Adult Sailing Programs
The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron has the top Sail Training Program in Atlantic Canada! We are excited to be expanding our adult offerings for 2024 to ensure that our members have the best experiences on the water. If your goal is some Wednesday night fun, cruising with the family, or a top finish at a major regatta RNSYS has programming to take you to the next level in your sailing or racing journey. Our team of top-quality coaches along with special guest experts will help you achieve all of your sailing and racing goals.
Try Sailing!
A fun two-hour introduction to Sailing!
Times: 10:00 am - Noon & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Each Day that Try Sailing! is offered.
Cost: $30
A short and fun introduction to Sailing. Ever wanted to try sailing but not had a way to get out? RNSYS’ Try Sailing! program is for you. Each session will teach some of the basics of sailing while you take in a cruise of Halifax’s beautiful Northwest Arm. These sessions are designed to be a one-off introduction to the sport.
You will be accompanied by an experienced sailing instructor on the boat who will do all the preparation so you can maximize your two hours on the water.
Course Dates: The Try Sailing! program is offered on most weekends following May 23/24 weekend in 2024.
Please check the RNSYS website and registration platform for the most up-to-date course offerings.
Introduction to Keelboat Sailing
Learn how to make your boat go!
Sessions: Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm both days.
Cost: Members $275 Non-Members $340
Learn all the basics of keelboat sailing from one of our experienced and Sail Canada-certified instructors. You’ll learn all that you need to know to safely depart the dock, get the sails up, and head on your way!
This two-day course will cover the basics of direction and propulsion on a keelboat while also reviewing how to safely get your boat on its way.
Each day you will meet at 9am, the instructor will provide an introduction to the concepts that will be covered that day and then you will hit the water! You’ll return over lunchtime for a complimentary meal in the RNSYS dining room before heading back out for more fun on the water.
Course Dates:
Spring: May 25/26; June 8/9; June 29/30
Summer: July 6/7; July 13/14; July 27/28; August 3/4;
August 17/18; August 24/25
Fall: September 14/15; 28/29
All dates are subject to change based on the minimum registrations met. Please check the RNSYS website and registration platform for the most up-to-date course offerings.
Basic Cruising
From Land-lubber to Day Cruiser in 6 days.
Times: 5:00pm to 8:00pm for 2 Friday evenings & 2 Weekends 9:00am to 4:00pm Each Day (Saturday+Sunday)
Cost: Members $1,000 Non-Members $1,250
Sail Canada’s Basic Cruising Standard Course is a great way to develop all the skills you need to safely take your own boat out. This course covers the basics of sailing as well as navigation, anchoring, docking, and the safe operations of your boat’s engine.
The goal of the standard is for all participants to be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as the competent crew of a sloop-rigged keelboat of 6 to 10 meters with an outboard or inboard motor in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. The focus of this Standard is on the development of crew-oriented basic sailing skills, seamanship, and knowledge needed to act as a competent crew.
Course Dates:
Course A: May 3,4,5 & 24,25,26
Course B: June 14,15,16 & 21,22,23
Course C: July 26,27,28 & August 2,3,4
All dates are subject to change based on the minimum registrations met. Please check the RNSYS website and registration platform for the most up-to-date course offerings.
Thank you to Drew Mitchell and North Sails for Sponsoring the RNSYS J22 Spring Series
RNSYS’ Spring Series J22 Racing is back with new opportunities and ways of sharpening your sailing skills!
Sessions are 10:00am to 3:00pm Each Day
Members Drop-in $25/race Day Non-Member Drop-In $45/Race Day
All are welcome!
The RNSYS Spring Series presented by North Sails is a great way to jumpstart the sailing season and get on the water early to practice and hone your skills as a racer. Every weekend you can hit the water and practice racing in competitive and action-packed races against other RNSYS members and racers from around Halifax. New in 2024 there will be opportunities to participate in different types of racing mixed in with the regular fleet races there will be weekends dedicated to match racing and team racing on the J22s. Coaching support and debriefs are provided to help racers get to the next level in their game from special guest coaches as well as RNSYS’ own knowledgeable race team coaching staff. Special guest coaches will include ex-Olympians, current Canadian Sailing Team Members, America’s Cup Racers and world champions. A full schedule of the Spring Series can be found below and there will be lots of opportunities to get on the water. You can participate in the whole Spring Series (and get a great discount) or drop in for individual sessions or clinics. See the upcoming pages for more information on individual clinics, race days and events.
North Sails J22 Spring Series
Performance Clinics
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NorthU Seminar and Clinic
Dates: NorthU Tactics and Racing Seminar April 6
NorthU Racing Clinic with Andrew Kerr April 7
Cost: Members $270 Non-Members $330
NorthU Coach Andrew Kerr will be at RNSYS on April 6 to deliver his tactics and racing seminar and on April 7 you can take the water for racing and training with Andrew on RNSYS’ J22s. This excellent clinic opportunity will help prepare you for the upcoming sailing season!
To register for the NorthU Tactics and Racing Seminar (Saturday, April 6) ONLY click here.
To register for the NorthU Racing Clinic (Sunday, April 7) ONLY head to the RNSYS registration page.
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RNSYS High-Performance Clinic - J22 Match Racing
Dates: May 17 (evening), May 18, 19, 20
Cost: Members $200 Non-Members $250
The RNSYS High-Performance Clinic is an opportunity for athletes to take their sailing to the next level with world-class coaching provided by leaders in sailing. This clinic will bring together sailors from across Canada to learn from the best of the best.
Each day training will be run by our experts with the support of RNSYS’ top-level race management and coaches. Following training, there will be individual group debriefs and then clinic-wide debriefs and presentations from performance coaches, ex-Olympians, members of SailGP, and America’s Cup racers.
Breakfast snacks will be provided each day and there will be clinic-wide dinners on May 17 and 19 - all included with registration.
