Sailing

Sailing is a great way to rediscover your hometown and adopt a new perspective. Everyone from elementary schoolchildren to grandparents and even great-grandparents can learn to sail! The sailing community is welcoming, and you’re bound to meet wonderful sailors no matter where you go!

JUNIORS

ADULTS

RACING

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JUNIOR SAILING

Junior Sailing School

Introduce your kids to the joy of sailing!

Junior sailing lessons are for ages 8 to 17. Students aged 18+ are encouraged to enroll in adult sailing lessons.

Summer Sailing Program Starts June 30th & ends August 15th
Full-day junior sailing sessions are offered by the week, Monday - Friday.
Lessons are 9 am - to 4 pm, with a supervised lunch 12-1 pm. Lessons will also run during holidays.

Junior sailing students spend a lot of time on the water and should expect to get wet! Basic swimming skills and comfort in the water is required.

The DRSSC Sailing program follows the national CANSail curriculum and is delivered by fully qualified sailing instructors. Students learn to sail through on-land training and on-water experiences in dinghies (small sailboats).

Students start in CANSail 1 and can progress up to CANSail 4, learning core sailing skills in a safe and fun environment.

Students interested in becoming instructors with the club are encouraged to discuss this with the Head Instructor or Sailing School director - it offers a great development path & an unbeatable summer job!

Equipment required:

Properly fitting PFD (life jacket) that meets Canadian government standards and has a pealess whistle attached (ie Fox 40 from
Canadian Tire)
Appropriate clothing for all types of weather, including a hat, windbreaker, and warm layers.
Closed-toe sandals, water shoes, or old running shoes that can get wet.
Towel, sunscreen, water bottle, and sunglasses (personal eyewear should be secured with a strap)

Junior Sailing Fees

We offer multi-week discounts as outlined below.

One week $325

Two weeks $585

Three weeks $875

Four weeks $1170

Five weeks $1465

Six weeks $1750

Seven weeks $2100

Junior Sailing Lesson Registration Contact:

Ashleigh Anne Cluff 343-369-3055 email

If you need a helping hand with lesson fees, our Don Clements Bursary Program is here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out for more information. DRSSC is committed to making sure everyone has the opportunity to be part of our sailing community and join in the fun!

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ADULT SAILING

Join the excitement and community spirit at DRSSC! The adult sailing program is undergoing a shift and we are excited to offer new programming and a fresh direction to our community. Our goal for the 2025 season is to offer more opportunities for adult sailors to learn and have fun sailing on our beautiful river.

We can't wait to see you on the water!

Give sailing a try! Our Adult Learn to Sail course will be running on 2 different weekends this year as it was a huge success in 2024. This course offer an introduction to dinghy sailing taught by qualified sailing instructors. Rain or shine the dates will be:

July 19-20, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each day
August 9-10, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each day

Fees

Non-Member: $250
(includes a 2025 season new adult watersports membership!)
DRSSC Members: $125

Pre-Requisites:

No previous sailing experience necessary
Participants must be able to swim and be comfortable in open water
Participants must have a basic degree of fitness and mobility. Participants will be required to crouch and maneuver in a small dinghy and pull themselves into a boat. If you have injuries or physical limitations, please reach out to our organizers to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities to try sailing.

Equipment Required:

Properly fitting PFD (life jacket) that meets Canadian government standards and has a pealess whistle attached (ie Fox 40 from Canadian Tire)
Appropriate clothing for all types of weather, including a hat, windbreaker, and warm layers.
Closed toe sandals, water shoes, or old running shoes that get wet.
Towel, sunscreen, water bottle, and sunglasses (personal eyewear should be secured with a strap)

Once you’ve completed this weekend course, we really encourage you to grow your skills and continue sailing in our NEW Sunday Sailing sessions!

Adult Learn to Sail - Dinghy Weekend Courses

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Adult Learn to Sail - Sunday
Dinghy Sailing

NEW for 2025!

Join us for a season of fun, social sailing on Sunday afternoons!

These afternoon sessions are for all skill levels. Volunteer adult sailors and instructors will teach new skills and set up practice drills according to the weekly theme and experience of participants. A safety boat will always be present to support these sessions. The goal is to learn, practice, and have fun!

Whether you are new to sailing or honing more advanced skills, these practice sessions are for you!

Fees:

Non-Member: $30 per session or $150 for the season
DRSSC Members: $15 per session or $75 for the season

Schedule:

July 13, 1-4pm: Upwind skills
July 27, 1-4pm: Learn to race
August 17, 1-4pm: Tacking and gybing skills
August 24, 1-4pm Downwind skills
August 31, 1-4pm: Maneuvering
September 7, 1-4pm: Fun race

Requirements:

Appropriate clothing and sailing gear for the weather, including a PFD and whistle
Must be able to swim and be comfortable in open water, basic degree of fitness and mobility, skippers must have fundamental sailing experience

Adult Learn to Sail - Keelboat Sailing

NEW for 2025!

Experience the river in a whole new way by becoming a crew member on a keelboat!

Join DRSSC members and volunteers on their keelboats to learn the basics of keelboat sailing. Confident participants may be given the opportunity to try steering.

“Hoist the mainsail!” “Trim the jib!” “Helms-a-Lee!”

These casual sessions are for all abilities. Children may participate with a parent or guardian.

Fees per session:

Non-Member: $15 (day membership)
DRSSC Members: FREE