Yes! Unfortunately, they will only be able to compete within the Canadian circuit, but they are welcome on the team.

We run four practices per week and sailors are required to attend two. Practices run from 3:30 pm until sunset and we leave the downtown campus at 2:30 pm. The season runs from the first week of September to the first week of November, and we also send teams to regattas in the spring and summer. Sailors are also guaranteed at least two-weekend regattas during the fall season, which consist of driving to the host club Friday night, racing Saturday and Sunday, and driving home Sunday evening. Additionally, sailors are expected to volunteer at two to three events in-season, and are expected to participate in morning workouts in the offseason.

Yes. We do sometimes accept sailors who have minimal or no prior racing experience, but sailing experience is necessary. If you are interested in learning to sail, we have a learn-to-sail program that runs during the fall!

Yes. We are an entirely self-funded team. Team dues are usually around $800 annually and cover: a collegiate membership with Pointe-Claire Yacht Club, transportation and accommodation at all regattas, boat repair, coaching, and other assorted costs. However, we do recognize that it is not within everyone’s ability to pay full team dues — if the cost is an issue for you, please let us know and we will work something out.

We typically send two teams (four people) to each regatta – each pair is either assigned to ‘A Fleet’ or ‘B Fleet’. The two teams will alternate racing, two races at a time, for a total of around 6-10 races per team each regatta.

CICSA. We are currently the 1st ranked team in Canada for collegiate racing, and have won the last four Fleet Race National Championships. NEISA. NEISA (New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association) is the most competitive circuit in collegiate sailing, home to nine of the top 20 teams in North America. NEISA regattas offer extremely competitive racing and really good opportunities for our sailors to improve through competitions. Community. The McGill Sailing Team is a family. On top of practices and regattas, we have bi-weekly ‘family nights’, an annual ski trip, study groups, an intramural water polo team, and much, much more.

Collegiate racing is fast paced and tactical. Races are typically around 20 minutes long and use a 3-minute start sequence. There are no drop races, so the most consistent sailors are rewarded throughout a regatta.