Frequently Asked Questions (Summer)

Here are the answers to some questions we receive:

1. Q. How old do I have to be to sail on Pathfinder and Playfair?
   A. Our youth programs are for young men and women between the ages of 13 and 18. Note that we have one summer course for adults and Pathfinder and Playfair are available for spring and fall charters.
2. Q. Can adults ever sail?
   A. Yes, please see our Summer Schedule and the page on  Adult and Corporate Charters.
3. Q. Can youth groups sail in the summer?
   A. Yes, if an entire boat is booked by the group in the summer. Youth/school groups usually sail together in the spring or Fall.
4. Q. Is the youth program available to both genders?
   A. Yes, In the summer of 2000 58% of our trainees were male and 42% were female. Our youth Officers (Wardroom) are 55% male and 45% female.
5. Q. What will I do on my Sail Training Course?
   A. You are a working member of the Crew. You will be assigned to one of three Watches, and will be responsible for standing Watch 8 or 12 hours a day. The Officers will teach you everything you need to know. Learning to be an effective Crew member is both challenging and fun.
6. Q. Do I stay on the ship the whole time?
   A. The ships are usually at sea for two or three days, then may go to anchor or tie up at a port. During a port visit you may be given shore leave to explore the surrounding community.
7. Q. Do the ships sail at night?
   A. Yes, the ships regularly sail 24 hours a day.
8. Q. Do I need to know how to sail?
   A. No, you don’t require any previous experience. Many of our Trainees have never been on any type of boat before.
9. Q. Do I need to know how to swim?
   A. Yes, for safety reasons all trainees must be able to swim 100 meters and immediately tread water for 10 minutes without undue fatigue. Your parents/guardian must sign a swim certificate (on Trainee Summer forms).
10. Q. Do I have to climb aloft in the rigging?
    A. Yes, working aloft is part of the each crew member’s duties. You are taught and supervised by the ship’s Officers until you are comfortable and safe working aloft.
11. Q. What kind of safety equipment do the ships carry?
    A. Each ship carries:
    1. Navigation Equipment:
       • RADAR
       • GPS
       • Depth Sounder
       • High intensity running lights
       • Current Nautical publications and charts
       • Compass
       • Sextant
    2. Equipment:
       • 2 * 25W VHF radios
       • 5W handheld VHF radio
       • Cellular telephone
       • Signal ensigns
    3. Safety Equipment:
       • 3 B-pack life rafts
       • 30 safety harnesses
       • 40 lifejackets
       • Fire fighting equipment
       • First Aid kits and equipment
       • Flares, dye, and smoke signals
       • Kisby rings and down-buoy
12. Q. How do I get to and from the ships?
    A. Your fee includes bus transportation between the ships and our office in Toronto.
13. Q. Who is responsible for the ships and their Crew?
    A. The Captain of each ship is responsible for the safe passage of their ship and its Crew and is the final authority in all matters during an adventure.
14. Q. How do I sign up for a sail training adventure or get more information?
    A. We have an application here or call us at (416) 596-7117  between 9:00 – 17:00 EST or send us an E-Mail.