Learn to Sail Course Description

Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club offers sailing instruction for all ages and abilities. The Learn to Sail programs are a dynamic and fun-filled way to spend the summer.
Group lessons are described below. Private lessons are available on request. Please contact Gia Gill at the club to make an arrangement.

All courses are taught by CYA Certified Instructors and emphasize safety, theory, boat handling and good sportsmanship. Students can achieve Grey, Yellow, Blue and Emerald optimist sailing levels, followed by White Sail I – III and Bronze Sail IV & V. The Learn to Sail fleet consists of Prams, Optimist Dinghies, Bytes, Lasers, Laser 4.7s, 420s and one keelboat (a Mega 30).

RLWYC Learn to Sail aims to provide an enjoyable experience, while developing skills and enthusiasm for the sport of sailing.

Course Descriptions

OPTI-1 (9am – noon) Mon - Fri

In this introductory course, new sailors aged 6-9 will learn about water safety, fair play and team work in a creative, high-energy environment. For this course, students will sail with a partner as they work on the basics of sailing and participate in fun, on-and-off-the-water games and activities.

OPTI-2 (9am – noon) or OPTI-3 (1pm – 4pm) Mon - Fri

Both classes are for students aged 8-14 who will sail single-handed and want to develop boat-handling skills. Students will learn to steer on all points of sail and maneuver around a triangle course. A myriad of fun activities will focus on basic sailing theory, learning knots and good sportsmanship.

OPTI-4 Learn-to-Race (1pm – 4pm) Mon - Fri

This program is for the young sailor who wishes to learn the basics of sailboat racing and provides a step between the Learn to Sail program and Team Core-Opti. Learn-to Race students will participate in the Wednesday Race series before movie night. This course will run in conjunction with OPTI-3 (1pm – 4pm).

Sailing/Tennis Combo Session for Younger Children (10 and under) (9am – noon) Mon - Fri

This popular session that we will be offered for two weeks in 2011.  It involves 1 ½ hours of sailing and 1 ½ hours of sailing.  There will be two groups that will switch off at half time each day so some children may do tennis first and others will do sailing first.  In the sailing sessions of this introductory course, new sailors aged 6-10 will learn about water safety, fair play and team work in a creative, high-energy environment. For this course, students will sail with a partner as they work on the basics of sailing and participate in fun, on-and-off-the-water games and activities.

Sailing/Tennis Combo Session for Older Children (11 and older) (1pm - 4pm) Mon - Fri

This session involves 1.5 hours of sailing in the larger 420's and 1.5 hours of tennis. Children should have some familiarity with sailing but need not be experts.

WHITE SAIL: Levels I, II and III (9am – 4pm) 5 days

The White Sail program introduces sailors, aged 11 and older, to the skills of double-handed sailing. Using our fleet of 420s these courses cover: safety, seamanship, terminology, knots and ‘rules of the water’. Through games and activities, sailors are taught basic boat handling skills as well as skipper and crew work. By the completion of Level III, students will confidently sail in winds up to 10 knots. White Sail students will participate in the Wednesday Race Series. Please see the calendar for session times.

BRONZE SAIL: Levels IV and V (9am – 4pm) 10 days

These comprehensive courses are for sailors who have achieved their White Sail III and they represent the highest ‘non-racing level’ awarded by the CYA. In this course, students are taught advanced sailing practices, sail theory and the principles of boat design. They are introduced to racing and training strategies and will develop basic boat maintenance skills. Paired up in 420s, these sailors learn how to master spinnaker handling, trapeze work and sail trim techniques in winds up to 15 knots. Bronze students will participate in the Wednesday race series. Please see the calendar for session times.

TEEN SAILING (1pm – 4pm) Mon - Thurs

For participants aged 13 – 17 who have little or no sailing experience and wish to learn with their peer group. This program provides sailing basics in a fun and friendly learning environment.

ADULT SAILING (4pm – 7pm) Mon - Thurs

This program is open to mature sailors of all ages. Whether you are a novice sailor or want to sharpen-up your racing skills, participants will receive level-specific training in either a Laser, 420 or bring your own boat (BYOB). 

Keelboat Lessons

Learn to sail the bigger boats in this introductory keelboat course aboard the Mega-30 or our new J/24. Certified CYA Instructors will introduce participants to basic cruising skills, navigation and seamanship in 3-hour sessions. Please contact Gia Gill to arrange lessons.

KEELBOAT KAMPING

Ready for some good old-fashioned lake fun? Ghost stories and S’mores around a campfire? Bring your sleeping bag and your  swimsuit and set-off aboard the club’s keelboats on an overnight camping trip with instructors. Must be 10+ to participate. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis as space is limited. Kamping date: July 16! Call the sailing office to book. $25.00 per child billed to member’s account.

General Information:

• Sailors must provide and wear an approved PFD (personal floatation device) and rubber-soled shoes. Sailors should bring dry clothes to change into at the end of the day, a set of foul weather gear and sunscreen.

• Earned CYA Certificates are included in the course fees.

• Course schedules are subject to change. Classes with fewer than 4 students may be cancelled.

• Wednesday classes end at 3 p.m. to set-up for Wednesday Race Series & Movie Night.

• A mandatory MSA/CYA surcharge of $20.00 will be added annually to your registration fee.