OAK BAY CRUISING CLUB
oakbaysail@shaw.ca     Tel: (250) 216-6866


Jim started sailing, racing and instructing on dinghies in 1961. He moved up to offshore cruising and racing in 1963, sailing mostly in the United Kingdom and Europe. His first cruising course was in the Baltic Sea in 1963 on traditional 30ft wooden boats with no engines, a sure way to develop sailing skills! Jim achieved Yachtmaster Offshore certification through the Royal Yachting Association in the UK in 1981. Since then he has sailed many offshore miles and added Power Boat cruising and instructing to his repertoire.  He has been cruising and racing along the coast of British Columbia for the last 15 years, and is certified in Canada as a Yachmaster Offshore instructor, and Instructor Evaluator, by the  International Sail and Power Association, and as a sailing instructor with the Canadian Yachting Association.  Jim completed a Master’s Degree in Physical Education at the University of Victoria in 1998, has a Private Pilot’s license and includes flying, cycling and skiing among his hobbies. He developed Oak Bay Sailing School from scratch in 2000 with the intention of providing year round flexible sailing opportunities to people with an firm interest in safe boating at home and abroad. His school now offers a full range of sail training and seamanship courses from Basic to Offshore, a "club sail" program for those without boats, and a cruising club section for those interested in offshore sailing.        
Capn Jim McLauchlan