Sailing Lessons Schedule and Registration

Upcoming events

    • 04 Aug 2025
    • 17 Aug 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • Club Locarno Clubroom and laser rigging area
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    *** ALL LOCARNO FLEETS WELCOME ***

    ...we might even convince you to stay! ;-)

    Beginner Sailing Lessons

    Beginner Sailing Lessons is an introductory course for beginners. At the end of the course you will have the option to attempt a Checkout in the Level 1 monohull fleet of your choice.


    In these 8 lessons, you will get 26 hours of instruction spread along 2 intensive weeks. You can expect to learn the basics of  CANSail 1+2 (that you will need to be able to confidently attempt a check out for Laser and Vanguards).


    During the lessons you will practice sailing techniques while learning about sail controls, rules of way, local geography, weather and wind pattern to expect in English Bay.


    You will have the opportunity to tack, gybe, capsize, and practice rules of way on our Lasers and Vanguards.


    You will practice rigging and launching, and learn your way through the clubroom, the logout system to check out boats and where to find sails and foils.

    The goal of the Beginner Sailing Lessons is to confidently attempt a monohull check-out and safely skip Club Locarno monohull fleet Level 1.

    Pre-requisites to attend this course:

    • You must be a member of any fleet at Club Locarno.*
    • You must attend or watch online the English Bay Safety Seminar offered by Jericho Sailing Center for free.
    • You must be willing to study, learn and remember: (1) CanSail 1+2 handbooks, including the sailing jargon, the parts of the boat, and all the vocabulary that will help you communicate while sailing, rigging or while reporting issues or fixing them (2) Rules of way in English Bay and the safety protocols you must follow as a Locarno member (the so called Locarno way), including weather and tide forecast understanding.
    • You must be willing to wear a helmet (available for free, like life jackets).

    Sessions:

    • 2 Monday evenings:             1700-2000 (3 hours).
    • 2 Wednesday evenings:       1700-2000 (3 hours).
    • 2 Thursday evenings:           1700-2000 (3 hours).
    • 2 Sunday afternoons:          1600-2000 (4 hours).

    Location:


    Registration.

    Cancellations must be done at least 2 days before the first lesson, by email sailinglessons@clublocarno.com

    * In order to check out a sailing boat, you need to be a member of the Sailing Fleet.

    • 11 Aug 2025
    • 17 Aug 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • Club Locarno club room
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    *** THIS BEGINNER COURSE DOES NOT INCLUDE A CHECK OUT ***

    IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHECK OUT DURING CAT LESSONS,

    SEARCH FOR A REFRESHER LESSON (CODE RC1 and RC2) 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Introduction to Catamaran for Beginners

    This Introduction to Catamaran for Beginners course consist of 10 hours of instruction on Locarno Recreational Catamarans Level 1, led by a Cansail-certified instructor from MacSailing, over three days of lessons:

    • Monday : 1700 - 2000 (3 hours)
    • Wednesday : 1700 - 2000 (3 hours)
    • Sunday : 1600 - 2000 (4 hours)

    Goals

    This is the perfect course for you if you are a monohull sailor sitting on the edge... maybe never sailed a cat? No problem! not sure how to climb from your Laser to a Catamaran? You are in the right place.

    The objective of this primer course on catamaran sailing is to get familiar with the specifics of a double hull boat, and start to develop the basic skills you need to safely sail a Locarno recreational catamaran Level 1 without spinnaker. You will rig and sail Locarno Nacra 500 and 570 with the guidance of our CAN Sail certified instructor.

    Upon completion, you will be ready to crew Catamarans skipped by more experienced members and take turns on the helm, in different wind conditions, to build up your skills. After ~20 hours of sailing, you and your fellow skippers will have an idea of whether you are ready to try to check cats on your own, in which case you can register for the Rigging Clinic and On Water check out Level 1 led by our Catamaran Captain.

    If after this primer and crewing 20 hours on your own, you do not feel ready yet, no problem, you can take the recreational Catamaran Level 1 Refresher lessons that concentrates on safety, launching and landing, where you will have the opportunity to practice capsizing the Nacra 500 and 570 with your instructor to get ready for check out.

    Prerequisites 

    To be able to take and make the most of this course, you should have the equivalent of CANSail 2, CYA Bronze or equivalent experience sailing monohulls, both single and dual handed. We recommend (not mandatory) our Sailing Beginners lessons or Refresher lessons plus 20 hours of monohull experience or 10 hours crew experience on catamaran.

    Attendance at a Catamaran Level 1 rigging clinic prior to the lessons would also be helpful but not mandatory. Ideally, you will at least review the Rigging Guides and videos from our website - before attending the first class.

    If you are not sure, send an email to sailinglessons@clublocarno.com and we will get it from there!

