Chart of the Sailing Area

When I came to Kingston over 25 years ago I began sailing regularly, originally in a DS 17 then an O’Day 25 and over the past 12 years in a CS 30 “Wavelength”. Although I considered myself an experienced sailor I took the CYA Basic Intermediate and Advanced cruising courses and through them gained a lot more experience and confidence in my sailing abilities. I corrected a few bad habits that I had acquired too!

I have always enjoyed teaching so I decided to pass on my passion of sailing to others by becoming an Instructor in 2001. I am an NCCP Coach and a registered Sail Canada Instructor for PCOC, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Cruising, Coastal Navigation and Maritime Radio Certificate

I am also an IYT instructor certified to certify students to International Certificate of Competency (ICC) and International Bare boat Skipper. In 2017, following the partnership with Barefoot Offshore Sailing School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,I certified as an American Sailing Association ASA Instructor for 101, 103, 104, 105 and 114 (Catamaran).

In 2010 I completed certification as a Sail Canada Senior Cruising Instructor Evaluator able to certify instructors to Advanced level and I regularly enjoy conducting instructor clinics.

I am also a member of the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron and have successfully completed a number of advanced courses including the Instructor course, Weather and Advanced Piloting Junior Navigation and Global Navigation (Offshore) courses. I volunteer as an Instructor for Power Squadron courses including Seamanship Sail. I have been on the executive for many years for Collins Bay Yacht Club and am currently Vice-Commodore (again!).

I now teach around 11 live aboard courses annually and have taught over 140 courses and instructor clinics to more than 400 students in boats up to 50’on the waters of Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and in the Caribbean. I look forward to seeing you on the water and hope I can pass on my passion for sailing!

Phil Morris Sail Canada (CYA) Instructor #18564

and continued into my teen years

In a variety of small boats (Sunfishes, Albacores, Flying Juniors, Hurricanes, Lightnings, and windsurfers).

In 1982 I  became joint owner of the Nordic Folkboat, KLUK.  a 26′ sloop built in Denmark in 1948 with hull number F44. Over the next 20 years I accumulated 3500 miles of family and single-handed cruising on Lake Ontario.

In 2001 I  completed an extensive restoration of La Volpe, a 53′ Colin Archer ketch built in Norway in 1962. Tince then I have accumulated 2500 miles of Pacific cruising extending from Ventura just north of Los Angeles to Desolation Sound at the north end of Georgia Strait.

In 2010, I co-invested  in the rescue of Carpe, a 42 foot Grand Banks Trawler, originally built in 1970 with Hull # 73. Carpe had been rotting away for 8 years on the hard in Port Credit. In Carpe to date, I have  accumulated 500 miles of cruising exploring the 1000 Islands, Rideau Canal system, Trent Canal system and the 30,000 islands in Georgian Bay.

In 2014, my partner Monica and I  acquired Interlude as a vehicle for shared nautical and other adventures. Interlude is a 62′ steel square-rigged schooner built in Gulfport Mississippi in 1985 based on Thomas Colvin’s “Pipistrelle” design. The journey to bring Interlude to Cobourg from Panama City, Florida comprised 2000 miles on the Gulf of Mexico, Intercostal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean, Hudson River, and the Erie Canal. 2015 adventures included a 1000 mile journey to the North Channel of Georgian Bay and back, via the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron.  Another 250 miles on Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte was added in June of 2016.  We’re looking forward to ongoing travels in the Great Lakes, Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean in coming years.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a relaxing cruise or exciting regatta race, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Teaching sailing is wonderful because I get to introduce so many people to not just a sport but a way of life. I’ve even been fortunate to work with people with disabilities and encourage many people who didn’t think they could sail to learn new skills and share my passion for sailing. Sailing is for everyone and I love to help those who think they can’t participate in the sport to discover the freedom of being on the water.

I started sailing as a teenager on a rescued dinghy, salvaged with friends in Muskoka and since then I’ve had the opportunity to sail a wide range of dinghies, monohulls and catamarans and have sailed extensively in the Pacific Northwest and the Caribbean waters around St Vincent and the Grenadines. I’m looking forward to learning the Great Lakes next.

Since starting as a dinghy instructor in Manitoba in 2006 with Sail Canada, I’ve gone on to acquire teaching qualifications as well with the Royal Yachting Association and the American Sailing Association. I achieved my RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail), STCW commercial endorsement, Master of Yachts (200gt) and Cruising Instructor qualifications in back to back courses in November 2015. It was a fantastic challenge. I’ve recently been able to add Catamaran Instructor to the list for both Sail Canada and the ASA. Altogether I have almost 30 years of sailing experience on dinghies and yachts of up to 55’.