1. Adult & family keelboating program

Our Adult & Family Keelboating program enables you to customize your own schedule.  Our 2023 program takes place over two Terms. Term 1 runs from June 5 – July 28. Term 2 runs from July 29 – September.

Participants must first enrol in the Term of their choice. During this Term, they may complete up to 9 on-water sessions. Enrolment in the Term requires payment of your Enrolment Fee and registration in your introductory session. Each Term provides a few different dates for when you can attend your introductory session. Once you are enrolled in the Term of your choice, you may then select up to nine (9) on-water sessions throughout that Term. While it is possible to delay registration in all of your on-water sessions, spaces in each on-water session are limited. To avoid missing the dates of your choice, it is advisable to register for all of your on-water sessions at the start of the season.

For more information on the registration process, visit our Checklick registration page.

2. Junior sailing programs

Our CANSail Dinghy programs take place across four separate 2-week sessions, Monday through Friday. Our sessions begin in early July. Our WetFeet program takes place across six separate 1-week sessions, beginning in mid-July and finishing in late August.

Each day, our junior sailing programs begin at 9:00am and finishes at 4:30pm. Junior sailors may arrange for pickup and drop-off by tender at Horseshoe Island and Jubilee Road public wharves for an additional fee (for more information on our tender service, please visit our Checklick registration page

3. Our 2023 season calendar of dates

Our fees

Fees vary according to program. For a complete breakdown of our fees and program options, please visit our Checklick registration page.

Membership discount

AYC Members receive a 15% discount on all Learn to Sail fees. To claim your membership discount, you must first receive a discount code from the AYC Office which is used at the time of checkout on our Checklick registration page. To contact the AYC Office to obtain your discount code, email office@armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca or telephone 902.477.4617 ext 1.

Want to become a member? We’d love to have you

Become a Social Member (you don’t have to own a boat to become a member) and enjoy the member rate for the Learn to Sail Program.  To find out how to become a member, visit the Join AYC section of this website.

Terms

All registrations in our programs are subject to our Terms of Service and Participation Agreement.

Cancellations by registered participants

Once registered, all registrations are subject to a 25% cancellation charge. Cancellations received within two weeks of the start date of the course or scheduled session are subject to a 50% cancellation charge. Cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the course start date or scheduled session are non-refundable. All cancellations may be processed through our Checklick registration system.

Cancellations by us

In some cases, it is necessary for AYC to cancel or postpone Learn to Sail activities on account of inclement weather, or to ensure the health and safety of participants. In these cases, AYC will offer substitute catch-up sessions for participants, and best efforts will be made to ensure that such catch-up sessions suit participants’ schedules, but refunds will not be provided.

Sailing for everyone

Armdale Yacht Club’s Learn to Sail program is committed to expanding access and participation in sailing. With a rich history and tradition of sailing on the Northwest Arm, we believe that everyone should be able to get on the water and have fun.

Broader Reach is a specific project of our Learn to Sail program which offers no-cost Learn to Sail opportunities for newcomers to Canada and members of historically underrepresented groups.

If you would like to participate in our Learn to Sail programs and support the Broader Reach program, there are many ways you can help! One way is through our Checklick registration page, where you can make a small non-taxable donation to the Broader Reach Fund by adding it to your cart at checkout.

Want to receive a tax receipt? For donations greater than $20.00, tax receipts are available if donations are processed through the National Sport Trust Fund – Nova Scotia chapter as facilitated by Sport Nova Scotia. Donations to the NSTF can be made online here. For more information on how you can make a charitable donations and receive a tax receipt, please visit www.broaderreach.ca/donate 

Do I need to bring any of my own equipment?

In general, we provide everything you need to get on the water, but there are a few exceptions. All participants in our programs must supply and provide their own life jacket (DOT approved PFD), soft soled non-marking shoes, as well as a notebook and pencil. All participants in our junior sailing programs must also provide their own packed lunch. Hydration is also very important, so participants in all programs should come with their own water bottle.

What sort of clothing should I wear?

Participants in our programs should come dressed for the weather. On sunny days, we recommend that you wear a hat, sunglasses and put on sunscreen. You may also wish to wear a long-sleeved shirt. Sailing can be a high UV exposure activity, and it is important that you protect yourself. Halifax weather is anything but predictable, however, and so participants should also come dressed for cooler, foggier and misty conditions where appropriate.

Will I receive certification?

All participants in our junior sailing programs will be taught and evaluated in accordance with the CANSail curriculum. This will result in evaluation and certification as part of the CANSail 1-2 and 3-4 programs.

Participants in our Adult & Family Keelboating program can opt-in for certification in the CANSail Start Keelboating program for an additional fee. This fee represents the costs involved in carrying out evaluations and obtaining the necessary certificates from Sail Canada.

The decision to receive certification can be made at the time of registration, or at any time during the season. For more information on how to opt-in for Start Keelboating certification, please visit our Checklick registration page.

Can my child participate in multiple junior sailing sessions?

Absolutely. Junior sailors can participate in more than one training session throughout the season!

Can I register for only a few sessions in the Adult & Family Keelboating program?

Once participants in our Adult & Family Keelboating program have registered and paid for their introductory session, they can pick up to nine on-water sessions throughout our calendar of dates. They can also participate in fewer than nine.

Registration in these on-water sessions can be done all at once, or piecemeal throughout the season (subject to availability). Where participants complete fewer than nine on-water sessions at the end of the season, they may not receive the optional certification under the CANSail Start Keelboating program.

Where participants register and pay for nine on-water sessions along with the optional certification but end up participating in fewer than nine on-water sessions, the certification fee for Start Keelboating will be refunded to the participant through our Checklick registration system.