    Location

    The class will meet near the Locarno sailcraft aisle, under the white tent (you will see a table and a whiteboard).  
    * Please try to arrive early so lessons can start on time. *



    Registration

    The lesson will be cancelled if no one has registered on time.

    Cancellations must be done at least 48 hours before the first lesson, by email sailinglessons@clublocarno.com

    • 18 Aug 2025
    • 23 Aug 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • Club Locarno club room
    • 2
    Register

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    *** THIS BEGINNER COURSE DOES NOT INCLUDE A CHECK OUT ***

    if you are looking for a checkout during cat lessons

    please search for "REFRESHER CATAMARAN LESSONS" instead

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Intro to Catamaran for monohull sailors

    This Introduction to Catamaran for Beginners course consist of 10 hours of instruction on Locarno Recreational Catamarans Level 1, led by a Cansail-certified instructor from MacSailing, over three days of lessons:

    • Monday : 1700 - 2000 (3 hours)
    • Wednesday : 1700 - 2000 (3 hours)
    • Saturday: 1100 - 1500 (4 hours)

    Goals

    This is the perfect course for you if you are a monohull sailor sitting on the edge... maybe never sailed a cat? No problem! not sure how to climb from your Laser to a Catamaran? You are in the right place.

    The objective of this primer course on catamaran sailing is to get familiar with the specifics of a double hull boat, and start to develop the basic skills you need to safely sail a Locarno recreational catamaran Level 1 without spinnaker. You will rig and sail Locarno Nacra 500 and 570 with the guidance of our CAN Sail certified instructor.

    Upon completion, you will be ready to crew Catamarans skipped by more experienced members and take turns on the helm, in different wind conditions, to build up your skills. After ~20 hours of sailing, you and your fellow skippers will have an idea of whether you are ready to try to check cats on your own, in which case you can register for the Rigging Clinic and On Water check out Level 1 led by our Catamaran Captain.

    If after this primer and crewing 20 hours on your own, you do not feel ready yet, no problem, you can take the recreational Catamaran Level 1 Refresher lessons that concentrates on safety, launching and landing, where you will have the opportunity to practice capsizing the Nacra 500 and 570 with your instructor to get ready for check out.

    Prerequisites 

    To be able to take and make the most of this course, you should have the equivalent of CANSail 2, CYA Bronze or equivalent experience sailing monohulls, both single and dual handed. We recommend (not mandatory) our Sailing Beginners lessons or Refresher lessons plus 20 hours of monohull experience or 10 hours crew experience on catamaran.

    Attendance at a Catamaran Level 1 rigging clinic prior to the lessons would also be helpful but not mandatory. Ideally, you will at least review the Rigging Guides and videos from our website - before attending the first class.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    *** THIS BEGINNER COURSE DOES NOT INCLUDE A CHECK OUT ***

    IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHECK OUT DURING CAT LESSONS,

    SEARCH FOR A REFRESHER LESSON (CODE RC1 and RC2) 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If you are not sure, send an email to sailinglessons@clublocarno.com and we will get it from there!

    Location

    The class will meet near the Locarno sailcraft aisle, under the white tent (you will see a table and a whiteboard).  
    * Please try to arrive early so lessons can start on time. *



    Registration

    The lesson will be cancelled if no one has registered on time.

    Cancellations must be done at least 48 hours before the first lesson, by email sailinglessons@clublocarno.com

    • 25 Aug 2025
    • 28 Aug 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • Club Locarno club room
    • 4
    Register

    Learn to fly downwind!

    The objective of this course is to develop the basic skills that can be used on either mono-hulls or cats when sailing a Spinnaker.

    This course consists of 9 hours of lessons in 3 days:

         - Monday 1700 - 2000

         - Wednesday 1700 - 2000

         - Thursday 1700 - 2000


    You will be learning on the RS500 and the lessons will be led by a Cansail-certified instructor from MacSailing, who will focus on safety and efficient sailing.

    RS500, Nacra 500spi CHECKOUT

    During the lessons you will have the opportunity to show your rigging, sailing and self-rescuing skills on a boat with Spinnaker like the RS500 and the Nacra 500spi. If you succeed, you will be checked out for Spinnaker sailing.

    Requisites to register

    To be able to take and make the most of this course, you should have CANSail 2, CYA Bronze or equivalent experience, and at least 20 hours as skipper in a mono-hull like RS500 or similar, or ideally a recreational catamaran.

    We strongly recommend you are checked-out in at least 2 Club Locarno monohull fleets and Level 1 catamaran.

    In addition, you should refresh your knowledge by reviewing the instructional videos for RS500 Rigging Complete and RS500 Capsize on our website found here Sailing Documents and Links

    Attendance at a RS500 rigging clinic (to learn to rig the spinnaker) would also be helpful.

    The class will meet in the Locarno sailing club room.  Please try to arrive early and ready, so lessons can start on time.


    Remember to bring a wetsuit and towel! Have a great class!

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