INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED CERTIFICATION

TOPMAST MARITIME TRAINING

BOAT

BETTER

Learn to sail or powerboat with Topmast, a Royal Yachting Association Training Centre in Kingston, Ontario.

Why choose Topmast for your sailing lessons?

We are one of the few Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sail and power training centres in North America. The RYA is the most highly regarded sail training scheme in the world.

We provide lessons for all levels of abilities, from someone having never sailed before, to advanced sailors looking for professional certification as Yachtmasters.

  • Topmast students in action in cockpit during a RYA sailing course

    RYA TRAINING - Royal Yachting Association courses from beginner to advanced, both sail & power.

  • Topmast instructor Joel teaching RYA navigation on board a sailboat.

    PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS - Our Instructors are trained to the highest standards in sail training worldwide.

  • English harbour Port of Ramsgate

    INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION - RYA certification is accepted all over the world. The ICC is your gateway to chartering in Europe.

man turning sailboat winch with the RYA training centre logo on the image

TRAINING YOU CAN TRUST

When you learn to sail with Topmast, you can expect:

  • Professional and friendly instructors

  • Safety first

  • A fun and supportive environment

  • The best sail training from one of the few RYA Training Centres for sail and power in North America

  • Extensive resources

  • Small groups (maximum three students)

  • New ideas and advanced techniques

  • Endless possibilities

TOP COURSES

TopmaSt RYA students plus RYA instructor Joel sailing in the cockpit.

RYA Day Skipper or Competent Crew

5 days / 4 nights living aboard in the 1000 Islands with overnight stays at different anchorages and harbours.

Suitable for beginners with no sailing experience or those looking to step up their skills.

The focus is on learning, safety and fun.

Sailboats at anchor in the Mediterranean.

ICC - International Certificate of Competence

An ICC or International Certificate of Competence is proof of your ability to skipper a boat when chartering in European countries.

Canadians and Americans may obtain the ICC through a RYA Training Centre such as Topmast with an on-the-water assessment over 2 days.

Topmast RYA Powerboat student driving inflatable RIB.

RYA Powerboat Levels 1 and 2

Best suited for beginners with no powerboating experience or those needing to achieve RYA certification for commercial work.

Covering a full day with both on and off the water training, the emphasis is on practical powerboat handling skills with a focus on learning, fun and safe handling.

Topmast RYA sailing students in sailboat cockpit.

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore

For advanced sailors, the most sought after certification is the RYA Yachtmaster designation, the ‘gold standard’ of yachting.

With 5 days of preparation and a two day practical examination, this is a serious test of your skills and knowledge

NEW COURSES FOR 2024!

Emma driving Topmast's sailboat, Phola, at Kingston, on Lake Ontario.

Women only RYA Day Skipper or Competent Crew

For women students only, these courses offer a friendly, cooperative, low pressure environment, where you can focus on learning to sail.

5 days / 4 nights living aboard in the 1000 Islands with overnight stays at different anchorages and harbours.

Suitable for beginners with no sailing experience or those looking to step up their skills.

Sunset image of Topmast sailboat Phola on Lake Ontario.

Week Long Adventure Sails and Courses

Our week long Adventure Cruises offer a bit more than just a sailing course, with a chance to take in some of the best scenery that you’ll see from the water in Eastern Ontario. With trips around the 1000 Islands, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river, you’ll have lots of sailing and learning.

Depending on the course you have the opportunity to achieve RYA Day Skipper, Competent Crew or Coastal Skipper certifications.

Pinky at the helm of Topmast sailboat Phola, at Kingston, Lake Ontario.

2 Day RYA Start Yachting Courses

Interested In sailing? This course is best suited to beginners with no sailing experience but who’d like to give it a try.

Running over 2 days, they provide a basic introduction to sailing with a focus on learning, safety and fun

If you happen to catch the sailing bug, it’s a great start before moving on to a Competent Crew course.

Follow Topmast on social

  • Topmast RYA Yachtmaster students and instructors.
  • Topmast RYA students sailing
  • Sailboats on either side of the dock at Trident Yacht Club
  • Sunset on the water at Port Washington, NY