CHECK OUT THE WEATHER for checking out boats & programs down at GRANVILLE ISLAND!!



BOATS OPEN 11-5 & still a few slots for boat rides (call ahead if you want one of those 604.687.4110)

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we have a new selection of truly unique course opportunities on our fresh page

one more chance to explore the WEST COAST of VANCOUVER ISLAND with us this season!

we still have a couple spots left on our AUGUST 4^th trip starting in UCLUELET for 7 days of spectacular cruising along the west coast including stops in the BROKEN ISLANDS & BAMFIELD before making your way back to our PORT SIDNEY location

build upon your existing sailing skills in this MILEAGE BUILDER program or work towards achieving your INTERMEDIATE certification 
it’s up to you what you would like to achieve during this unique experience

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DATES ADDED ~ ADVANCED COURSES NEW DATES ~ after rave reviews on sold out programs on the pure sailing machine that is ALEGRIA, our new DUFOUR 45e, & a spike in interest, we will be adding another 5 day advanced program later this SEPTEMBER 

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SEPTEMBER 11 - cruise with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM on the DESOLATION SOUND flotilla ~
join COOPER boating and the authors of the DREAMSPEAKER cruising guide series,  ANN & LAURENCE YEADON-JONES, on a trip of a lifetime



LAURENCE and ANNE YEADON JONES would like to make this flotilla a unique experience where clients feel that they are going on a personal voyage with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM and where they will share some of their favorite destinations & experiences

with LAURENCE as the coach on this MILEAGE BUILDER program, this cruise is with an instructor but the goals are building up experience at your current level without looking at new material. With Ann, you will learn all the history &details of every bay & island in DESOLATION SOUND without turning a page
                                                                                                                                                  
this trip is 7 days, 7 nights starting and finishing in POWELL RIVER Sept 11th, to book a cabin on ANN & LAURENCE'S  boat please contact our office as soon as possible as we are booking up fast ~ this flotilla currently has 6 boats confirmed but we have room to add a few more if you would like to book your own group on your own private charter

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become an INSTRUCTOR


share your passion for introducing others to the art of sailing this program is for you!  dates for the fall INSTRUCTORS' courses have been set with a condensed 6 day option starting in VANCOUVER on NOVEMBER 5th

for many years, we've had the ability to do SAILING lessons on smaller performance keelboats that blast around the bay & as one graduate put it well" "the boat taught me to sail" - the responsiveness of a pure sailing machine accelerates the learning process

similarly, CRUISING lessons like our popular CRUISE & LEARN allow you to venture off to explore our beautiful coast while enjoying a relaxing pace that is the essence of CRUISING



now, we can take that entry level concepts up to our bigger boat programs - with the recent arrival of ALEGRIA, our DUFOUR 45e, we have a giant sporty boat that will respond quickly to the inputs of the crew - taking sail training to a new level

at the same time, a few people want to continue a relaxed pace & don't obsessively tweak the sails - the lessons are as much about learning to unwind and enjoy the simple pleasures of cruising - the flavour is different and rewarding in a different manner - a great option, but not exacty what you'd experience on our new rocketship

our selection in sailing & cruising courses allows you to jump aboard ALEGRIA & push your boundaries - you should brush up past learning experience & prepare to enjoy two instructors - your certified instructor & a boat whose pedigree makes her a big part of your learning experience as well



alternately, you could turn the learning pace to a simmer and enjoy the relaxed pace of beautiful cruising areas like BARKLEY SOUND on BC'S WEST COAST

don't worry about the destination - when you're on these boats "you're already there"

contact our crew today to arrange your spectacular course - we'd love to help you choose from a variety of unbelievable experiences

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QUICK LINKS:

sailing lessons

advanced on ALEGRIA

offshore on ALEGRIA

CIRCUMNAVIGATE VANCOUVER ISLAND on ALEGRIA


cruising lessons

WESTCOAST ADVENTURES

CRUISING CIRCUMNAVIGATION

a sure fire sign that boating season has arrived is the commencement of FRIDAY NIGHT RACING with the JIB SET SAILING CLUB - the best sailing club in VANCOUVER (partly because you don't need your own boat)



come for a sail with our beginner sailboat racing program to kick off your weekend and then have a bbq ashore and talk about what went well (and where you can learn more - it's sailing after all!)

drop in and test drive the club through the recreational membership a couple times - all fees can be rebated against a full membership

this is the ultimate way to follow up your VANCOUVER sailing courses

the club uses meetup.com for social (shoreside) events and boat access is available through a few membership options - JOIN US TODAY

We are finalizing our 2012 course schedule at the moment and have some exciting new programs to unveil.  
Some of our programs have a habit of booking quickly, so we are introducing a few of them here so people can get thinking about them and start planning - contact the office today to enrol:
Advanced Sailing - Inside Passage - Vancouver to Prince Rupert starts June 1
Rally Around Vancouver Island - June 17 Multiple Boats - Do CYA Intermediate, Advanced or Offshore
CYA Intermediate (Caribbean) - Grenadines - Starts January 2012 (details coming soon)
7 Day Advanced Sailing - July 21 Vancouver to Ucluelet or August 11 Ucluelet to Vancouver
7 Day Offshore Sailing - August 4 (Start/Finish Ucluelet)
VHF - January 7  or February 18Coastal Navigation - January 16 or February 13
The remaining courses in 2011 still have openings:
Diesel Course (1 Day) November 20Advanced Diesel Starts November 22

One fun filled evening at our Granville Island sailing school classroom for shore based training followed by up to 4 hours on the water for a total of 7 hours of instruction for the world's best pastime!   

