A Beginner’s Guide to Sailing in Toronto

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The Toronto waterfront sailing will be more enjoyable after undertaking our comprehensive Gone Sailing Adventures sailing lessons. Services including boat rental Toronto offer trained sailors an unforgettable sailing experience across the city skyline and unique natural spaces. Novice sailors who want to start a boat cruising adventure will find all the necessary information and essential recommendations within this guide.

1. Understanding the Basics of Sailing

Everyone wishing to begin Gone Sailing Adventures’ yacht cruising should master the following essential elements;

  • Wind and Sail –The natural power source for sailing boats is wind. Properly positioning the sails is a critical step in maximizing your capture of wind power. The direction and speed you experience directly depend on the sail’s orientation relative to the wind.
  • Point of Sail –Boats achieve their directional alignment through Points of Sail, which establish their positional relationship to wind direction. A sailboat navigates effectively through three main positions: close-hauled, where it faces into the wind, and beam reach and broad reach, when sailing perpendicular to or behind the wind direction, respectively.

2. Choosing the Right Sailing Experience

When starting out as a sailor, it’s important to choose a yacht charters that fit your current sailing capabilities and personal preferences. Gone Sailing Adventures provides different entry-level lessons, which include:

  • Introductory sailing classes– The introductory sessions teach sailing novices how to control boats, along with wind reading.
  • Crew Yacht Charter– The ability to choose a suitable yacht charter provides you with the excitement of boating without requiring boat operation responsibilities.
  • Boat Rental Toronto– The boat rental allows personal exploration across Toronto’s water bodies at your preferred speed.

3. Preparing for Your First Sail

Before sailing, you must consider several important matters;

  • Clothing- Choose waterproof apparel for sailing protection from extreme weather conditions.
  • Footwear-Pick non-slip, closed-toe shoes with a good grip.
  • Sun Protection –Protect your skin from sunburn by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat.

4. Safety Tips for Beginner Sailors

Safety requires several fundamental guidelines that one must follow.

  • Life Jackets:Visitors must always wear life jackets
  • Weather Awareness –Review the weather forecast ahead of navigation.

5. Exploring Toronto’s Sailing Destinations

The sailing destinations in Toronto provide multiple boat cruise adventure opportunities for different types of sailors. These destinations include;

  • Toronto Islands-The islands contain multiple parks and beaches, which offer visitors an excellent outdoor picnic opportunity.
  • Harbourfront Centre –People who wish to stay near downtown Toronto find this spot highly rewarding.
  • Lake Ontario-The open water provides sailing enthusiasts with a combination of freedom and tranquility because it gives them enough room to explore their sailing abilities.

6. Joining the Sailing Community

Sailing goes beyond being a casual interest because it creates a gathering of people who share the same love for boating.

  • Sailing Club– The Gone Sailing Adventures sailing clubs give visitors a chance to learn from expert sailors and create lasting connections with other sailing enthusiasts through their member programs.
  • Regattas and Events- Joining local regattas allows beginner sailors to develop sailing skills and make connections with people who have similar interests

7. Final Tips for Beginner Sailors

Final Tips for beginner sailors include;

  • Starting Small-The first sailing experience should be short boat rides to help new sailors familiarize themselves with the art.
  • Practice Makes Perfect-Sailing requires regular practice to master the skill until you attain absolute mastery of the skill.

The Yacht rental Toronto lessons offered by Gone Sailing Adventures provide amateur sailors with a thrill from the activities being offered. Beginner sailors who undertake the Gone Sailing Adventure lessons are guaranteed a fearless and enthusiastic open water exploration as expert sailors.

Let the journey begin, a world of adventures, relaxation, and memories awaits!

YOUR SAFETY IS AT RISK

When considering chartering a yacht in Canada, we know you have many options. Some of these options look super exciting and at ridiculously great prices. Recent trends in the industry have opened the door for many unqualified individuals to purchase boats and offer charter services to the unsuspecting public. It’s easy to create a website and even easier to just list a boat on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Getmyboat, Boat Setter and many others.

Unfortunately, many of these operators are NOT licensed, insured or qualified to accept your trust on the water.

In order to be licensed and insured a number of items MUST be in place. Listed are just a few.

  • The operator must be licensed by Transport Canada with a commercial license known as either:
    – Limited Master under 60tonne.
    – Small Vessel Operators Permit (SVOP).
  • The name of the vessel must be visible on the stern (back) or the registration number beginning with the letter “C” must be visible on the side of the vessel near the front. Boats with a registration number beginning with “ON” are not licensed for passengers.
  • If the vessel is under 12m (40’) it should participate in the Transport Canada Small Vessel Compliance Program and display a “Blue Decal” and have corresponding certificate.
  • If the vessel is over 12m (40’) or carries more than 12 passengers, it MUST BE INSPECTED by Transport Canada and have an inspection certificate on board.
  • All vessels must have commercial liability insurance and coverage specifically for the number of passengers approved to be carried on board.
  • The vessel must comply with commercial safety requirements beyond recreational standards. Many of these illegal operators do not have the proper training, carry proper safety equipment, nor do their recreational boats meet the design/construction requirements of a commercial, passenger carrying vessel. These illegal operators try to stay under the radar of Police/OPP/RCMP/Transport Canada by:
  • hiding the name of their vessel by hanging items over the stern
  • not letting you know where they will have you board until just before the start of your charter.
  • pick you up at a public park (where docking is not permitted).
  • suggest to you that you are friends of the owner/operator out for a ride and not a paying customer.
  • allow you to drink alcohol while the boat is underway (illegal-same as a car) but tell you to hide your bottles etc.
  • insist on a cash transaction or part of it as a way of defrauding the internet listing company.
  • Make you sign a “Charter Agreement” just before you board without giving you details of the document beforehand.

    Over the last few years there have been a number of deaths and even more accidents resulting from these types of operators. Be safe and know who you are getting on a boat with. All licensed operators should willingly display their credentials, and most are members of the Passenger & Commercial Vessel Association (PCVA).

    Link to Global News Report on Charter Accidents

Check before you book
&
Know before you Go!