Learn to Sail

Sailing Lessons – 2024

Join our Learn to Sail program for an opportunity to spend time on our beautiful Okanagan Lake and to improve your sailing skills under the expert instruction of our CANSail certified instructors.

We offer classes for all ages and all levels of sailing ability, from beginners to experts.  Learn to sail in our fleet of Bugs, Picos, Lasers and 420s. 

See below for a detailed description of the classes that we will be offering this summer.

SOSA members can get a discount of $10 per course. If you are a member and want a discount code, contact the membership director.

For questions related to lessons, please email learn@sosailing.ca


What to bring to sailing classes:

  • PFD or life jacket
  • Appropriate clothing – beach shorts, sun tops, hat, change of clothes, rain gear. Tech fabrics (polyester, lycra, etc) or wool are good fabrics when they get wet. Cotton is not recommended.
  • Appropriate footwear that does not come off in the water – crocs, water shoes, or canvas sneakers
  • Snack or lunch
  • Water bottle
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Towel

Courses Descriptions – 2024

All courses run Monday-Friday including holidays.

  • Morning classes are 9am- 12pm
  • Afternoon classes are 1pm-4pm
  • Full day classes are 9am-4pm
  • Evening classes are 5pm-8pm

Wet Feet

Wet Foot is a program designed for young sailors who are just starting out. During the week long half day course, sailors will learn how to balance, sit, and move in sailing dinghies in a fun and safe environment. The course will teach the basics of steering, boat handling, and knot tying. Sailors will learn how to act safely around boats as well as have fun playing games, swimming, and going on short field trips. This course aims to allow participants to gain comfort on the water and to introduce sailing as a sport for life.
Ages: 6 to 10 years old
Price: $195

Junior Sailors

The Junior Sailors program is suitable for beginners who are slightly older or those who may have completed the Wet Foot program previously. It is a week long, half day course where the basics of sailing will be taught/refreshed. The emphasis is on fun and safety. Sailors will learn to capsize and right their boats safely, and on water games and races make up a part of the course as well as trips out.
Ages: 8 to 12 years old
Price: $195

CANSail 1-2

The CANSail 1-2 course is a week-long full day course. It is aimed at both beginner sailors over the age of 12 and those with CANSail 1 looking to build on existing skills. Basic sailing skills (boat handling, steering, basic safety and knot tying) will be covered along with more advanced techniques, including how to adjust to the wind, boat handling manoeuvres, and on-the-water safety. These skills are delivered in a fun and controlled environment.
Ages: 12 and over
Price: $300

CANSail 1 Evening

This course, designed for adults who want to learn to sail a dinghy, is offered one evening a week. During this course, sailors will learn how to steer, handle sails, capsize their boats, and tie knots. This course also teaches how to be safe on the water, all while under the watchful eyes of our certified coaches.
Ages: 12 and over
Price: $255

CANSail 1-2 Evening

This course, designed for adults who want to build on their dinghy skills learned is CANSail 1 and for those who have tried sailing even if briefly previously, is offered one evening a week. During this course refreshers on the basics will be taught along with sailors will more advanced boat handling manoeuvres, how to adjust to the wind and on water safety.
Price: $255

CANSail 3-4

This course is a full day 2 week course for those wishing to progress their sailing skills beyond CANSail 2. The focus is on developing instinctive boat handling and racing with advanced skills such as roll tacking, race starts introduced. It is an intensive course with a theory element but also lots of fun skills (backwards sailing) included. Participants should expect to achieve 1 level per 2 week course.
Price $500
Prerequisite CANSail 2
12 and over

Schedule – 2024

All scheduled courses are also listed in the SOSA Calendar.

July 1-5

  • CANSail 1&2-Full Day, One Week (#001)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#008)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#009)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#024)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#025)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

July 8-12

  • CANSail 3&4- Full Day, Two Weeks (#005)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#010)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#011)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#026)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#027)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

July 15-19

  • CANSail 3&4- Full Day, Two Weeks (#005)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#012)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#013)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#028)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#029)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

July 22-26

  • CANSail 1&2-Full Day, One Week (#002)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#014)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#015)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#030)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#031)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

July 29- Aug 2

  • Wetfoot- Morning (#016)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#017)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#032)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#033)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

August 5-9

  • CANSail 1&2-Full Day, One Week (#003)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#018)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#019)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#034)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#035)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 & 2 (#007)

August 12-16

  • CANSail 1&2-Full Day, One Week (#040) ~ NEW
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#020)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#021)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#036)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#037)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)

August 19-23

  • CANSail 1&2-Full Day, One Week (#004)
  • Wetfoot- Morning (#022)
  • Wetfoot- Afternoon (#023)
  • Junior Sailing- Morning (#038)
  • Junior Sailing- Afternoon (#039)
  • Wednesday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1 (#006)
  • Thursday Evening Adult Class CANSail 1&2 (#007)