BASIC CRUISING SAIL TRAINING (4 days)

Registration is now open for the 2026 season.
Early booking ensures your spot, secures the best dates, locks in the rate, and allows you to plan your 2026 training with peace of mind.

📅 From May 21 to September 20, 2026

Become a competent crew member or skipper and increase your “marine IQ” as well as your confidence.

We are located on Lake Saint-Louis, just 20 minutes from Montreal. Lake Saint-Louis is an exceptional place to learn sailing: vast navigation areas, shallow waters, and narrow passages between islands provide an ideal environment for safe and comprehensive learning.

Departures take place from the public dock in Pointe-Claire.

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Booking

To book, click the BOOK NOW button, choose Cruising Sailing Training, and select 4 dates of your choice. The days do not need to be consecutive.

Then add the mandatory practical exam to your cart and proceed to checkout. You will receive a confirmation of your purchase. It’s that simple!

You may also add the pre-exam training and the theoretical exam to your cart, or do so later.

Training Objective

This course is designed to allow safe navigation as a skipper or competent crew member on a 6 to 10-meter sailboat, equipped with an inboard or outboard engine, in familiar waters, during daylight, and in moderate wind and sea conditions. It includes both practical and theoretical training.

Participants — maximum of 4 per boat to maximize time at the helm — will develop their skills in basic maneuvers (tacking, gybing, docking, etc.) at their own pace.

Flexibility

It is possible to change a session date by sending a written request to cj@voilecapitainejack.net at least 10 days in advance. Otherwise, no refunds will be possible.

This training is also offered in winter in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Onboard Practical Content

During the training, aboard our sailboats (Ressac, a GibSea 28, and Gens de Mer, a First 29), you will cover:

Rope work (nautical knots)
Dock departure and docking
Sailing angles (close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, etc.)
Maneuvers: tacking, gybing, man overboard, etc.
Safety equipment
Weather impact
Introduction to the Canadian navigation system

We invite you to consult the full description from Sailing Canada.

Evaluation

Special attention is given to the practical component. A formal evaluation (maneuvers and rope work) takes place on the last day.

Depending on your performance, you may obtain:

Competent crew member
or
Skipper certification

For complete beginners, an additional day may be required to achieve skipper level.

Two-Step Evaluation

Practical exam (must be added to your cart)
Theoretical exam (2-hour written exam based on Introduction to Cruising Sailing, Sailing Canada 2021 – not included)

Optional Pre-Exam Training

A 3-hour online review session covering exam topics.
Ideal for those who do not have time to study the full manual in detail.

👉 100% of participants who completed this training passed the exam.

Theoretical Exam (Mandatory)

The theoretical exams are held at the Grande Bibliothèque.
Passing grade: minimum 70%.

Registration is required via the BOOK button.

These certifications are recognized by the Fédération Voile Québec and Voile Canada.

Rates

4-day training:
Starting at $199/day + taxes (weekdays) and $219/day + taxes (weekends)

Practical exam: $60.88 (mandatory) — must be added to your cart at booking.

You must select 4 days. A maximum of 4 people per sailboat is allowed.

Contact

You can also call us at 438-928-3520 or email us if you have any questions.

Weather Conditions – Practical Exam

If sailing conditions do not allow the practical exam to take place on the afternoon of the 4th day (e.g., not enough wind to perform maneuvers), you will need to register for a 3-hour practice session on Monday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, or choose another cruising sailing session of your choice.