We are the social club with the sailing problem!

Ever wish you had a place to go down by the bay, where you could enjoy evenings with your friends, and maybe learn to sail? We have just that! HBSC offers informal instruction every weekday evening starting around 5:30-6pm. When you join, simply pick a night that you wish to sail and then come down to the club on that evening. You will be paired up with an experienced skipper who will teach you everything you need to know to become a safe and competent sailor. Everyone learns at their own pace so lessons are planned according to your skill level. Once you become an experienced sailor you can achieve the status of skipper which gives you unlimited access to club facilities outside of regular sailing evenings and scheduled events.

The social side of HBSC is very active with regular events where you can watch the sunset while enjoying a meal by the waterfront. We have weekly gatherings in the summer months and our social team hosts large monthly events featuring live bands, great food, and a fun atmosphere.

If you are looking for something on the competitive side or just want to hone your sailing skills, we have a racing program with many regattas held throughout the season. No experience is necessary to come racing, it’s just like your regular sailing night except with a purpose!

Boats! We have lots of them and in different sizes. When you join you will have a choice of which type of boat you would like to learn on. We have 4 larger Sirius 21′ swing keel boats and more than a dozen smaller Albacore ‘dinghies’. We also have 4 Lasers that once you progress to a First Mate, you are welcome to take out anytime. If you are keen to master sailing then Albacores are the way to go. They are fast, nimble, and you learn very quickly because wrong moves can have wet results. Large boats are more for people who may not be up for the excitement of the Albacore and prefer a gentle evening sail. You will still learn to sail on the large boats but at a slower pace. The knowledge you gain learning on Albacores will easily transfer to sailing a larger boat, but not the other way. We ask that you pick one boat to start the season and if space permits, you may have opportunity to try the other.

Ready To Join?

April 16th 2023 update: Limited memberships available. We have a wait list for dinghy sailing members and limited space for our Large Boat program. Contact Treasurer Mark with all enquiries before completing the application.

2023 Membership will be valid through until April 30, 2024. Here are the details for sailing and social memberships

Sailing Memberships

• Returning sailors (from 2022, 2021, 2020 and/or 2019)
  • Early Bird renewal rates are in effect until April 14, 2023.
    • Returning Skippers: membership cost is $200.
    • Returning Crew or First Mate: membership cost is $300.
  • After April 14, 2023: returning sailor membership cost is $400.
• New sailors: membership cost is $400.

Social Memberships

• There is no sailing associated with a social membership. If you want to sail as part of our club, please consider taking out a sailing membership.
• Returning and new social members: membership cost is $40.

Click here to complete our online membership form

All payments are to be sent to hbscpayments@gmail.com

Important – New for 2023

Safe Sport is an all-encompassing term representing a commitment to providing everyone involved in sport with a safe and positive experience. It specifically is aimed at preventing and addressing maltreatment in sport, ensuring that all sport environments are free from abuse and harassment. All of Ontario Sailing’s Member Organizations, including the Hamilton Bay Sailing Club, play a role in ensuring sailing follows this commitment.

Sail Canada with the Provincial Sailing Associations including Ontario Sailing have created a Safe Sport Policy Package that will be harmonized across all levels of sailing. Some policies are preventative based, outlining expectations to create the best environment, and others address the processes to be followed should a complaint come forward.

Once the Safe Sport Package has been incorporated into the Hamilton Bay Sailing Club RRP, all members (sailing and social) shall accept the Sailing Code of Conduct before becoming a member.

 If you would like more information about the club, please contact Commodore Roy Maybery or Treasurer Mark Simpson. Please note that our membership typically fills quickly and we cannot guarantee space.

For large boat sailors, it is Canadian law that all motorized boat operators must have a Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC). Our Sirius’ have a motor and fall under this law. In keeping with this, we require all large boat sailors who wish to be on the helm of one of our Sirius’ to be in possession of a PCOC. There are many opportunities to acquire the card, both online and in person at certain stores. A quick search online will show you your options, just pick the one that suits you best. The HBSC does not offer courses related to the PCOC.

HBSC is an adult club with membership limited to those 19+.