Frequently Asked Questions

Need help? Our FAQ’s offers clear, concise answers to your questions. Save time and get the answers you need now to complete your reservation with confidence.

Like anywhere in the city, parking is at a premium. We have a number of paid lots along the waterfront and have linked to the Waterfront BIA parking map so that you can spend less time finding parking and more time relaxing on your private yacht with us!

The attached link shows all of the public parking lots and parking garages at on the waterfront. When you find a parking lot near to the attraction or business you are visiting, click the “directions” button to open driving directions to the parking lot on google maps. Please also consider public transit, walking or cycling to get to Toronto’s Waterfront!

All bookings are final once confirmed subject to our severe weather rescheduling and minimum participation.

Any changes to individual ticketed sails prior to 7 days before sail are at the sole discretion of Gone Sailing Adventures and if accepted will incur a change fee of $20.00 per person (plus tax).

No changes will be accepted within 7 days of sailing.

Participation is fully transferable to another participant

As with most travel arrangements, all reservations are final once confirmed. All sails proceed subject to dangerous sailing conditions in which case, they are rescheduled. Only the Captain can make these decisions.

We do offer Cancellation and Weather Protection for private charters.

We do offer an exception where ALL guests are from out of town. See Weather Insurance Protection.

All reservations are final subject to our cancellation policies.  Refunds are issued on an exception basis only and are reviewed by management.  They are not automatic.  All requests for refunds must be made in writing to info@gosailto.com

If a refund is approved, please allow 4-6 weeks for processing.

– 2 weeks to be approved by management 

– 2 weeks to have accounting department process

-2 weeks to have the credit card processor and your bank complete the transaction.

The one part of sailing out of our control is the weather. Toronto has a very moderate climate and foul with sub-tropical weather during the summer; rain usually is light and is only temporary (20 minutes). Unless there is lightning in the immediate area or the wind or waves are deemed unsafe, we will be sailing (it often makes the trip more exciting).

During more severe conditions, there is always a dry place on your private yacht in the cabin and covered cockpit. In the unlikely event sailing is cancelled you will be offered a rain-check to return another day for a sailing lesson and public sail. Private Yacht Charters have the option to purchase Any Reason or Weather Protection in advance.

Yachts are open style and subject to all weather. Enclosed areas are available on yachts larger than 30’   Weather insurance must be purchased within 12hrs of reservation or a minimum of 10 days in advance of sail.  

Policy: 

  • At 4 hours prior to scheduled embarkation CHARTERER may, upon payment of the rescheduling/cancelation fee, reschedule within the same season OR cancel sail due to GSA verified weather-related issue. No refund on catering orders.  September sails may be extended up to June 28 of the following year.
  • Captain initiated cancelation or rescheduling are at no additional cost to the Guest.  A pro-rated refund or rescheduling is only issued for captain-initiated cancellation and if sail is less than 60% complete. (ie 35% complete – Refund of 65% or Reschedule for full Charter Time)

Captain may delay the start of Charter to avoid adverse weather conditions.

Rescheduled or Delayed sails are for the full time of the original sail.

  • Client Initiated Rescheduling Fee for yachts and charters – 5% of Charter Fee
  • Client Initiated Deductible Cancelling for yachts and charters – 10% of Charter Fee
  • GSA Initiated Deductible Cancelling or Rescheduling for yachts and charters – No Charge

Our Sailing neighbourhood receives approximately 20% of the general forecasted weather seen on TV, heard on radio and read on the internet.  As such, weather cancelation decisions are made at 4hrs prior to scheduled start of your sail, unless otherwise agreed upon by GSA. If YOU choose to reschedule due to weather, a 5% rebooking fee applies.  If YOU chose to cancel and request a refund, 10% of charter fee is retained by GSA.  If GSA cancels or reschedules there is no charge.  GSA may delay the start of your sail to avoid short term adverse conditions.

If no insurance is purchased, only GSA may cancel or reschedule your sail.

Included in your Private Charter is:

A beautiful and spotless new sailing yacht, a professional, friendly, and knowledgeable captain and host, all necessary safety gear and cleaning up after the charter as well as fuel and anchoring fees.

Catering is available at a separate cost from our catering menu.

Some Yachts are BYOB others sell acohol .

Please see Food and Beverage Policy Here

The waters on Lake Ontario are generally light with only moderate waves during the summer. Relatively few people suffer from some sort of nausea while sailing Toronto waters.

We recommend two herbal remedies that are non-medicinal, Ginger Gravol and Motion Ease. The Ginger Gravol should be taken in advance and is found at most pharmacies. There is a Shoppers Drug Mart across the road from our dock. You can hop in there before you set out on your sailing adventures with Gone Sailing Adventures. In the unlikely event that you are not feeling well on your yacht charter, our staff will do their best to make you comfortable during your sail.

