Successful completion of Sail Canada’s Basic Cruising Standard.

Course Description

This is one of the entry level courses in the series of Sail Canada courses on sailing keelboats and on cruising. It
develops the student’s ability to take command of and operate (with assistance of competent crew) an auxiliary
powered sailing vessel, by day, in light to moderate conditions. Basic boating skills are developed under sail and
power with a focus on operation of the vessel as both crew and skipper. Individuals with minimal practical on water
experience should consider completing the Start Keelboat Sailing standard before attending for this training.
This course introduces the operation of a cruising keelboat both as a powered vessel and as a sailboat. Terminology
used in describing the boat and on water activities is taught and used throughout the course. Practical topics under
power include simple maneuvering skills as well as departure from and return to dock. Basic sailing skills are
developed including sail selection, the use and positioning of sails to provide propulsion, and the operation of the
vessel with crew. Required and recommended safety equipment is discussed as is the handling of emergencies that
might be encountered while day sailing. The basic rules for avoiding collision with other vessels are explained and
this information is applied during the practical sessions. The meaning of weather forecasts is clarified and the impact
of weather on vessel operation, crew behavior, and on water activities is discussed. The curriculum includes an
elementary introduction to the Canadian navigation system and to the basic use of charts and tide and current tables.
The program may be offered in a day sailing or live aboard format. It is envisioned that the day sailing format will
be taught in not less than 27 hours of which at least 18 hours should be devoted to practical sessions on water. In a
live aboard format the course may be offered over a period of 4 or more days. A challenge of the standard may be
accomplished in a minimum of 4 hours afloat plus completion of the written examination.

Objective

To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sloop rigged keelboat of 6 to 10 meters
with an outboard or inboard motor in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.

Obtained Restricted Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate, Maritime with DSC endorsement.

We now have a way to tow our Macgregor.

We pack up the boat with our kids, and the dog, for a family trip up the Trent-Severn waterway to Burleigh Falls.

This marks the end of our first season with our Macgregor. We pull our boat out onto her trailer and store her for the winter.

We spend the summer living on the boat while the kids take sailing lessons at the Cobourg Yacht Club.

We use the boat ramp in Cobourg to haul our boat out for the winter.

After months of searching and almost giving up on finding a decent sailboat we found Dionysus.

Our second visit by boat to the Thousand Islands, and our first long trip on our new CS34.

Our first time hauling out our CS34 we were nervous and unsure what to do. Taking the mast down seemed like such an impossible feat. Wiggers Custom Yachts took great care of us and made this way easier than I ever expected.

We spend a few days travelling East to Trenton and then back to Cobourg.

It’s the end of the season again. Wiggers Custom Yachts takes great care of us again.

With limited access to marina we debated not even launching this year. Fortunately things opened up.  There were a lot of restrictions, but we felt self isolating on the boat was safe.

We take Foggy to Loyalist Cove in Bath, ON for haul out. Friends warned us that the entrance to Wiggers Custom Yachts hasn’t been dredged and they are having to drag boats into the lift sideways to get them in.

Right before haul out, we finally had our solar installed on the boat. Finding an arch solution was difficult. We finally went with a local welder with experience with stainless to create a custom solution for us.

Story: Finishing up our Solar Install

We have our last sail of the season and take three days to go from Cobourg to Loyalist Cove.

Story: Last Sail of the Season

The logistics for moving our cradle, renting a van, and transporting ourselves to the three different marinas was difficult to plan out.

Story: Sailboat Haul Out Plan for 2020

We respond to a distress call and tow a sailboat back into Cobourg Harbour.

Lori and I spend two weeks in the Thousand Islands.