Race Team

The RVYC Race Team has a history of producing Olympians in multiple classes.

We have full-time coaches dedicated to the Opti, ILCA, 29er and IQ Foil programs. They are experienced sailors and coaches that have lots to offer to the team. They are devoted to helping our athletes become successful well-rounded sailors. In addition to on-the-water coaching, they develop training plans, regatta logistics, and assist with boat maintenance.

The RVYC Race Team is growing, and our athletes are improving fast. Our intention is to have dedicated coaches for each class. We want to provide the best youth training opportunities and regatta support, while demanding independence, respect and sportsmanship from the sailors. 

Opti coach: Bree Alvarado – [email protected]
ILCA coach: Gerald Williams – [email protected]
29er coach: Ryan Wood – [email protected]
iQFoil coach: Kevin Black – [email protected]  

Send us an email if you are interested in joining the race team and chartering a boat. 

Team calendar


Teams

Opti Champs

The Optimist is the best class to learn the basics of sailing and racing. These skills include starting, tacking and gybing, reading wind on the water, understanding wind shifts, setting up a sail for different wind and wave conditions, and developing basic boat on boat tactics. The class is large with lots of sailors locally and globally. Local events often have 30+ boats.  

ILCA Team

The ILCA is an Olympic-class dinghy and one of the most popular boats to sail in the world. What makes this boat so popular is its simplicity. The ILCA dinghy is a challenging yet rewarding boat to sail, whether at a club level or the Olympic Games. The class is one design, meaning that if you win a race, it is not because of the equipment but because of the sailor.  


29er Team

The 29er is a great platform for almost anyone. The class is fast and exciting, while providing close, tactical racing. It teaches sailing skills that can be transferred to many other kinds of boats including keelboats, other skiffs, and foiling boats. Many sailors in the America’s Cup and on the 49er circuit came from sailing 29ers.  




iQFoil Team

iQFoil is a windsurfing class selected by World Sailing to replace the RS:X for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club has a strong history in Olympic Windsurfing with both Zac Plavsic and Nikola Girke having each represented Canada in multiple Olympics.  


Training Schedule


Opti Champs
Dates Weekdays Weekends
January 6 – March 10
(Daylight Saving Time starts)
Wednesday: Classroom and Fitness (4:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
March 11 – June 28 Tuesday/Thursday: On-water practice (3:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
June 29 – September 2 Summer schedule – see TeamUp Calendar Summer schedule – see TeamUp Calendar
September 3 – November 2 Tuesday/Thursday: On water (3:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
November 3 – December 20
(Daylight Saving Time ends)
Tuesday/Thursday: Classroom and fitness (4:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)


ILCA, 29er and IQFoil
Dates Weekdays Weekends
January 6 – March 10
(Daylight Saving Time starts)
Tuesdays: Classroom and Fitness (4:30 – 7pm)Thursdays: Gym with Carter (5 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
March 11 – June 28 Tuesday/Thursday: On-water practice (3:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
June 29 – September 2 Summer schedule – see TeamUp Calendar Summer schedule – see TeamUp Calendar
September 3 – November 2 Tuesday/Thursday: On water (3:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)
November 3 – December 20
(Daylight Saving Time ends)
Tuesday/Thursday: Classroom and fitness (4:30 – 7pm) Saturday/Sunday: On-water practice (11am-4pm)


Charter Boats

RVYC has charter boats available for sailors entering the class. Once gaining competence and wanting to succeed in the class, it is recommended that the sailors purchase their own boat and equipment. 

Twenty Optimists 
Twelve ILCAs (4, 6, or 7) 
Four 29ers 

All charter boats come ready to sail with basic lines and training sails. It is expected that the sailor will maintain the boat and replace broken parts. 


The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club is situated on unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam),
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

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