Current
What can sailing do for a child?
For most children, the sea is a vast and mysterious environment. They cannot just put on a lifejacket and run across the water. Instead, beginner sailors must learn to make the wind and waves work for them. Learning about the lake teaches children to be self-sufficient and to exercise judgment while instilling confidence.
Being on the water helps children appreciate the natural world around them. The importance of clean water becomes apparent and children become connected to nature through an understanding of winds and weather.
Children who go beyond basic sailing and learn to race develop other skills. To be successful and earn the respect of their competitors, young sailors must honour the rules and learn to take the self-imposed penalties that apply when a rule is broken. The rules and the constant presence of competitors present sailors with an endless and ever-changing stream of tactical situations that require children to learn to assess risks and make quick and responsible decisions. In addition, teamwork skills develop as skippers and crews learn the importance of working together and team racing emphasizes close cooperation within teams of three boats.
There is so much to learn from the water. It is a classroom and a laboratory; a special environment; a place of endless challenges, mysteries, joys, wonders, and thrills; a place that teaches self-reliance, sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect for the natural world around us
General information about our programs
- Your registration fee is tax deductable under the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit program. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness . Please keep your registration confirmation letter as it is also doubles as your tax credit submission form.
- PCYC Junior Sailing Annual Awards and Trophies
Extended Hours
Available for sailors who need to be dropped off or picked up outside of our regular hours. The Jr. Sail Program is flexible for those guardians who need to take some extra time. Extended hours in the morning will begin at 7:30 AM and in the afternoon be offered from 4:30 – 6:00 PM. Price for this program will be $80.00 per week.
OPTI Learn to Sail -For ages 7 to 12
Four two week sessions available and sailors can register for more than one session. Boat provided.
The Optimist Dinghy was designed more than 50 years ago to be a single handed training vessel for young sailors. It is now the largest class of sailboat in the world. Our program uses the OPTI Pram to teach boat handling and water safety skills. In many sailing programs, OPTIs are the boats that introduce future champion sailors to this great sport.
At PCYC OPTI Learn to Sail starts at age 7. There are no prerequisites. OPTI sailors can achieve CYA levels – White Sail I, II, and III and most parts of Bronze IV.
OPTI Learn to Race – Prerequisite: White Sail II or White Sail III
Port Credit Yacht Club’s Optimist Learn to Race Program is for the OPTI sailor who has sailed at least one session at PCYC and is interested in the competitive side of sailing. Racing skills will be taught at an age-appropriate level and will include navigating a race course, tactics, boat handling skills, and wind and weather knowledge. This program includes CYA curriculum instruction and depending on interest and skill level, some regatta experience.
Please note: Participation at regattas may require some travel. Regatta fees and travel expenses (transportation, lodging, food) are not covered in the program registration fee. Parents will be needed for logistical support and to chaperone at regattas away form PCYC. Coaching at regattas will be provided
High Performance OPTI Race Team
This program nicely fills the gap between our current Opti Learn to Race program and the Silver/Gold racing programs for sailors that enjoy the challenge of competitive sailing. Team members will be required to demonstrate their skills to our Instructor Team. Participation in a full season of instruction and regattas will require a high degree of commitment on the part of sailors and parents. Coaching and coach boats will accompany sailors to regattas.
Please note: Regatta fees and travel expenses (transportation, lodging, food) are not covered in the program registration fee. Parents will be needed for logistical support and to chaperone at regattas away form PCYC.
Spring Training April – June
A Spring Training Session starting at the end of April and continuing on Sundays until the end of June will be provided for the High Performance OPTI Team by arrangement with the Learn to Sail Director. Other sailors can be accommodated if there is interest by at least 4 sailors of other types of boats. Please contact us for more information.
White Sail I, II, & III- For sailors 12 and up
Prerequisites: None
White Sail teaches basic sailing skills, boat control basics, knot tying, boat and water safety, basic weather knowledge, and basic sailing terminology.
Bronze IV & V
Prerequisite: White Sail III
Session: 4 Weeks
Bronze Sail expands sailing skills and includes principles of sail trim and boat tuning, trapezing, spinnaker, sail theory, and boat maintenance.
Bronze Sail includes some regatta participation. Regattas may require some travel, and parents are needed for travel planning, chaperoning, pulling trailers, and assisting at regattas.
Please note: Regatta fees and travel expenses (transportation, lodging, food) are not covered in the program registration fee. Parents will be needed for logistical support and to chaperone at regattas away form PCYC. Coaching will be provided.
Silver –VI and Gold VII
Prerequisite: Bronze V
Session is 8 Weeks
Requirement: Each sailor must supply his/her own boat -Laser, Laser Radial, Byte, or CII.
Port Credit Yacht Club offers a Racing program focused on the advanced skills of the Canadian Yachting Association’s Silver and Gold Sail levels. These sail levels are considerably more advanced than the White Sail and Bronze Sail programs and require a greater time commitment.
Silver and Gold Sailors are part of the PCYC Race Team and travel to regattas throughout the sailing season. Regattas require travel and parents are needed for travel planning, chaperoning, pulling trailers, and assisting at regattas.
Please note: Participation at regattas is an integral part of the Silver and Gold Sail program and requires a commitment to the regatta schedule. Regatta fees and travel expenses (transportation, lodging, food) are not covered in the program registration fee. Parents will be needed for logistical support and to chaperone at regattas away form PCYC. Coaching at regattas will be provided.
Advancing Sailors: Questions and Concerns
Traditionally the PCYC Sailing School has set a high standard of achievement for its students to insure they move through the levels with confidence and the required base skills. Many of the current instructors frequently repeated levels to meet the program requirements.
In the past, instructors have felt parental pressure to advance sailors who had not achieved the required competence to advance. Obviously this would create serious concerns if, while in advanced levels, the sailor was unable to demonstrate the required skills – especially when some were necessary to sail independently on Lake Ontario.
Please accept and appreciate that not all students will achieve the required skills on the first attempt. It is our goal to insure students can demonstrate consistently the required skills of the level being undertaken – a student that does not consistently demonstrate the required skills does not fail – the student has simply not completed the level.
Please contact your child’s instructor if you have concerns about your child’s advancement. In most cases extra help can be arranged if you wish.
Junior Membership: is a person between the ages of twelve (12) and eighteen (18) years inclusive who is entitled to Club privileges, with the exception of voting. Each application shall be guaranteed by the applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian. A Junior Member may be granted a dry sail mooring at the discretion of the Board of Directors. A Junior Member will be given a 10% reduction in the amount of the Senior Membership initiation fee for each year of Junior membership, to a maximum of 3 years or a 30% credit.
Discount available for Junior members when registering for Learn to Sail Programs.