If you plan on taking any anti-nausea medication – You should do so at least 45 minutes prior to boarding your private yacht. Remember regular gravol or dramamine will cause drowsiness.

Consult your medical advisor prior to taking any medications.

Food and Beverage is not included in our pricing. Everyone has a different preference and budget. We offer a specially designed menu from our galley.

Alcohol consumption is subject to Ontario Regulations that are strongly enforced by the Toronto Marine Police, OPP & RCMP. Private Yachts that are not licensed by the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) are only permitted to provide BYOB service and consumption is limited to while at the dock or anchored – not while the boat is moving (most of your sail).

Great News – Our sail boats are licensed by AGCO and as such we sell both beer & wine and you are permitted to consume your beverages at all time while on your yacht charter. Our private motor yachts are subject to standard alcohol regulations above. Our sailing yachts operate the same as a bar and no outside food or alcohol is permitted on any yacht.

Each vessel carries its own licensing and different rules apply. Please see our Food and Beverage Policy.

We have a special yacht – designed menu prepared fresh from our galley available for private charters and shared sails. We also work with a few outside caterers which require 7 days advance notice. Our menus are available from our website by clicking here.

Please see our Food and Beverage Policy for Private Charters on each individual boat. Our sailing yachts and luxury catamaran have in house catering only while our motor yachts permit self-catering. During Shared Sails, we do not permit outside food brought on board due to the intimacy of the close quarters and potential allergies etc. We do however, provide complimentary bottled water. Snacks and Beverages are available for purchase.

We love celebrations and welcome you to bring cupcakes ONLY. Cakes are difficult to serve on a moving boat. Home baked goods are not permitted. While we don’t charge for this service, you are encouraged to show your extra appreciation to your crew accordingly.

We love celebrations and welcome you to bring cup cakes ONLY.  Cakes are difficult to serve on a moving boat.  Outside food must be purchased from a commercial kitchen (restaraunt, store).  Home baked goods are not permitted.

While we don’t charge for this service, you are encouraged to show your extra appreciation to your crew accordingly.

Please see our Food and Beverage Policy for Private Charters on each individual boat.

During Shared Sails, we do not permit outside food brought on board due to the intimacy of the close quarters and potential allergies etc. We do however, provide complimentary  bottled water. Snacks  and Beverages  are availble  for purchase.

During the hot summer days we encourage a swim in the fresh Lake Ontario water. Our boats have noodles and other flotation devices.

We swim in approximately 8-20′ of water.  You should be competent to swim in this depth in order enter the water.

Lifejackets provided are for onboard use only and are not to be used as a swimming aid.  We do however offer a variety of noodles, flutterboards and floating saddles.

On a typical sail you will probably get splashed a bit unless the weather is absolutely calm. The proper clothing will keep you warm and dry so there is no need to shiver. Our fully enclosed cockpits on yachts over 30′ will also protect you from the elements in the event of a sudden change in weather. We also have blankets on board to ensure your comfort.

Our 3hr sailing Experience is quite relaxing and we have bench and deck seating available. You must be able to board the boat which requires the ability to step out/up/down approximately 0.5m or 18″. Once on board you may remain seated the whole time or move about the yacht. There are hand rails, however, the nature of a sail boat is to heel (lean to one side) and rock. You should maintain a solid grip and have good stability to move about.

Guests must be a maximum of 125 kilos or 275lbs to board any vessel.  From June-September we are barefoot on board.

Sailing Courses involve activity and movement the whole time you are sailing. You should have solid stability and strength to balance, pull on lines and turn winches handles.

Mondays of long weekends and holidays are counted as weekend pricing

Monday May __ Victoria Day

Wednesday July __ Canada Day

Saturday July __ US Independence Day

Monday August __ Simcoe Day

Monday September __ Labour Day

Each boat is licensed for a differenct number of passengers. Please check Our Fleet page for the capacity of each vessel.

Tickets for public sails are price per person

Children above the age of 1 yrs are included in the passenger count and subject to ticket purchase

We are an outdoor activity!

During sailing you will be exposed to sun, wind and cool breezes. Be prepared and this will make your excursion much more enjoyable. We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat. Additionally we recommend having layered clothing; a base cool layer, warmer middle layer and waterproof outer layer. The temperature can be much cooler during a breeze and when the sun goes down.

Please note that we are Barefoot on all boats

Please apply sunscreen prior to boarding.  Spray-on products damage the boat finish.

All of our yachts are recent construction and built and maintained to current safety standards. All are Transport Canada licensed for passenger carriage and we have more than the minimum required safety equipment on board.

If you feel that you need to provide a damage deposit and are concerned you or your guests will not respect our equipment, we probably don’t want you to sail with us.

