BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR

1. Completing Prerequisites

2. Fundamental Clinic (the Fundamental course must be taken prior to the technical clinic)

3. Technical Clinic

4. Evaluation

5. Pay your annual instructor dues to Sail Canada in order to deliver CANSail programs, obtain insurance and access CANSail resources.

For more information, see Sail Canada’s pathway to becoming a CANSail Instructor.

All prerequisites must be scanned and emailed to BC Sailing prior to registering with Sail Canada as a coach. This can be done before or after the coaching clinics.

All CANSail instructors must be turning 16 or older in the calendar year. One exception is for community instructors who must be at least 14 years old.

Pleasure Craft Operator Card

Standard first aid with CPR C from a nationally recognized provider

Coach Boat Safety course offered through BC Sailing. Cost is $100 + tax ($100 + tax for re-certification)

Safe Sport Training. Please see BC Sailing’s pledge to the Responsible Coaching Movement and recognized Safe Sport courses here.

Enhanced police information check (if 18 years of age or older). This can be done in person at your local police station or online.

Sailing Certificate:
• CANSail 1 & 2 Instructor – minimum CANSail 4
• CANSail 3 & 4 Instructor – minimum CANSail 5
• CANSail 5 & 6 Instructor – minimum CANSail 6
• Spin & Trap Instructor – minimum CANSail 6 + Spin & Trap 2

BC Sailing & Sail Canada require Safe Sport Training every 5 years. See Safe Sport page for more info.

BC Sailing recommends that instructors continue to upgrade their sailing levels through CANSail courses, race team training and spending time on the water to remain current with their sailing knowledge.

Cost: $300 + tax

Prerequisite Courses: None

The CANSail Fundamental Theory Clinic is the required theory portion and is a prerequisite for all future instructing and coaching courses. This course covers coaching theory, including professionalism, ethics, risk management, safety, skill development, teaching methods and planning a practice.

Making Ethical Decisions Module: This online module is offered by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) This ethics module is introduced during the CANSail Fundamental course. Instructors and coaches are required to take the online module and exam prior to registration with Sail Canada. More information on this course can be found here. 

CANSail 1-4 Technical Cost: $340 + tax

CANSail 5 & 6 Technical Cost: $350 + tax

Prerequisite Courses: Fundamental Clinic

The CANSail Technical clinics are very hands-on. These are practical courses that utilize theory learned in the Fundamental Clinic. This course covers the on water delivery of CANSail Material, class management and engagement.

There are three CANSail Technical Clinics to choose from:

1. CANSail 1 & 2

2. CANSail 3 & 4

3. CANSail 5 & 6

Typically, CANSail 1 & 2 and CANSail 3 & 4 technical clinics are run together (CANSail 1-4 clinics). CANSail 5 & 6 instructors can only teach CANSail 5 & 6 unless they are also trained or certified in other levels. The courses are not linear. Please contact our Programs and Communications Manager to find what certification level is right for you.

Upon successful completion of the technical clinic, instructors are trained. Trained instructors can register with Sail Canada and coach alongside a fully certified coach. Trained instructors must complete an evaluation within two years of becoming trained. Once instructors are successful in their evaluation, they are certified for four years from the date of their technical clinic.

Cost: $100 + tax

Instructors must complete an evaluation within two years of becoming trained to become a Sail Canada-certified instructor or coach. Contact BC Sailing to arrange an evaluation with a Learning Facilitator (Evaluator).

Evaluation Registration Link Here: https://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1409&EID=31508

Trained and certified instructors must register with Sail Canada and submit the annual coach/instructor dues to the Sail Canada office. These annual dues cover instructor liability insurance as well as contributing to program development.

BC Sailing is a champion of the Responsible Coaching Movement. Part of ensuring a safe sport experience for participants is ethics training for instructors and coaches. In addition to the NCCP Making Ethical Decisions module and online test, there are additional ethics training courses available online. Safe sport training is required every 5 years for instructors and coaches.

Respect in Sport (3 PD points) – the link to this course is found by logging in to your Sail Canada profile

Commit to Kids (3 PD points)

Coaching Association of Canada –  Safe Sport Training (3 PD points)

Basic Cruising Instructor – The Basic Cruising Instructor Course is the first certification in the Cruising Instructor stream. The course focuses on the development of lesson planning and teaching skills using a keelboat as a primary teaching aid. Candidates will have the opportunity to practise and refine their ability to deliver training in classroom and on water environments. Candidate sailing skills will be evaluated. On completion of this level, successful candidates will be able to train and certify students at the Introductory (Sail) and Basic Cruising levels.

Intermediate Cruising Instructor – Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Intermediate Cruising level. This course, open to Basic Cruising instructors, focuses on the classroom and on water delivery and evaluation of boat systems knowledge and sailboat handling skills needed to operate a vessel in a near coastal environment.

Advanced Cruising Instructor – Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Advanced Cruising level. This course, open to Intermediate Cruising instructors, focuses on the classroom and on water delivery and evaluation of knowledge and skills required to operate a vessel in all conditions, day and night, up to 100 miles offshore.

Offshore Cruising Instructor – Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Offshore Cruising level. This course, open to Advanced Cruising instructors, focuses on the delivery and evaluation of knowledge and skills required to make long distance ocean passages in sailing vessels.

Basic Keelboat Racing Instructor – Open to all cruising instructors by application. Approved instructors will be able to certify candidates at the Basic Keelboat Racing level.

Coastal Navigation Instructor – Open to the knowledgeable navigator by application. Approved instructors will be able to examine for and award the Coastal Navigation standard.

Celestial Navigation Instructor – Open to the knowledgeable celestial navigator by application. Approved instructors will be able to examine for and award the Celestial Navigation standard.

Advanced Navigation Instructor – Open by application to candidates with advanced knowledge in pilotage, weather and the use of radar and other navigation-oriented electronics. Approved instructors will be able to examine for and award the Advanced Navigation standard.

Basic Outboard Instructor – Train candidates in the safe use of small outboard powered boats. Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Basic Outboard level.

Basic Powerboat Instructor Course – The Basic Powerboat Instructor Course is the common entry point to the Powerboat Instructor stream. The course focuses on the development of lesson planning and teaching skills using a single-engine powerboat as the primary teaching aid. Candidates will have the opportunity to practise and refine their ability to deliver training in classroom and on water environments. Candidate power vessel operation skills will be evaluated. Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Introductory (power), Basic Outboard and Basic Powerboat levels.

Intermediate Powerboat Instructor – Candidates who successfully complete this course will be able to certify candidates at the Intermediate Cruising level. Open to Basic Powerboat instructors, this course focuses on the classroom and on water delivery and evaluation of boat systems knowledge and dual-engine powerboat handling skills needed to operate a vessel in a near-coastal environment.

Basic Instructor Evaluator – Candidates who successfully complete this course are authorized to co-conduct at any Instructor Development Program so long as the IE is certified to certify students at the instructor level to be certified and the IE has taught a minimum of two student-level courses at that level provided they are currently registered with the CYA.

Senior Instructor Evaluator – Candidates who successfully complete this course are authorized to be the lead conductor at any instructor development program so long as the IE is certified to certify students at the instructor level to be certified and the IE has taught a minimum of two student-level courses at that level provided they are currently registered with the CYA.

Cruising Instructor Recertification – The Sail Canada LTC/P (Cruise, Power, Navigation) Instructors, Instructor Evaluators, & PCOC Instructors Certification & Re-Certification Policy 2022 can be found here.