Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to be a VSC Member to enrol in sailing courses?
A: VSC Membership is not required to take our ASA and VSC courses.
Many of our students enrol in our Learn-to-Sail program to help them sail their own boat, a friends boat or learn crew skills for participating in group charters or racing. If you plan to take certifications up to and beyond the ASA104 Bareboat Chartering you will save alot of money through VSC Member's course discounts. You also have pre-approved access to our Sailing Resources including J24, J29 and Beneteau First 36.7 sloops, ASA Sailing Club on Thursdays and Fridays, and Caribbean Sailing Adventures.
Q: What qualifications do I need to have to enrol in our Caribbean Cruise & Learn Adventures?
A: You need to have a weekend ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification course offered most weekends in Vancouver or equivalent.
Q: Do you have special rates for English Bay Evening Sails for Corporate Teams or Clubs?
A: Yes. We discount 5% for couples, 10% for 3-6 and 15% for 7-9
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Q: How far in advance should I make a reservation for my sailing course?
A: For one of our weekend courses, you'll increase your chances of securing a place by giving us 4+ weeks notice. You can call anytime prior to the start date and join the wait list for rescheduled students or cancellations.
To schedule a Cruise & Learn, we'd appreciate a 6-10 weeks notice. However, with 5 boats and 6 ASA Certified Instructor/ Skippers we should be able to arrange a course within 14 days if there are 3-5 students enroling.
Q: What if I have to cancel my reservation?
A: If you notify us 30 days in advance of the beginning of your class, we'll give you a 75% refund. Within ten (10) days we'll return 50%. Please ask us about trip cancellation insurance you can purchase from BCAA.
Q: What happens if the Vancouver Sailing Club cancels my class?
A: Infrequently, we are forced to cancel a class. This could happen during the winter, stormy season when we have to cancel due to inclement weather and/or hazardous sea conditions. If this occurs, you'll be given the option of rescheduling your class to another date, or receiving a full refund of any monies already paid toward your course.
Q: What should I bring when I attend my weekend sailing course?
A: Non- marking soft-soled comfortable shoes, a warm sweater, and a windbreaker. To protect yourself from the sun, bring a billed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and sunscreen. Gloves provide easier holding of lines and help prevent chafe and blisters. They don't have to be "sailing gloves"- bicycling, golf or weight-training gloves will work.
VSC provides comfortable lifejackets. We can also provide foul weather gear if requested at a modest cost.
It's a good idea to pack a lunch or purchase our Mid-Day meal and beveragel option from La Baguette bakery- you won't regret it.
Q: How do I prevent seasickness?
A: Although it's very rare that students get seasick during instruction, we have found the Seaband - wrist bands are very helpful in preventing queasiness. They are sold on the Internet, in any drug store or West Marine Products Store(http://www.westmarine.com). Cost is under $10.00. There is another sea band worn on the inner wrist, called the nausea-quelling ReliefBand ($60.00; Relief Band). It helps avert motion sickness by emitting gentle electrical signals that interfere with nerves that cause nausea. It's reusable and side effect free. We've seen it work well for many students especially those taking a Cruise & Learn open water adventure.
Ginger in its many forms ( candied, Tea, pickled, sliced raw) is an excellent natural nausea prophylactic for seasicknes if taken the night before and the morning before sailing.
Q: Where do I park on Granville Island?
A. You can get all day parking on Granville Island in the lots marked on Johnson Rd as you approach the Granville Island Market building. Look to your left as you turn the corner. Follow this link if you need more information http://www.granvilleisland.com/Parking_Information
Q: How many students are there in each class? What is the instructor to student ratio?
A: We schedule a maximum of four to five students in each class, with one instructor (1:4.5 Instructor/Student Ratio).
Q: My partner and I would like private weekend lessons, is this possible? What are the costs?
A: Yes, we have students- both out- of- town and residents of Vancouver- that want the flexability of scheduling their own courses at a certain time In any of our courses you can close the class at two students for an additional charge of $785 plus HST.
Q: My friend and I would like a private skippered Desolation Sound or Gulf islands Cruise & Learn, what are the costs?
