Sailing Is For Everyone

Living near Lake Ontario without sailing is like working at an ice cream parlour without ever grabbing a spoon. Sailing is a big part of our lakeside heritage, but if you’ve ever watched boats go by and thought sailing was only for the lucky few, think again. You don’t even need to own a boat to call yourself a sailor!

“I used to watch sailboats and think it was something just for rich people,” says Roman Sivers, Rear Commodore Training at Bronte Harbour Yacht Club (BHYC). That changed once he and his wife signed up for lessons at the BHYC, and later enrolled their kids in summer sailing camp.

Sivers, who is currently looking to buy his own boat, says sailing is more enjoyable, and affordable, than he ever thought. “You can get a sailboat for $15,000 – compare that to cottage ownership. People drive four hours to the cottage on Fridays. For me, it’s eight minutes door to door. You’ve got this tiny floating cottage and can go to Hamilton, Toronto Island, have a barbecue on the water, watch the sunset. Every weekend is like a tiny vacation,” he says.

If buying a boat isn’t in the cards, there are still plenty of ways to learn and to sail. BHYC offers lessons, and the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club runs a unique Mentored Sailing Program that gives would-be sailors of any experience level the opportunity to learn on the water. “They sail for about three to four hours weekly under the advice and direction of a more seasoned sailor, one of our mentors,” says Shaun Vince, 2025 Mentored Sailing Program Coordinator.

During the 16-week program, participants learn to dock and undock, manoeuvre, prep the boat for sailing and secure it afterward. They also learn about anchoring, safety, and basic boat maintenance. To join, participants need to have their Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC), a government required license for anyone operating a motorized boat (even if they’re not using the motor). It’s a one- time online course, and the license lasts a lifetime.

Your time on the boat doesn’t have to stop after lessons. Boat owners need crew members for races, and many are happy to welcome beginners. BHYC and other clubs host regular races, usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some weekends. “Signing up for these can be a great way to get on the water, meet folks, and learn quite a bit about sailing,” says Vince.

TALL SHIP SAILING

Looking for a totally different kind of sailing experience? Try tall ship sailing with Brigs, a program that takes participants back in time aboard a traditional wooden ship. It’s an open-air history lesson that lets you step – or float – back in time.

Brigs offers epic one to two week voyages for teens (ages 13- 18) and shorter four-day voyages for adults, where participants live on board while learning to sail. “These boats cannot be sailed solo or by two people. They have to be sailed by an entire team, who you live with on board,” says Christine Chesterman, Captain of TS Playfair.

Tall ship voyages appeal to those with a sense of adventure, who want to experience sailing the way it was done in the 1800s. Sailors climb into the rigging, set sails, steer the ship, and learn anchoring and navigation – all while sailing through the scenic waters of Georgian Bay. “You’ve got that romance and majesty of being 60 feet in the air with the sails,” Chesterman says.

Beyond learning to sail, Brigs tall ship voyages help build confidence, independence, and collaboration skills as sailors live, work, cook and clean together on board for the duration of the voyage. The ship takes up to 15 new trainees per voyage as well as 10 volunteer members. No experience required. All you need is curiosity and a love of adventure.