OVERVIEW
CANSail 2.0 – Now Available!
Sail Canada is pleased to launch CANSail 2.0 for the 2025 sailing season!
The CANSail program is focused on building strong sailing skills in a safe, practical, and fun way! The program is based on the progressive development of fundamental sailing skills that can be applied to a variety of types of boats for people of all abilities.
CANSail 2.0 builds on the success of the overall program with revised CANSail 1 – 6 Checklists and Key Performance Indicators to ensure clear skill progression and development of sailors. New Instructor Packs designed for CANSail 1 – 4 will ensure that Instructors have a strong technical guide with detailed lesson plans and drills. Learn more >
CANSAIL FUNDAMENTAL COURSE
The CANSail Fundamental Course is the first step in the CANSail Instructor system. Successful completion of this course will enable instructor candidates to attend further CANSail Instructor Training. The CANSail Fundamental Course has been developed to provide an opportunity for instructors to reflect, problem-solve, collaborate with peers, and continue to build on knowledge from previous experiences, skills, and new knowledge acquired from the clinic.
COMMUNITY INSTRUCTOR
The CANSail Community Instructor Training Clinic is designed to provide training to program leaders in small communities, councilors at multi-sport camps, and instructors in training who are not eligible to become Instructors at other levels. Community Instructor candidates may not have a high level of technical sailing knowledge, but they are passionate about sailing and eager to develop their sailing and instructing skills. Successful completion of this course will prepare Community Instructors to better serve the sailors they will be working with.
CANSAIL 1 & 2 INSTRUCTOR
Instructors who successfully complete this course will be qualified to teach beginner participants at the CANSail 1 & 2 Level, and have access to valuable CANSail Instructor Tools.
CANSAIL 3 & 4 INSTRUCTOR
Instructors who successfully complete this course will be qualified to teach participants up to the CANSail 3 & 4 Levels and have access to valuable CANSail Instructor Tools.
CANSAIL 5 & 6 INSTRUCTOR
Instructors who successfully complete this course will be qualified to teach participants at the CANSail 5 & 6 Level and have access to valuable CANSail Instructor Tools.
WET FEET MODULE
Wet Feet is a professional development module for current Sail Canada Instructors looking to expand their instructional base. CANSail Wet Feet is a program for delivery specific to 5-8-year-olds. The curriculum, lesson plans, and teaching methods are specific to engaging this young group while inadvertently teaching them about sailing boats, water safety, and fundamental movement and balance skills in Optimist Dinghies and dockside.
CANSAIL INSTRUCTOR FOILING MODULE
CANSail Instructor Foiling Module is a professional development module for current Sail Canada Instructors looking to expand their instructional base. CANSail Foiling is a program designed to teach fundamental skills of foiling on boats and/or boards.
SPINNAKER & TRAPEZE MODULE
This is a professional development module for current Sail Canada Instructors looking to expand their instructional base. Instructors who successfully complete this course will be qualified to teach participants using the CANSail Spinnaker & Trapeze program.
ACCESSIBLE SAILING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODULE
This professional development module was created by Sail Canada in its ongoing effort to ensure coaches have access to resources and training to support inclusive sailing environments. The module is designed to provide the basics of what you need to know to get started especially in First Involvement, Fundamentals, and Learn to Sail Fast settings as a CANSail Instructor or volunteer with an accessible sailing program. Candidates taking this module should also complete the Coaching Association of Canada Coaching Athletes with a Disability e-module.
Do you want to become a CANSail Dinghy Instructor?
You can also become a Community Instructor
IMPORTANT LINKS
CANSAIL PROGRAM OPERATION GUIDES
PATHWAYS & PREREQUISITES
- CANSail Instructor Pathway & Prerequisite Chart
- CANSail Community Instructor & Prerequisite Chart
- CANSail Instructor/Coach International Equivalency Package
A list of your current prerequisites and their expiry dates can be found on the “Prerequisites” tab of your Sail Canada Profile. Below is a list of common prerequisites and how to complete them. All completed prerequisites can be sent to your Provincial Sailing Association or programs@sailing.ca to be uploaded to your Sail Canada profile.
Police Check
A Police Check is a required prerequisite for any instructor / coach aged 18+. A Police Check can be completed through Sail Canada’s Sterling Backcheck Page or through your Local Police Station.
Note: Sail Canada can only accept Police Checks completed no more than six months prior to submission.
Safe Sport Training
Safe Sport Training can be completed online through Coaching Association of Canada’s The Locker. Sail Canada can also accept Respect in Sport as a Safe Sport prerequisite.
Make Ethical Decisions
All CANSail Dinghy Instructors / Coaches who have completed the CANSail Fundamental Course are required to complete Make Ethical Decisions Evaluation through Coaching Association of Canada’s The Locker. Please note the required training will be updated as of April 1, 2026:
Until March 31, 2026: Complete the Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation
After April 1, 2026: Complete the Make Ethical Decisions Online Training & Evaluation
PROGRAM INFORMATION
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT REPORTING
COACHING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA AND THE NCCP
The NCCP requires all ‘Certified’ coaches to accumulate Professional Development points in order to maintain NCCP certification. The details are outlined in the following document:
NCCP Maintenance of Certification Requirements for CANSail Instructors & Coaches
Sail Canada’s CANSail Instructor program is developed in collaboration with the Coaching Association of Canada as part of the National Coaching Certification Program. The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)is a coach training and certification program offered in over 65 sports in Canada. The principal objective of this program is to develop the abilities of instructors & coaches working with athletes at all levels, from the community level through to high-performance sports.
The NCCP is a collaborative program of the government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, national/provincial/territorial sports organizations, and the Coaching Association of Canada.
Instructor & Coach Development Model
INSTRUCTOR / COACH REGISTRATION
Instructors / Coaches must be registered as a Sail Canada Instructor / Coach to deliver Sail Canada programming and to issue sailor levels. Registration can be completed through your Sail Canada Profile and should be completed before teaching each year.
How to Register
- Login to your Sail Canada profile HERE.
- Check the status of your certifications and prerequisites in the My Certifications tab.
- Complete your annual registration through the Registrations tab, or beside your certification in the My Certifications tab.
CANSAIL INSTRUCTOR / COACH RECERTIFICATION
The certification period for a Certified CANSail Dinghy Instructor / Coach and Learning Facilitators is 4 years to the end of the calendar year. For example, if you completed your clinic in May 2025, your level would expire on December 31st, 2029.
Recertification for all CANSail Instructors & Coaches must be completed through a Provincial Sailing Association. To review the Recertification Policy, click the link below:
CANSail Instructor / Coach Recertification Policy
Recertification for CANSail Learning Facilitators and CANSail Master Learning Facilitators is through application. To review the Recertification Policy, click the link below:
