on the water, from first timers who have never been in a boat to avid racers looking to hone their technique. George is also a Learning Facilitator who trains instructors for the CYA and has seen many thousands of capsizes, so you should never feel embarrassed on that front. When he's not on the water George can be found playing upright bass in several bands, making board games or training for marathons in the snow and ice.

Claire grew up sailing on Lake Ontario, began racing in her teens and has been a sailing instructor to both children and adults for eight years. She is passionate about the community at J-Town and has come to call J-Town her favourite place in the city. Claire is an actor by trade and in her spare time loves the torture of marathon running, and creative pursuits including publishing a board game with fellow instructor George.