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Registration for 2025 is open!

Promoting sailing excellence since 1937

AYC Sailing School is committed to delivering nationally recognized coaching and instruction at all sailing levels in a welcoming and accessible environment.

We offer programs for all ages and experience levels and welcome participants in our programs to take part in the Club’s activities and racing competitions. While the majority of our on-water programs take place during the spring, summer, and fall seasons, we also offer classroom and theory based educational sessions throughout the winter months.

Visit our registration page to learn more about our course offerings.

AYC Sailing School 2025 Program Guide

AYC Sailing School 2025 Program Guide is now available.

Learn more about our programs in this new guide, or browse our program information below.

View the Sailing School 2025 Guide (opens in new tab)

Program information

Fun for everyone

Our Adult & Family Keelboating Program is intended to introduce people to the sport of sailing by learning the basics and getting on the water in a fun and accessible format. Open to adults and children (11+) who are accompanied by them, training takes place on our Soling keelboats during weekday evenings and select weekend afternoons.

Our Adult & Family Keelboating program offers experienced instructors, loads of fun and lots of outdoor time!

Our club Solings are perfect boats for groups of 2-3 and offer an excellent balance of “small boat” fun with “big boat” stability and comfort. In our Adult & Family Keelboating program, participants learn basic sailing skills and, depending on the interest of participants, more advanced technical skills and also cover racing roles of both skipper and crew.

Our focus is sailing “on the water”, as well as theory and on-land activities (knots, rigging, safety, etc.)  Participants will enjoy quality instruction by experienced CANSail certified instructors. Participants in our Adult & Family Keelboating program can opt to receive CANSail Start Keelboating certification for an additional fee.

Junior sailing, major fun

Our Junior Sailing programs follow the CANSail curriculum with certified instructors. Our goal is to teach sailing skills to broad audiences in a safe, fun, and accessible environment.

For all programs:

  • Students must bring their own lunch and an approved PFD.
  • Tender service with pickup and drop-off at Horseshoe Island and Jubilee Road wharves can be arranged through our registration page.

WetFeet

For sailors from 5-7 years old, WetFeet is an opportunity for young sailors to become acquainted with being on the water and receive a fun introduction to sailing. WetFeet takes place over one-week sessions (July through August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm. 

Pram

For sailors from 8-12 years old, Pram sailing is intended to be the optimal starting point for one’s CANSail journey. Focusing on the basics of dinghy sailing, sailors in this group will learn how to manoeuvre a boat, read wind direction, and identify the points of sail. Session Length: Takes place over two-week sessions (July-August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Weight: 110lbs MAXIMUM, Prerequisite: None

Optimist

For sailors from 10-14 years old, this course goes beyond the basics and teaches methods of improving boat speed and performance. Sailors will have the opportunity to experience a variety of wind conditions and explore different aspects of dinghy racing. Sailors will work on skills from CANSail levels 3+. More advanced Opti sailors will have the opportunity to attend local regattas. Session Length: Takes place over two-week sessions (July-August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Weight: 130lbs MAXIMUM, Prerequisite: Must have completed CANSail 2

Intro to Double-Handed

For ages: 12 – 16 years, this course is intended for newer sailors who have outgrown the Pram dinghies. Sailors in this group will learn the basics of dinghy sailing, but also explore sailing with a partner in our Club 420 and Laser Pico dinghies. Session Length: Takes place over two-week sessions(July-August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Weight: 100lbs MINIMUM, Prerequisite: None

Adventure Sail

The Adventure Sailgroup is for sailors from 12-16 years of age who may prefer to explore the ocean rather than focus on racing. This group will still follow the CANSail checklists, but will focus on providing one-of-a-kind experiences like island lunches and visiting the Halifax marina by boat. This course will also focus on basic navigation and marine safety. Session Length: Takes place over two-week sessions(July-August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Weight: 110lbs MINIMUM, Prerequisite: Must have completed CANSail 2

420  and ILCA Racing

Intended for more advanced sailors, this program will focus on developing racing skills and tactics and other advanced sailing skills in line with Sail Canada’s CANSail levels 4-6. Session Length: Takes place over two-week sessions(July-August), Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Ages: 13 – 18 years, Weight: 110lbs MINIMUM, Prerequisite: Must have completed CANSail 3

Although each session is two-weeks, registration in two sessions is recommended in order for sailors to better learn and retain advanced skills and theory.

Have questions for us?

Contact LTS@armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca and we’d be happy to discuss them with you.

Learn more about our programs

For a full list of options and pricing in our junior programs, please visit our Checklick registration page.

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.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please reach out:

Nick White, Head Instructor –  LTS@armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca

ABOUT US

The Armdale Yacht Club (AYC) extends a warm welcome to Members, Visiting Yachts, their Crews and Non-Members alike. The AYC offers a complete range of facilities and services to meet the needs of todays yachtsperson, their families, friends and guests.

NAVIGATION

CONTACT

Office Location
75 Burgee Run
Halifax, NS B3P 0C9

Telephone: (902) 477-4617

Email: office@armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca