Learn to Sail

Learn • Sail • Live

Sailing Courses & Training | Women’s Programs | Private Coaching | Vacations & Charters | Certification & Standards

Learn to sail and build your boating confidence with fully accredited sailing instruction, certification, coaching and vacation adventures on the Great Lakes and beyond.

Sailing Strong offers sailing instruction, certification and private coaching for ALL levels of experience, as well as skipper services for sailing adventures anywhere you want to roam. Our instructor’s credentials include over 22 years of sailing experience, 18 years of boat ownership, certification as a Sail Canada instructor, and NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master qualification as an Instructor and Assessor.

Our unique approach is personalized and tailored to your individual sailing goals on your boat or ours. We look forward to getting out on the water with you!

Learn more about our Founder and Lead Instructor Merilee Wright

Whether sailing away has always been your dream or you just want to give it a try, we have the programs, instruction and experience to get you out on the water and building your boating confidence!

Beginner Sailing Courses

Learn to Sail - Student sailors - women sailors - having fun learning

Test the waters with our 3-hour on-water experience, learn to sail and crew on a keelboat, or become a fully qualified keelboat skipper. Perfect options for those just starting and wanting to see if sailing is for you!

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Intermediate & Advanced Sailing Courses

Learn to Sail - Sailboats racing - Intermediate and Advanced Sailing

You’ve developed a passion for sailing and want to take your skills and adventures to the next level. Build your confidence on larger keelboats, learn how to passage plan and cruise on multi-day trips, or become a fully qualified bareboat charter master. Wherever your sailing dreams take you, we have a program to get you there.

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Private Coaching & Sailing Skills Development

Learn to Sail - sailing navigation - coastal navigation - focused women

There’s always something more to learn or skills to develop further in sailing! From customized private coaching to specific skills development programs in docking, skipper’s mate, heavy weather sailing, and more, we will work with you in small groups or one-on-one to refine your skills.

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SAILING VACATIONS, ADVENTURES & WOMEN’S PROGRAMS

Looking for something more adventurous? Plan a yacht charter to the Caribbean or Mediterranean, become the skipper of your own boat, organize a girl’s weekend or hire a skipper to sail your boat while you sit back and relax. Options abound!

Women’s Programs

Learn to Sail - Female friends on a sailboat - taking sailing course

Yes, you can! While the majority of skippers and crew in sailing are still male, the participation of women as crew, skippers and boat owners is increasing, and we are here to keep that momentum moving forward. Learn from women instructors, enjoy girls’ weekends, or organize women’s week-long charters – the options are endless!

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Vacation Charters & Adventures

Learn to Sail - Sailboat charter - Vacation - Island time - Sunshine - Water - Happy

Single-boat charters and/or flotillas are a fabulous way to enjoy sailing while seeing the world. Charter anywhere you’d like to roam with a qualified captain, optional first-mate/chef and fully coordinated itinerary.

Free Charter Boat Hand Over Checklist

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