Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an Optimist dinghy?
2. Do participants need to know how to swim?
3. Are there bursaries available?
4. Who is BC Sailing?
5. How do I register for a course?
6. How many students are there in each summer sailing course?
7. How many instructors are there each week?
8. Who are the sailing instructors?
9. What do I need to bring to the sailing course?
10. What is the cancellation policy?
11. What topics are covered during the course?
If your question is not listed here, please contact the organizer in your community, or BC Sailing at crew@bcsailing.bc.ca, 604-333-3628.
1. What is an Optimist dinghy?
The Optimist dinghy is a 7-foot sail boat that is excellent for learning basic sailing skills. It's stable and can accommodate a wide range of child sizes and sailing abilities. It is well accepted as the best design for youth sail training. For these reasons, there are more Optimists than any other sail boat in the world!
2. Do participants need to know how to swim?
No, but they should be comfortable in and on the water with a life jacket or PFD.
3. Are there bursaries available?
Yes, there are a limited number of $200 bursaries for each community being offered to families from KidSport to help offset some of the registration fee. Please note bursaries are only available to BC residents. Click here for application info.
4. Who is BC Sailing?
BC Sailing is a non-profit organization who governs and promotes the sport in BC. For full details, view the BC Sailing website.
5. How do I register for a course?
Registration including payment is done on-line for most locations. Click here, select the course you wish to register for, and follow the directions.
6. How many students are there in each summer sailing course?
Minimum 16, maximum 22
7. How many instructors are there each week?
Typically there are two BC Sailing instructors plus one local volunteer each week
8. Who are the sailing instructors?
Click here for biographies on our instructors.
9. What should I bring to the sailing course?
BC Sailing in partnership with your local sailing club will provide all the necessary equipment including life jackets. The sailors will need to bring:
10. What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation policy:
BC Sailing has developed three course curriculums or "levels" which students work toward achieving during their sailing course. No matter what level of sailing ability the student is at, even if they've never set foot in a boat their entire lives, students will have fun learning to sail at a level that is comfortably suited to their age and abilities. Students who already have sailing experience or have taken a MOSS course before (even 2 or 3 of them) will continue to be challenged as they work toward progressing through the levels.
Below are brief descriptions of the three curriculums used. As students learn their new skills, they achieve a stamp on their report card indicating their ability to demonstrate them. When they are ready, students will progress onto the next level. Many students will spend more than one week at their assigned level while others may finish and begin working toward their next one in less time. This competency-based education and training system allows students to learn at their own individual pace. Typically, first time sailors are initially assigned to Opti Level 1, while much younger students (for example ages 6 - 7) are assigned to Wet Feet. However, all students will learn in the same class no matter what level they are at.
1. What is an Optimist dinghy?
2. Do participants need to know how to swim?
3. Are there bursaries available?
4. Who is BC Sailing?
5. How do I register for a course?
6. How many students are there in each summer sailing course?
7. How many instructors are there each week?
8. Who are the sailing instructors?
9. What do I need to bring to the sailing course?
10. What is the cancellation policy?
11. What topics are covered during the course?
If your question is not listed here, please contact the organizer in your community, or BC Sailing at crew@bcsailing.bc.ca, 604-333-3628.
1. What is an Optimist dinghy?
The Optimist dinghy is a 7-foot sail boat that is excellent for learning basic sailing skills. It's stable and can accommodate a wide range of child sizes and sailing abilities. It is well accepted as the best design for youth sail training. For these reasons, there are more Optimists than any other sail boat in the world!
2. Do participants need to know how to swim?
No, but they should be comfortable in and on the water with a life jacket or PFD.
3. Are there bursaries available?
Yes, there are a limited number of $200 bursaries for each community being offered to families from KidSport to help offset some of the registration fee. Please note bursaries are only available to BC residents. Click here for application info.
4. Who is BC Sailing?
BC Sailing is a non-profit organization who governs and promotes the sport in BC. For full details, view the BC Sailing website.
5. How do I register for a course?
Registration including payment is done on-line for most locations. Click here, select the course you wish to register for, and follow the directions.
6. How many students are there in each summer sailing course?
Minimum 16, maximum 22
7. How many instructors are there each week?
Typically there are two BC Sailing instructors plus one local volunteer each week
8. Who are the sailing instructors?
Click here for biographies on our instructors.
9. What should I bring to the sailing course?
BC Sailing in partnership with your local sailing club will provide all the necessary equipment including life jackets. The sailors will need to bring:
- water bottle
- lunch
- sunscreen
- hat
- appropriate clothing for the weather (rain or shine). Note: temperatures on the water are often much cooler than on land
- closed-toe shoes (ie - old runners or Aquasocks). The shoes should not fall off the feet if they go swimming.
- a change of clothes (you will get wet)
- towel
10. What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation policy:
- All accepted registrations are subject to a $35 cancellation fee for sailing courses.
- There will be no refunds for cancellations made within 14 days of the scheduled start date. (Exceptions may be made if the cancellation is due to illness or injury)
- There will be no refunds after the start date for the course with zero exceptions.
- If you are put on a wait list, your enrollment is assumed unless the club is notified otherwise. If a vacancy arises within your requested time frame, you will automatically be enrolled in the course and therefore will be subject to the afore stated cancellation policy.
BC Sailing has developed three course curriculums or "levels" which students work toward achieving during their sailing course. No matter what level of sailing ability the student is at, even if they've never set foot in a boat their entire lives, students will have fun learning to sail at a level that is comfortably suited to their age and abilities. Students who already have sailing experience or have taken a MOSS course before (even 2 or 3 of them) will continue to be challenged as they work toward progressing through the levels.
Below are brief descriptions of the three curriculums used. As students learn their new skills, they achieve a stamp on their report card indicating their ability to demonstrate them. When they are ready, students will progress onto the next level. Many students will spend more than one week at their assigned level while others may finish and begin working toward their next one in less time. This competency-based education and training system allows students to learn at their own individual pace. Typically, first time sailors are initially assigned to Opti Level 1, while much younger students (for example ages 6 - 7) are assigned to Wet Feet. However, all students will learn in the same class no matter what level they are at.
| Wet Feet | Description | Report Card |
| Opti Level 1 | Description | Report Card |
| Opti Level 2 | Description | Report Card |
