CYA Proficiency Levels

Certified Courses for White Sail, Bronze, Silver, and Gold

The Fanshawe Yacht Club Sailing School courses follow the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) Learn to Sail program, offering standardized instruction to youth and adults. The CYA levels build together from White Sail I to Bronze V, continuing into racing with Silver and Gold levels.

White Sail – Level I

This level introduces the beginner to sailing. It covers safety, seamanship, rigging and basic boat handling under instructor direction in wind strength of 8-15 km/hr.

White Sail – Level II

This level introduces the student to sailing terminology together with more seamanship and boat handling skills under instructor direction in wind strengths of 8-15 km/hr.

White Sail – Level III

This is a comprehensive level covering the minimum knowledge and skills a sailor requires to sail safely and competently without supervision in winds of 8-15 km/hr.

Bronze Sail - Level IV

This level introduces the sailor to sail trim and basic boat tuning. It also covers safety, seamanship, terminology, sail theory, sail shape and advanced boat handling skills in winds of 15-25 km/hr.

Bronze Sail - Level V

This level covers spinnaker use, trapezing, sail theory and boat maintenance, together with advanced boat handling skills in winds of 15-25 km/hr.

Racing - Silver VI and Gold VII

The CYA levels continue with the Silver Sail - Level VI and Gold Sail - Level VII. At FYC the racing levels are offered under a separate program for youth sailors. Please inquire for details of the racing program.

FYC Programs

At Fanshawe Yacht Club we offer our youth program as a day school through the summer months. The White Sail levels are offered in two-week sessions (4 each summer) and a conscientious student should be able to achieve one level in each two-week session. The Bronze levels are more complex and they are offered in four-week sessions (2 each summer) so that the serious student can attain a Bronze level each session. The racing levels of Silver and Gold require more intensive training and practice by attending regattas through the entire summer season. At this stage, it is not unusual for students to work all summer to achieve one level.

Our adult program is geared to allow a serious student to achieve the three White Sail levels in a single session totalling about 30 hours of instruction. Additional courses are offered following the White Sail for adult students to continue to their Bronze Sail, levels IV and V. To date, we have not had demand for an adult version of the Silver and Gold levels.