Youth sailing lessons - Glenmore Sailing School
Glenmore Sailing School Youth sailing lessons
Glenmore Sailing School youth programs are geared towards sailors aged seven and up. The programs range from complete beginner to advanced.
Youth evening classes are available for sailors aged nine and up. These classes run in the evening twice a week for four weeks. The material covered in the evening classes is the same as in our day camps (for ages 7 to 17). Evening classes are offered from beginner to advanced, so no sailing experience is necessary.
Benefits of taking our youth sailing lessons
Sailing is great strength and cardiovascular workout that helps improve concentration and awareness of your surroundings. Sailing lessons build confidence, patience, leadership and improves sailing skills in a team environment.
Students learn basic boat knowledge and water safety while developing the skills to become comfortable in a sailing environment.
2024 spring & summer registration dates
Registration for spring & summer programs, classes and day camps:
- Summer day camp registration is open
- Program and class registration is open
- Certification registration registration is open
Ensure your Live and Play account is ready on registration day by logging in and verifying your information is up to date. Get ready to register.
Registration will open:
- 6 a.m. — Online (virtual waiting room opens at 5:30 a.m.).
- 8:30 a.m. — By calling the Customer Service Centre at 403-268-3800 (option 1).
- During business hours — At any City-operated Aquatic & Recreation or Arts facility.
Upcoming facility closures
Programs, classes and swimming lessons will not be offered at the following facilities while they undergo repairs:
- Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this spring and summer.
- Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this summer.
- Sir Winston Churchill Aquatic & Recreation Centre: closed this summer.
Types of youth sailing lessons
Which course should I take?
The best level for returning sailors depends on the child’s age and size. Just because your child has already participated in a CANSail program at a particular level, does not necessarily mean that they are ready for the next CANSail level. Check your child’s previous CANSail checklist for the instructor’s recommendation. Please see the Youth Evening / Youth Daycamp CANsail Registration Chart for more information.
The Wet Feet 9+ class is for students who are new to sailing and under 100 pounds. In the Optimist sailboat, they will be introduced to the basics of boating and boat handling in a safe and fun environment.
Youth CANSail 1 class is for students who are new to sailing and over 100 pounds. This class is run in the 420 boats, with two sailors working together in each boat to learn the basics and have fun. Students in this class are working towards their CANSail 1 certification.
Skill development courses differ in their age requirements, depending on the boat. Most evening and weekend courses are geared toward adults (17+), but some are also open to youth ages 14 and up. Optimist sailors must be between the ages of 9 and 14, and Laser sailors must be 14 or older. Please see the Youth Evening CANsail Registration Chart for more information.
For students who have completed their CANSail 2 level and are looking to continue as a sailor, the school has a number of options. These include Advanced CANSail summer camps and Junior Sailing Club.
Junior Sailing Club is a development program designed for students who have taken CANSail 2 at least once. The club trains twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a great way to build skills and make friends. Junior Sailing Club sailors are welcome to compete in Wednesday Night Racing, and they can also attend regattas hosted by Glenmore Sailing School or Glenmore Sailing Club.
Students who have completed their CANSail 3 level may be interested in becoming a volunteer and working as a Junior Instructor.
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The beginner sailing course will provide the background knowledge of how sailboats work, rigging balance, direction and propulsion. This course will cover the on-land content from levels CANSail 1-2. No experience is required. This course is only classroom based, and has no on-water portion.
Age: 11 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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CANSail 1
YouthThis course is for beginner sailors who have no previous experience. Students will work on their CANSail 1 skills and will sail in winds up to 30 km/hr and learn basic propulsion, direction and balance skills in a 420 class sailboat. Emphasis will be placed on teamwork and having fun!
Age: 9 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Weigh over 100 lbs.
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CANSail 2
YouthThis course is for sailors looking to work on CANSail 2 skills. Sail in winds up to 35 km/hr and continue to refine propulsion, direction and balance skills in 420 class sailboats. Emphasis will be on teamwork, skill development and fun!
Age: 9 - 17 years
Prerequisite: CANSail 1 or CANSail Opti 1 and weigh over 100 lbs.
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CANSail 3
YouthThis course is for intermediate sailors looking to work on CANSail 3 skills. Sail in winds up to 40 km/hr and learn intermediate sailing skills and basic racing knowledge. Emphasis will be on teamwork, skill development and a fun sailing environment!
Age: 11 - 17 years
Prerequisite: CANSail 2 or CANSail Opti 2 and weigh over 100 lbs.
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CANSail 4 & 5
YouthThis course is for intermediate sailors looking to work on CANSail 4 and 5 skills. Sailors will sail in wind up to 40 km/hr in a Laser sailboat. Emphasis will be placed on skill refinement in racing specific environments.
Age: 11 - 17 years
Prerequisite: CANSail 3.
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CANSail Opti 1
YouthThis course is for sailors looking to work on their CANSail 1 skills. Sail in winds up to 35 km/hr and refine basic propulsion, direction and balance skills in an Optimist class sailboat, specific to this weight class.
Age: 9 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Wet feet and weigh under 100 lbs.
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CANSail Opti 3
YouthThis course is for students looking to work on completing CANSail 3 skills. Sail in winds up to 35km/hr.
Age: 9 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Participants must be under 100lb and have completed Cansail Opti 2.
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This course is a 2-day long sailing intensive focused on developing students more advanced sailing skills. Basic racing and intermediate/advanced sailing skills will be reviewed in the course.
Age: 11 - 17 years
Perquisite: Students must have either partially or fully completed CANsail 4 to enroll in this course.
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On the water or dock, this program develops technical, fitness, knowledge and leadership skills in a sailing environment. Students will be in single and double handed boats. Instructor and competitive involvement can also be part of the program.
Age: 9 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: CANSail 2 (There is no weight minimum for this course.)
About our sailing instructors
All staff at the Glenmore Sailing School are trained in Intermediate First Aid and CPR. They are Sail Canada certified, knowledgeable, and active members of the sailing community . They are enthusiastic about making sure the next generation of sailors are just as passionate as they are.
What are sailing lessons like?
Expect teamwork, fun, and a safe learning experience. Personal Flotation Devices are worn at all times, both on and near the water. Additionally, Glenmore Boat Patrol is always on duty, ready to help during lessons.
All CANSail programs are run in dinghies (small one-person to three-person boats). The best way to learn is to get on the water as soon as possible, so expect to begin sailing right away. Students will spend some time at the helm and some time as crew.
Come prepared
The school provide boats, lifejackets, and all safety equipment. Students are required to bring:
- closed-toed non-slip footwear
- a change of clothes, including underwear
- sunscreen
- rain gear such as a rain jacket or rain pants, according to weather
- water bottle
- packed lunch or a letter from a parent giving them permission to go offsite to purchase lunch
More sailing lessons
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Programs for beginners, those working on progressing their skills and advanced sailors.
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Get ready to sail around the reservoir next summer by taking our theory classes. You can learn the basics about how sailing work and the mechanics to the theory of racing and more advanced topics.
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Campers sail every day, weather permitting. They will take part in daily games, morning Flag Circle and the sailing adventure tradition of Pirate Day.