However, at our discretion we may request a $500 damage deposit to be paid in cash or credit card prior to boarding.

Our crews work very hard both before you arrive to the yacht and while you are on board. The same as you would with any service, it is customary to demonstrate your appreciation to the hard work the sailing/serving team provides to ensure the boat is safe, clean and you are catered to professionally.

While a modest Crew Service Fee of 12% is included in your purchase price, Crew gratuities (discretionary) are customary at 15-20% of the total charter and food/beverage fees, scaled up/down as per level of service.

We are a family friendly environment and welcome children on board.

Every person above 1 year is counted toward the total occupancy of the vessel and are charged.

We require children under 12yrs  to wear lifejackets at all times.  These however are not for use for swimming and must be removed while swimming.  We provide other floatation items such as flutter boards for use recreationally in the water.

Children under 5 are not permitted on shared public sails.

No persons under 19 are permitted on Summer Sailstice, Full Moon or Wine & Cheese Sails.

Children are not permitted to walk freely around the vessel.  They must be kept within arm’s length from their guardian at all times.  – Your crew are on board to assist in ensuring your safety and to serve you.  Their role is not to provide babysitting services.  Please ensure you watch your children personally.

Our prices on public sails are per person. We do not offer a discount for children except on certain Kids Sail Free Sails as we are limited in the number of guests on each sail and children (over 1yr)  are counted the same as an adult.

We require children under 12 to wear a Transport Canada approved and properly fitted lifejacket.  If required these may be rented from us for $15ea for Shared Sails.  

Children under 5yrs are not permitted on Shared Sails.

On Private Charters, children life jackets are available at no charge and any age children are welcome.

Children are not permitted to walk freely around the vessel.  They must be kept within arm’s length from their guardian at all times.  – Your crew are on board to assist in ensuring your safety and to serve you.  Their role is not to provide babysitting services.  Please ensure you watch your children personally.

On the water, even on cloudy days, the sun is stronger than on shore and your tan will darken both from the direct sunlight, the reflection off the water, and our large sails. We have a lot of wide open deck space for which to capture those warm rays. Just remember your 50+ SPF sunscreen and remember aersol sprays are not permitted to be used on board. For those that prefer shade, the bench seating area is covered for shaded comfort.

While Lake Ontario has many species of freshwater fish including salmon, lake trout, pickerel, pike and perch, our boats are not set up for fishing.

We do however provide the opportunity for dolphin spotting from our foredeck. No one has seen these elusive saltwater mammals – maybe one day.

Yes we do!

Gift Certificates are available through the calendar booking pages. Simply purchase a gift card instead of scheduling your date.

When you are ready to schedule your sail, enter the voucher code on the certificate.

You do not need to be fit or able-bodied to sail, as our boats are very stable and will not capsize. If you cannot swim – we have PFD’s available and are worn on all our instructional courses. While Gone Sailing Adventures requires certain mobility for boarding and disembarking, if you have special circumstances, please contact us directly. Our goal is to provide a great experience on the water for you and we will adapt to you as best we can.

On a typical 3hr sail (regardless of which yacht), we generally sail through the harbour and then out through one of the channels circumnavigating the islands, Our sail takes us between 2 and 4 miles into the lake and then returning to our dock. Based on our customers desires, we often stop for 20 minutes at one of the island beaches for a swim. Itineraries on private charters are flexible and may include a tour through the island canals or a stop for a swim.

Longer sails may include longer swimming stops.

Our 3 hr Experience Sailing sail is aboard our 41’yachts. We can accommodate up to 12 people plus the skipper and mate on board. There is space in the cockpit as well as on the deck in front of the mast for relaxing and seating below in the cabin.

Our Introduction to Sailing is aboard our Beneteau First 22 and has a capacity of 4 students.

The Small Keel Boat & Bareboat Captain courses have a maximum of 4 students.

Rafting is when we anchor multiple boats together and our guests can cross onto each yacht. Click here to view.

No balloons are permitted on any Gone Sailing Adventures vessels due to the extreme environmental hazard they pose.  Please see this article on how balloons affect our environment

https://ow.ly/DZd850uNexQ

Unfortunately we are not equipped to accomodate pets on board.  Please leave fluffy at home.

This policy also applies to service animals which is permitted by applicable provincial laws.

These policies are in place for both you and your animals safety.

On our larger yachts, the seating is arranged on deck. There is a range of seating from bean bag seating  in our “chill zone’ on the foredeck of our larger vessels to solide bench seating in the  covered and shaded cockpits with the crew. 

Our sport boats offer open bench seating.

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!

End of Season Specials

Last Week Of The Season - Save 50%
Sep 30 -Oct 6, Any sail. Book 4 or more guests. Use Code -
Lastweek-SHARE (for share sails)
Lastweek-Priv (for private sails)