ON THIS SITE, YOU WILL FIND USEFUL INFORMATION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET OUT ON THE WATER, AND TO DO SO SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY.

ON THIS SITE WE POST CLUB LESSONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT WINDSURFING CANADA'S NEW CAMP LEVELS PROGRAM - 'SAIL THE RAINBOW'.

Background:
The Learn to Windsurf site was developed in 2005/2006 by Tom Mae, who was president of Windsurfing Canada, an organization started and chaired for decades by John Darling, providing windsurfing support, training and races and helping to develop the sport in Canada. The Learn To Windsurf site was developed to provide tips for sailors and particularly for those new to the sport. It provides access to both club level lessons and camp level coaching materials.

Club Lessons: In 2004/05, Bill Quantock (Toronto Windsurfing Club Head Instructor) created the basis of a core curriculum for paid and volunteer instructors at TWC to ensure that all students received the same level of instruction. In 2006, Tom Mae (TWC head instructor 2006 and Trainer with Canadian Yachting Association) developed the 4 part core lessons based on CYA progressions and the work done by previous club instructors. Lesson outlines are available here.
Camp Coaches Training - Sail the Rainbow: The Camp Level Coaches Training “Sail the Rainbow” was developed in parallel with club lessons, to provide training for camp level coaches, whose windsurfing instructors were often learning along with their campers. In 2006, Tom’s sister Reet, ran away to camp and spent the summer teaching windsurfing at YMCA Geneva Park family camp, where the camp level Sail the Rainbow Program was developed by Reet Mae and Bryan Walsh, (YMCA Geneva Park Waterfront Director 2006) . Sail the Rainbow provides simple steps in an easy to use manual that allowed the instructors to stay one step ahead of the campers as they learned windsurfing together, marking sheets and awards. Since 2006, volunteer trainers have provided support to help camps review and update their equipment. Over the years, new programs have been added Learn to Windsurf . Camp level Coach training is available on a fee for service basis and the Sail the Rainbow program is outlined here.

In 2021, Toronto Windsurfing Club, the largest windsurfing club in Canada, took over both the LearntoWindsurf site and the Sail the Rainbow program/site. TWC has an expanding Learn to Windsurf Program, with both paid and volunteer instructors and runs programs such as kids camp, and club racing, attracting new windsurfers every year and giving seasoned windsurfers opportunities to race in Windsurfing Canada races and the Mammoth Marathon (around Toronto Island)
(pdf of the race map )

More recently, SUP races have been added at TWC and the Mammoth Marathon is now a two-day race, with SUP races on Saturday and Windsurfing races on Sunday, providing an award for highest combined score.