Ontario Sailing

What Ontario Sailing does

Ontario Sailing Association, operating as Ontario Sailing, is the recognized not-for-profit provincial sport association governing sailing in the province of Ontario, Canada. Headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario with a 13-person professional staff, the organization supports over 200 member organizations including yacht clubs, community sailing clubs, and sailing schools with governance, administration, and programming resources. It serves four primary customer segments: member sailing organizations, competitive sailors, certified instructors and coaches, and para/accessible sailing participants.

The organization's core offerings fall into four pillars: (1) Sail Canada-aligned instructor and race official certification (CANSail Dinghy, Community Instructor, Keel/Power/Navigation, Windsurfing, Coach Boat Safety), priced individually from approximately $72 to $1,295 plus HST; (2) athlete development through the Ontario Sailing Team, Grand Prix Development Series, ILCA Development Camps, Ontario Combine, and the 2026 Ontario Summer Games in Waterloo; (3) member services including COAST, Mainsail youth programming, Safe Sport, concussion protocols, and DEI/environmental programming; and (4) regulatory advocacy on behalf of recreational boaters. Ontario Sailing does not develop proprietary technology products; its digital surface is a WordPress website, an e-registernow registration portal, and social channels.

Revenue mechanics are those of a Canadian provincial sport non-profit: course registration fees, member organization dues, government grants (Ontario Trillium Fund, Canadian Tire Jump Start), and in-kind or cash sponsorship from corporate partners including North Sails, Elevation Travel & Tours, MeloCraft/Suzuki, and Sailors for the Sea. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Stephen Brickell; Murray McCullough became Executive Director effective January 6, 2025, replacing Glenn Lethbridge who had led the organization since February 2007.

Name

Ontario Sailing

Legal name

Ontario Sailing Association

Website

https://ontariosailing.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ontario Sailing is a not-for-profit provincial sport association governing sailing in Ontario, Canada. It certifies instructors and race officials, runs athlete development programs, and supports over 200 member sailing clubs with governance and programming resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Governance and Sailing Development

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Provincial sport association
• Sailing instructor certification
• Athlete development programs
• Youth learn-to-sail
• Member sailing clubs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton, Ontario

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ontario Sailing is a not-for-profit provincial sport association that governs and develops sailing in Ontario. It provides instructor and coach training and certification through Sail Canada's CANSail pathways, athlete development programs including the Ontario Sailing Team and Grand Prix Development Series, youth learn-to-sail programming at member clubs, governance and administrative support to over 200 member organizations, and organizes provincial championships and competitive regattas.

Product overview

Ontario Sailing is the recognized not-for-profit governing body for sailing in the province of Ontario, operating as a sports association rather than a technology company. The organization provides a portfolio of sailing programs including learn-to-sail initiatives (Main Sail Program, Mainsail Program), instructor training and certification (CANSail Dinghy Instructor, Community Instructor, Keel/Power/Navigation, Windsurfing), competitive programs (Ontario Sailing Team, Grand Prix Development Series), and training events (ILCA Development Camps, Ontario Combine). The portfolio is structured around athlete development pathways from beginner to elite competition, alongside instructor certification and member organization support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CANSail Dinghy Instructor Training Certification program training individuals to become qualified sailing instructors for CANSail dinghy courses, delivered under Sail Canada's CANSail instructor pathway for the Ontario market.
• CANSail Community Instructor Entry-level instructor training program that certifies participants to teach iCANSail and/or CANSail 1 upon completion of additional requirements, targeted at community sailing programs.
• Keel, Power & Navigation Instructor Training Advanced instructor certification for keelboat, powerboat, and navigation instruction under the Sail Canada instructor pathway.
• Windsurfing Instructor Training Specialized instructor certification program for windsurfing instruction delivered under the Sail Canada windsurfing instructor pathway.
• Ontario Sailing Team Provincial sailing team providing high-performance athlete development and competitive racing opportunities for elite Ontario sailors across dinghy and other classes.
• Grand Prix Development Series Provincial regatta circuit for youth and developing sailors in classes including ILCA 4.7, ILCA 6, Optimist, C420, and 29er.
• Mainsail Program Youth sailing development program supporting learn-to-sail and junior programming at member clubs across Ontario.
• COAST Member benefit and support program offered to Ontario Sailing member organizations.
• Ontario Summer Games Sailing Competition Provincial multi-sport games featuring sailing competitions for young athletes, with Ontario Sailing serving as the sport governing body for the sailing discipline.
• Ontario Combine High-performance training camp combining on-water testing, racing, and athlete development activities for identified Ontario Sailing athletes.
• ILCA Development Camps Skill development camps focused on boat handling, speed optimization, and racing techniques for ILCA-class sailors.
• CANSail Instructor Evaluation/Recertification Clinic Evaluation and recertification clinic for certified CANSail instructors to maintain their credentials.
• Coach Boat Safety Course Safety certification program for coaches operating support boats during sailing training and competitions.
• Race Officials Certification and Training Training and certification pathway for sailing race officials supporting regattas and competitions across Ontario.
• Offshore and Coastal Survival Courses Safety and survival training courses for sailors operating in offshore and coastal environments.
• Georgian Bay Regatta Ontario Sailing-organized competitive regatta hosted on Georgian Bay.
• Accessible Sailing (Able Sail) Program Programs supporting sailors with disabilities, including the John Farrell Able Sail Martin 16 Regatta and partnerships with organizations such as Quinte Sailability and Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.
• Membership for Sailing Organizations Annual membership program for sailing clubs, schools, and organizations across Ontario, providing governance support, training pathways, and access to association resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 member organizations supported across Ontario

