The OYS Sailing School
General Information About OYS Youth Sailing School Programs
The Oakville Yacht Squadron Sailing School has been proudly serving the Oakville community since 1965, teaching many adults and youth to sail at our great waterfront setting.
The OYS Sailing School follows the Sail Canada Learn to Sail program. Courses are offered for youth aged 7 to 17 years. Students will receive approximately two thirds of their instruction on the water and the remainder through land classes. Sail Canada CANSail certificates are awarded upon successful completion of a set of practical skills and demonstrated knowledge at each level.
Youth programs are offered during weekdays in July and August using the OYS fleet for training. Students are grouped in classes according to program level, age and ability.
All OYS Sailing School Instructors are trained and certified by Sail Canada. The Instructors are a minimum of 16 years of age and each has First Aid and CPR training.
Safety Policy
The safety of students and instructors is the highest priority for the OYS Sailing School. All students and instructors are required to wear a PFD at all times while on the water. Students must provide their own PFD. Each coach boat is equipped with a VHF radio to enable instructors to be in constant contact with the school and local rescue units (TOWARF and the Halton Police) The school and coach boats are equipped with first aid kits to treat minor medical needs. Daily weather reports from Environment Canada are consulted and the Head Instructor determines if it is appropriate for on the water instruction to be cancelled. Land based activities and instruction are planned in that event.
Adult programs are offered both in evening and week-long day sessions throughout the spring and summer. These programs are offered on keelboats.
For the young enthusiast we offer the Optimist/Mosquito Junior Sail Program for children starting at age 8. This program provides an exciting opportunity for young students to experience sailing while having fun. July and August classes are available. Sailing School t-shirts are included in the registration fee of all courses.
http://oakvilleys.checklick.com/online-registration
Your registration fee is tax deductible under the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit program. For more information, please see http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness. Please keep your registration confirmation letter as it is also doubles as your tax credit submission form.
Student Eligibility
Students must be 8 years of age or older and must be comfortable on and in the water.
Instructors
All OYS Sailing School instructors have National Coaches Certifications from the Canadian Yachting Association.
The instructors are a minimum of 16 years of age and each has attained at least their Emergency First Aid and Boat Rescue certifications outlined by the Life Saving Society.
OYSSS Fleet of Boats
A total of 30 boats make up the OYS Sailing School fleet. The Mosquito program has 8 dinghies for younger beginners. The CANSail 1 & 2 sailors use the CL14 dinghies of which there are 8, with three or four students per boat. The intermediate sailors use the 420 dinghies of which there are 10, with two students per boat. The adult keelboat program uses 4 Shark (24 ft) keelboats.
The sailing school has 8 coach/rescue motor boats for use by the instructors during on the water classes.
Students enrolled in the racing program are expected to provide their own Laser or Optimist sailboat. Summer storage is included in the course fee. Contact the Sailing School Director for more information.
Safety Policies & Inclement Weather
The safety of all students and instructors is the highest priority for the school. All students and instructors are required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times while on the water.Students must provide their own PFD.
Each coach/rescue boat is equipped with a portable VHF radio. This enables instructors on the water to be in constant communication with the School and local rescue units (TOWARF and the Police).
The School and all coach boats are equipped with first aid kits to treat minor medical needs.
The instructors obtain daily weather reports from Environment Canada using the VHF radio. After receiving the report and reviewing local conditions, the Head Instructor decides if it is appropriate for the students to be sailing.
In the event of on-water instruction being canceled, land activities are planned for the students.
Students should bring….
- personal flotation device (PFD) with their name clearly marked
- soft-soled, non-marking shoes
- extra set of clothes
- jacket on cool days
- hat & sunglasses
- sunscreen
- bag lunch
All personal belongings are stored in the student shed in open cubicles. The Sailing School cannot ensure the safety of any valuables.
Lunch is not provided by the club, however cold drinks are available from the club vending machine.
Once per week, students are allowed to go out for lunch. Students, escorted by instructors, may walk to local fast food outlets, so some pocket change may be needed.
School Facilities
The Sailing School is housed on the grounds of the Oakville Yacht Squadron. Land classes are taught in the School building and at the dry dock area. Washroom facilities are available at the main Clubhouse and are equipped with hot showers.
Youth Awards Banquet
An evening awards banquet and slide show for students and parents is held at OYS the Thursday of the final week of July and August to celebrate student accomplishments and to reflect on good times!
Advancing Sailors: Questions and Concerns
The OYS Sailing School sets a high standard of achievement for its students to insure they move through the levels with confidence and the required base skills. Many of the current instructors frequently repeated levels to meet the program requirements.
In the past, instructors have felt parental pressure to advance sailors who had not achieved the required competence to advance. Obviously this would create serious concerns if, while in advanced levels, the sailor was unable to demonstrate the required skills – especially when some were necessary to sail independently on Lake Ontario.
Please accept and appreciate that not all students will achieve the required skills on the first attempt. It is our goal to insure students can demonstrate consistently the required skills of the level being undertaken – a student that does not consistently demonstrate the required skills does not fail – the student has simply not completed the level.
Please contact your child’s instructor if you have concerns about your child’s advancement. In most cases extra help can be arranged if you wish.
Crew Bench – Wednesday Night Racing
All adult students are invited to show up at the Crew Bench before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights during the racing season. Senior club members are always looking for more crew! The crew bench is located at the southeast corner of the clubhouse under the sign. To get on the Crew Bench, click here.
Hours of Operation
The School operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students are expected to be at the school by 8:30 a.m. to rig boats and remain at the end of the day until all boats are derigged. Instruction begins at 9:00 a.m. and finishes by 3:00 p.m.
Adult evening classes begin at 6:30 p.m.
Location
The Sailing School is located at the Oakville Yacht Squadron, 97 Forsythe Street, Oakville, on the west side of Sixteen Mile Creek, south of Lakeshore Road at the bottom of the hill. Click here to see the map.
Junior Sail Program information …
Information and Registration
E-mail at OYS Sailing School Info
Telephone and voice mail: (905) 338-9379
Mailing Address: OYS Sailing School, c/o Kent Paisley, 254 Woodland Drive, Oakville, ON L6J 4W5
2013 Sailing School Registration: http://oakvilleys.checklick.com/online-registration
{ 1 trackback }