Commonly Asked Questions:
My child is new to sailing. What summer camp should I register them for?
The best starter programs are determined by age as follows:
4-7: Wetfeet
7-9: Juniors
10-14: Wave Riders
14+: CANSail 1/2
My child has a CANSail 2 certification, are they eligible to be a member?
Unfortunately, the dinghy member holder has to be 18 years of age. If you are of age and hold CANSail 2, your child is eligible to sail with you but they cannot go out with you.
How much time do summer camps spend on the water? What other activities are there?
Depending on the age of your child, the amount of time on the water increases. For younger age groups (5-7), the time on the water is typically limited to 2 hours with increased time on land for snack time and activities related to sailing (boat part games, Wind Monster, Pirate Paks etc.) As the age increases, the amount of time on the water increases, particularly once you enter CANSail camps as there is a set curriculum. These programs can spend about 3 hours on the water per session, with two sessions a day.
I have my CANSail 1 certification and want to get CANSail 2 certified, but don’t want to do a full CANSail Basic Class. What are my options (adult)?
You can book in for a series of private lessons if you need one on one teaching, but if you would better benefit from time on the water to practice skills you already know, consider registering for a group lesson. To hear more, please reach out to info@rpsa.ca.
Will program participants get wet? Will they capsize?
For all CANSail courses, there will be a capsizing requirement for the curriculum, however that will likely be the only time you can expect to get wet (and there will be advanced notice). There may be a few splashes, so we do recommend a rain jacket on windier days, but otherwise you can expect to stay dry.
Do program participants need wetsuits/PFDs?
As we do not require wetsuits, it is all up to personal preference. During summer camps, most sailors opt for a hat, T-shirt and shorts with a fleece added on colder days. We find that many participants are happy with layering.
You are welcome to bring your own PFD, granted it fits you properly and is Transport Canada approved. If not, we provide many PFDs you can use for the duration of the program.
Are programs run rain or shine?
We run programming rain or shine. If it is raining, please bring all appropriate rain gear. If we go on the water or teach theory/land lessons it will depend on the wind available so be prepared for both!
Is before/after camp care available?
Before camp care is available from 8:30AM-9:00AM and after camp care is available 4:00PM-4:30PM at no additional charge.
We are only available for part of a two week summer camp or multi-week program. Are we able to register for just half of one session?
Unfortunately, we only do full session registrations as the content taught is connected between sessions. If looking for summer camps, we recommend looking to Laser or Opti camps for one-week options.
What are some options on discounts or subsidies for low-income families?
Unfortunately, as a nonprofit organization, our prices are already set as low as possible to remain accessible to the community. Sailing does inherently have higher overhead costs compared to other summer camps, which makes it difficult for us to offer additional discounts. For grant options, we recommend looking into JumpStart Child Grants, ViaSport, or KidSport organizations.