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elevation Travel & TourscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2026Ontario Sailing named Elevation Travel & Tours as their official travel partner for a three-year period. Through the Sailing Community Benefit Program, a portion of every booking made by members through Elevation Travel is directed back to their home clubs to fund youth development, women in sailing programs, and lifelong participation initiatives. Special-interest trips under discussion include Star Clippers sailing combined with SailGP events.
• North SailscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026Ontario Sailing and North Sails entered a three-year partnership focused on supporting the sailing community with educational resources for all levels of sailing, technical content on cruising and racing technology advances, and information on events happening in Ontario. North Sails is a global company with long history in Canada, having manufactured sails in Mississauga for over 20 years. Hugh Beaton serves as Canadian Regional Manager.
• Row OntariominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025Ontario Sailing and Row Ontario partnered to launch the Navigating Governance webinar series, designed to empower and support rowing and sailing clubs' governance and operations. The series covers topics including grant writing, annual meetings, board succession planning, employer needs, and club governance best practices.
• Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Sailing has been a long-standing partner of CSIO since 2010, collaborating on the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI) to enhance athlete development and performance across the province. CSIO provides sport science, sport medicine, and pathway support. Murray McCullough transitioned from CSIO to become Ontario Sailing's Executive Director.
• Sailors for the SeacoreOthersOntario Sailing became the first province in Canada to offer Sailors for the Sea programming to member organizations, including the Clean Regattas Program and Kids Environmental Lesson Plans (KELP). Executive Director Glenn Lethbridge was named the 17th Skipper with Sailors for the Sea. Ontario Sailing also maintains existing partnership with Boating Ontario and Clean Marine Program.
• Broad Reach Foundation for Youth Leaders (Broad Reach Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroad Reach Canada is a sailing-based charity providing free programming to under-served, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-30. Partnered with 40+ social agencies and 7 tall ship organizations. Ontario Sailing supports and highlights this organization as part of their diversity and inclusion mission.
• LEAP SailingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAP Sailing (Leadership, Empowerment, Adventure Programming for Girls) is a pathway in sailing for self-identified girls and women operating out of Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club. Founded by Marjolyn van der Hart, Irene McNeill, Kelly Lyon, and Shona Moss-Lovshin in 2021. Ontario Sailing supports this initiative as part of their diversity and inclusion programming.
• Royal Hamilton Yacht ClubminorOthersRoyal Hamilton Yacht Club hosts the annual John Farrell Able Sail Martin 16 Ontario Championships, a regatta celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. The club is home to Able Sail programs supporting sailors with disabilities.
• MeloCraft Inflatable Boats and Suzuki CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive partnership for inflatable boats and outboard motors supporting Ontario Sailing programs and member organizations.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alpine Ontario: Provincial sport association for alpine ski racing; comparable in delivering instructor certification, athlete-development pathways, and member organization support with similar Trillium/OHPSI funding profile.
• Sail Canada: National sailing federation overseeing the CANSail curriculum that Ontario Sailing delivers provincially; directly comparable as the apex governing body in the same sport and certification system.
• Voile Québec: Quebec's provincial sailing federation providing the same governance, training, and competitive pathway services in a different Canadian province; structurally and functionally equivalent to Ontario Sailing.
• BC Sailing: Provincial sailing association in British Columbia with a near-identical mandate: member-club support, CANSail instructor certification, and provincial team development.
• Row Ontario: Provincial sport association in a different discipline that Ontario Sailing actively partners with (Navigating Governance webinar series); highly comparable in operating model, funding mix, and member-club structure.
• Canoe Kayak Ontario: Provincial paddling sport association offering similar governance, coach/instructor certification, and member-club services to Ontario Sailing; mirrors the PSA structure within a different water-sport discipline.
• Sailing Nova Scotia: Another Canadian provincial sailing association delivering CANSail programs and member-club support; comparable in scope, although operating in a smaller maritime market.

Others

• Canadian Sport Institute Ontario: Long-standing OHPSI partner providing sport science, medicine, and pathway support; an enabler of high-performance programming rather than a sport-governing peer.
• Boating Ontario: Provincial boating industry association partnered with Ontario Sailing on regulatory advocacy (floating accommodations, anchoring rights); adjacent enabling organization rather than a sailing-specific competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OntarioSailing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-sailing
• Instagraminstagram.com/ontariosailing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ontario Sailing