A: You can book a 7 Day Charter on one of our Beneteau First 36.7s for $ 3,425 and hire one of our ASA Certified Skipper/Instructors for $275 per day ($1925).
Note: Private Charters workout well BUT we have found that you learn alot through other students' questions and challenges. The cabins aboard the Beneteau's are comfortable and all common areas are kept clean and organized as part of the learning experience. Cooking/BBQing with 4-5 other students is alot of fun- the ingredients are fresh and generous. On many of our Cruise & Learns people/ couples have met and become very good friends that today cruise together regularly.
Q: We'd prefer a female instructor. Is this possible?
A: We do our best to accommodate these requests. We have 2 female instructors. If one is available on the date(s) you choose to take your course, we'd be happy to schedule her.
Q: What should I expect as far as wind, sea and other local weather conditions?
A: We're located on English Bay. Some people say that we have the best winds and sailing conditions in the world. Wind speeds typically range from 8-20 knots from March through October. During the late summer months, we can get coastal fog in the mornings, which typically burns off by 10am. The winds pick up in the late morning/early afternoon.
During the winter months (November – February) winds are generally higher and we do experience infrequesnt seasonal gales and storms in the fall and winter. Because we are located on the Geogia Strait that is 100 NM long by 20 NM wide you can get a taste of real ocean sailing at times.
We teach our students how to prepare themselves and their boat for safe open ocean sailing. In our sailing area, there are many protected areas, which allow for sailing in calmer winds and seas .
Q: What is the difference between the WEEKEND and the seven (7) day Cruise & Learn Courses?
A: Our C&L is designed so that a student with a dedicated desire can become proficient in sailing a 30-40 foot sailboat in seven days. C&L Courses provide the student with additional time to practice and instruction to learn more advanced sailing skills. Also, you are credited 7 days at sea and a 140+ NM passage aboard a 36 foot sailing yacht in your ASA LOG BOOK. These are the qualifications that most Charter companies require.
A few students cannot be away for 7 consecutive days for various reasons and prefer to take course on the weekend. If the Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Chartering courses are taken weekends within 3 months and augmented by casual sailing or racing at least monthly, students will likely acheive all their certifications and have a entries in your ASA Log Book for qualifications for your first charter.
Q: Will I be certified to take out (Skipper) a 40 foot sailboats after 7 days of instruction?
A. A qualified YES! Because students learn at a different pace, we cannot guaranty you will be certified within any time period. However, given that you complete the pre- course study, are a good listener and learn the skills that show you are competent with boat handling, seamanship and navigation, you will more than likely get ASA Certified in seven days.
We incorporate an extensive bareboat Check-Out on the last day of the ASA104 Bareboat Chartering course in the 7 day C&L. This ensures you have the skills.
Q: Can I charter boats with Vancouver Sailing club after seven days of instruction if I passed the Bareboat Charter Certification requirement?
A. Yes! In the Pacific Northwest we require that all of our bareboat charterers have the Bareboat Charter Certification (7 days) and have at least one crew member that has Basic Keelboat sailing experience. There are some charter companies in less challenging sailing destinations that only require Basic Coastal Cruising certification.
Q: Are there any advantages in taking the 3 courses over three weekends?
A: Students who take our courses 7 days consecutively, statistically seem to retain the practical requirements for certification better than those who take the courses on intermittant weekends.
However, students that complete 3 week-ends within a six- month period usually do fine passing the practical requirements for Bareboat Certification. It is important for students to sail in between their weekend courses to crystalize their seamanship and boayt handling skills. Sailing at least once a month is recommended. We offer ASA101- ASA106 courses at least once a month on weekends. Also, you are likely to sail in 3 different cruising areas- English Bay, Indian Arm and Howe Sound to provide variation in sail planning and navigation.
Q: When can I start a seven (7) Day C&L Course?
A: You can start at any time. Our courses are offered Feb- Nov in British Columbia and December and February in the Caribbean ( BVI and Antigua) The 7 Day C&L typically begin on Saturday and end on Friday. We are successfull accommodating start dates other than Saturday for private lessons, 2 couples or groups of 4-5 with advance notice.
If you choose to pay a small percentage more for a private(two students) you can start at any date.examinations after they complete their course.
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