Time to get back out on the water!
It's very nice to be back and typing normally again. The last few weeks and months of recovery from a broken wrist were annoying but the downtime did give me a chance to think about some posts I could make here. It's May now and we're right on the cusp of sailing season here in the Maritimes. Last year I took a course through a small local sailing school which is unfortunately no longer operating. And so I'm back at square one again, making a list of schools offering adult lessons and sailing education. We're still covid-affected here (I write this from a serious lockdown) but I have hope in the efficacy of vaccines to get me back out on the water this season.
A list of places offering sailing lessons to adults in Nova Scotia
This is my attempt at a comprehensive list but I've almost certainly missed someone. Contact me using the links at the bottom if you want to be included or have some other note you feel needs to be added!
This list is also based on my biases. I think it's great that some schools offer lessons in dinghies to adults so I've made note of that. That's something I'd definitely like to do someday. My main goal is to learn to cruise. I can think of no better way to see the world.
- Dinghies!
- Keelboats
- Private and group lessons
- Keelboat
- Group lessons in two sessions over the summer
Discovery Sailing (South shore)
- Keelboat
- Group lessons (3 students at a time, or two couples)
- Liveaboard format
- Not really adult lessons, but included because they have an offering for families which seems like a great idea
- Soling keel boats
- Flexible schedule (full disclosure: I've been to this club and I think it's fantastic)
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons
- Non-profit offering PCOC and radio courses for over 80 years
- Online radio courses and certifications
- Keelboat
- Private and group lessons
- Weekend format courses, as well as shorter trips
In Slocum's Wake Sailing (Halifax - RNSYS)
- Best named sailing school in Nova Scotia (*according to me)
- Keelboat
- Sail Canada and RYA courses
- Dinghies and Dinghy racing (bring your own Lightning!)
- Youth and adult lessons
- A dedicated community is trying to build up a fleet of Lightning boats for regular racing (full disclosure: I've been to this club and I think it's fantastic.)
- Looks like a larger, full-service yacht club but I've never been there
- Dinghies, keelboats, cansail, sail canada
- Appears to be an independent operator offering lessons
- Sail Canada courses and ICC
- Keelboat
- Sail Canadacourses
- Keelboat
- Keelboat
- Evening format courses currently Monday or Wed evenings
- Dinghies and keelboats