Course 5

Penetanguishene to Windsor

This voyage is reserved for BroadReach Canada's Ships2Shores program. Check out their website to see if you are eligible and interested in the program, which funds sail training for eligible youth who would otherwise not be able to experience the adventure of sail training, as part of a wider community service and civic engagement program.

Sign up for Ships2Shores here!

Ships2Shores is a fully funded program where youth learn to sail and give back to their communities. Participants will:

⛵️Learn sailing at no cost 

💖Give back to their community

👯‍♀️Make new friends

🌊 Explore marine and maritime careers

📜 Discover Canada’s maritime history and heritage

Phase 1: Participants engage in fully-funded sail training aboard TS Playfair.

Phase 2: With support from Broad Reach Canada, participants design and carry out a community service project that matters to them.

Who can apply:

• Youth ages 14-18 

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or holders of refugee status in Canada

• Equity-deserving youth, including Indigenous, BIPOC, newcomer, language-minority groups, 2SLGBTQ+ and from low-income communities and youth who live in rural or remote areas

• Interested in adventure-based, hands-on learning

• Passionate about community involvement and leadership

Trip Description

Get ready for an incredible, jam-packed adventure from Penetanguishene to Windsor! Start off in the lovely Penetang and set sail on a journey across Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

Departing from Penetanguishene in the southern end of Georgian Bay, the direction of this voyage will depend on the weather. The most likely course is to sail north and pay one last visit to Manitoulin Island and the North Channel. If the weather isn't favourable for that, the ship will explore areas such as the 30,000 Islands and Parry Sound on the east side of Georgian Bay, or the Bruce Peninsula on the west side, before heading over the Bruce to cross Lake Huron.

Likely stops include a few of our favourite towns (weather dependent, of course!): Killarney, Little Current, Port Elgin/Southampton, Kincardine, Bayfield, or Goderich.

Finish your voyage out on in Windsor by navigating through the St. Clair River. Learn to navigate the seaway as we pass below the impressive illuminated bridges that join Canada and the United States, and salute the cargo ships that pass us by. On this voyage we'll be saying goodbye to Lake Huron for the summer!

This voyage qualifies for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Bronze, Silver, or Gold Adventurous Journeys, or Gold Residential Project.

As a Trainee, no previous experience is required - the youth officers of TS Playfair will teach you everything you need to know.

There are three requirements to join summer youth courses:

• Must be 13 to 18 years of age.
• Must be comfortable in and around the water.
• Must be physically and mentally able to participate safely. 

We also recommend all trainees and parents review the FAQs and the Pre-Voyage Training to prepare themselves with what to expect on their voyage!