 $139 per person

2011  CLASSROOM DATES (6.30pm to 9.30pm)

Tuesday, April 5   Friday, April 8             Tuesday, April 19             Monday, April 25

Monday, May 9              Monday, May 16         Tuesday, May 24           Monday, May 30

Tuesday, June 7             Friday, June 17           Tuesday, June 14           Monday, July 4

Thursday, July 7           Monday, July 18           Wednesday, July 20       Tuesday, August 2

Thursday, August 11      Tuesday, August 16     Monday, August 22      Friday, August 26

Wednesday, September 7 Tuesday, September 13  Thursday, September 15

At any of of these shore based sessions, we will organize folks into subsequent water based afloat sailing sessions, which will be offered evenings from 5pm to 9pm or dusk (whichever is earlier).  Classroom groups will be divided into on the water sessions offered in the 2 weeks following each shore based session.  

To reserve a space in a classroom session above, please go to our course page for this program.

We are unable to book the water sessions through the office - these reservations are only made at  the classroom sessions. 

Afloat sessions are aboard our Martin 244 pocket cruisers - designed and built locally for maximum sailing fun in Vancouver Harbour.

Visit or email Cooper Boating

This was certainly a fun letter to open recently.   It talks about someone far away signing up for a course here.  We will let it speak for itself, but suffice to say a big THANKS to Marla for making the trip so special. 

Text to follow or click on the image of the letter to open the original. 
 

November 29, 2010

 

Cooper Boating

1815 Mast Tower Road

Canada V6H 3X7

Vancouver, BC

 

Forest Gump made the observation that ÔÇ£Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what youÔÇÖre going to get!ÔÇØ

 

Investing in a sailing experience with a company that I had no experience presented a significant financial risk.  Boarding a boat and putting my life in the hands of an instructor/captain whom I had no knowledge presented both a personal and emotional risk.

 

But if every instructor Cooper Boating employees is even close to the outstanding caliber of Marla Hedman all risk is nullified.  In August of 2010, I opened a ÔÇ£box of chocolatesÔÇØ to have one of the best experience of my life.  From the moment I stepped on board the Polaris to the moment we returned to Granville Island my heart was smiling.  The crew whom I had never met composed of an Engineer, a Physician, an Attorney and CEO, and myself: a Professor and President of a leadership consulting company, were all highly educated professionals that knew how to have a wonderful time.

 

Our instructor and captain Marla Hedman was equally as professional and enjoyable.  There was not a moment that I felt unsafe or that I did not believe that she had a keen observation of everything happening aboard the Polaris.  Marla has a wonderful manner of teaching that allowed the crew to maximize the talents and skills each of brought on board while giving us the opportunity to learn in a comfortable non-threatening environment.  Marla is an outstanding sailor with keen ability to both sail and teach.  She is fun, has a genuine nature, is an exceptional listener and outstanding coach, and someone I would be glad to sail with in any sea in any condition.

 

Thank you Cooper Boating for realizing it takes more than just a fine boat to make a great sailing adventure.  Thank you for selecting quality instructors like Marla Hedman.  I have been on other boats in ports in different parts of the world where the captain made the experience a nightmare for his or her crew.  This experience was just the opposite: Marla Hedman made this ÔÇ£Bucket ListÔÇØ moment in my life perfect!

 

Sail on!

 

 

Tim Clipson, Ed. D

Professor of Executive Leadership and Executive Communication

President of Leadership Is For Everyone, Inc. (LIFE, Inc.)

To compliment the friendly instructors we have around here, we've re-organized the courses into a modular format to allow people with busy lives to get this great pastime into their lives and ensure the sailing classes meet student objectives.  Surrounding the basic level for new sailors is three core modules - CREW, BAY SKIPPER and CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS.  If you would like the well rounded, cover all the bases approach, take all three modules.  If you are looking to sail smaller keelboats (perhaps with our sailing club - the JIB SET - you can take the CREW module and start crewing on the 24 footers - putting your new skills into practice and having a lot of fun with the great group of people in our club.



Progress to the BAY SKIPPER level when you are keen to take things up a level and be comfortable in command of these great pocket cruisers -


Looking to crew on larger boats, take the CREW module followed by the CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS weekend.



Skippering these boats is best done with the BAY SKIPPER module in English Bay before the CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS weekend to Gibson's on the Sunshine Coast.

None of these modules is over one week in duration and can fit into a busy work schedule.  Need any help - our office is open daily and ready to assist.