Northern Alberta Sailing College

What is happening at the Northern Alberta Sailing College?

In 2021, the Northern Alberta Sailing College will not teach sailing. Sailing lessons will be held at the Wabamun Sailing and the Edmonton Yacht Clubs, but the clubs will be managing sailing classes as allowed by COVID 19 protocols. Coach Halie will teach at WSC and Coaches Shaylene, Samantha and Curtis will teach at EYC.

Additionally, for all those that like to sail, but do not want to own a boat, both clubs will be offering communal boat sharing programs for their respective members.

EYC will have C420s and Optimists. WSC will have C420s, Optimists, a laser and laser2s.

Please go to the respective club websites for the most recent information on lessons and membership.

We expect that the websites will be updated for 2021 programming soon.

Happy sailing

NASC Executive

Northern Alberta Sailing College

The Northern Alberta Sailing College (NASC) is a not-for-profit sailing school that instructs on Lake Wabamun in conjunction with the following Sailing Clubs:

What we teach...

NASC is accredited to teach the CANSail course curriculum developed by Sail Canada in accordance with their Long Term Sailor Development Plan. The CANSail levels reflect skills that sailors have achieved. Student achievement is recorded by our certified instructors into Sail Canada's sailor achievement database and is transferable across Canada among all CANSail accredited teaching centres.

All of our courses leverage the CANSail curriculum to instruct the fundamentals of sailing including safety, the parts of the boat, the rigging and de-rigging of a boat, the language of sailing, controlling the boat, trimming the sails, launching and docking.

CANSail programming means lots of time on the water in a safe, fun and active learning environment, with relatively less time spent in a classroom. Sailors learn the skills and enter into fun and challenging experiences suited to their age and stage of development. The programming is designed to get - and keep - sailors excited about sailing for life! There are six CANSail levels promote progressive training of core dinghy sailing skills.

NASC offers the first of these training levels and this level will typically take students three day sessions to complete.

Our typical student...

NASC offers programs that suit all abilities and ages, from 8 to 75. Generally, our participants have a desire to meet new people, experience the outdoors and enjoy life.

For the purposes of boat selection and programming, we group students into the following categories:

    • Junior sailors are aged 8-13 (under 120 lbs)

    • Youth sailors are 13-17 years of age (over 100 lbs)

    • Adult sailors are 16 and over

Students are encouraged to choose their sailing category based on age, experience and size.

Kinds of boats we use...

NASC uses sailboats chosen because they are stable, easy to maneuver and contain simple, essential controls. Skills developed in these boats can easily be transferred to other types of sailing craft. The boats are the stable 8 foot long Optimist (students under 120 pounds) and the 14 foot 420 (students over 100 pounds).

The "Optimist" (Junior)

Optimist Sailboats

The "420" (Adult & Youth)

420 - 2 person sailboat
Alberta Sport
Alberta Lottery Fund

Programs we offer...

  • Club Junior & Youth Sailing (Optimist/420)

  • 4-6 x half-day sessions

  • This program introduces children ages 8-17 to sailing. Our certified instructors will provide a friendly, fun and game-filled program that introduces our Junior sailors to the CanSail program in the Optimist sailboat that they sail themselves and Youth sailors to the program in 420 sailboat they sail with a partner. This program is offered over 6, half-day sessions through the summer at both EYC and WSC.

  • CANSail 1 Adult (420)

  • 3 x one-day sessions

  • This program is the foundation of the CANSail program and the core of what NASC teaches. While generally geared towards adult learners, we can accommodate youth sailors (over 120 lbs) learning along-side their adult guardians. This program takes 3, one-day sessions to complete at EYC.

  • CANSail 2 Adult (420)

  • 4 x one-day sessions

  • Prerequisite: Successful completion of CanSail 1.

  • This program builds on the foundations learned in the CANSail 1 program and concentrates on sailing proficiency. Students will gain more knowledge and practice of sailing and will be introduced to sailboat racing as a means to further their skills. This program takes 4, one-day sessions to complete at EYC.

More details can be found on our Program Details page.

420 - 2 person sailboat

Where do we teach?

NASC instructs on Lake Wabamun at both the Edmonton Yacht Club (at Seba Beach on Highway 91) and at the Wabamun Sailing Cub (on Range Road 43).

Click on the map below to view Google Maps

Wabamun Lake Map

What do you need to bring?

  • Canadian Government Approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & Whistle

  • Sunscreen!

  • Cap or hat

  • Bathing suit and clothing that can get wet

  • Change of clothes each day; Towel

  • Lunch

    • Weather dependent

    • Water shoes (should be soft-soled)

    • Windbreaker or rain jacket

    • Sweater or warm layer

    • Wetsuit (optional but preferable when < 15C)

  • Water sport helmet (recommended for beginners)

  • Eyeglass retainer strap

Our commitment to safety...

Safety is an important part of NASC activities. Our instructors are certified to the rigorous standards of Sail Canada. A student must be able to swim and supply their own Canadian Government Approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Helmets (water sport) are recommended for beginners. NASC has support/coach boats with Canadian Coast Guard required safety gear on the water during sailing lessons.