Can my child skip levels or challenge a level?

Yes, in these ways:

• A sailor with previous sailing experience may be assessed by a Registered CANSail Instructor (certified in the appropriate context) to find the level at which to enter the program without completing the earlier levels.
• A student may challenge any CANSail level with a Registered CANSail Instructor certified in the appropriate context. All the skills in that level must be assessed before the level is granted.
• Sailors with certification from other foreign member sailing associations may ask for those levels to be recognized in place of required CANSail levels.
• Sailors may also work on skills from more than one checklist at a time, and may start a new checklist while still working on the previous one.

Source: Sail Canada CANSail Dinghy Program Guide, April 2025, sections 2.3 and 6.