Sail Canada Instructor of the Year

Sail Canada announced that Guylain Noël from Lévis, QC, has been selected Sail Canada Instructor of the Year, as the country celebrates National Coaches Week, an annual event which ends on September 20, 2026. The Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award, is awarded annually to an instructor who demonstrates excellence on the water teaching and communicating skills, is respectful, fair and equitable, encourages pride in the sport, has taken part in clinics and performs above and beyond what is required from an instructor.

The winners are Sail Canada certified and registered instructors who have made a significant impact and have accepted the challenge of improving the level of sailing at their club/school. Honest, sincere and honorable in their relationships with sailors as well as looking to improve their own approach to teaching, training and mentoring new instructors, Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award winners have a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to reflect critically on the information exchange between them and the sailors, and how their perspectives influence their interactions with others. Nominations have been evaluated based on the time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

“To receive this recognition after more than 35 years of teaching sailing touches me deeply,” said Guylain Noël. “What still inspires me today is passing on my knowledge and seeing people improve, gain confidence, and become better sailors. I share this recognition with everyone I’ve had the privilege of training and with the team at Formation Nautique Québec, who have supported me for all these years.”

An instructor, coach, developer, dedicated volunteer, and speaker, Guylain Noël has been a sailing instructor for over 35 years. A certified advanced sailing instructor with Sail Canada and a certified coastal navigation instructor, he holds a Transport Canada Captain’s Certificate and is an International Yacht Training-certified holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate, with over 20,000 nautical miles under his belt.

He has also been a partner at the Formation Nautique Québec sailing school since 2004 and he serves as its Director of Training. Under his leadership, he has assembled, mobilized, and coordinated a team of approximately 40 instructors at the school, which now operates a fleet of 14 boats in Quebec. He develops and implements high-quality training programs, including the Performance Sailing Program and, more recently, the Offshore Racing Program. He also establishes and leads a monthly continuing education program for instructors, as well as team debriefings after each training session.

Following his organization’s acquisition of a Class40 sailboat, he launched and structured an offshore racing program aimed at introducing sailors to the practice of sailing a high-performance boat, while preparing the next generation for the 2028 Québec–Saint-Malo Transat. During the 2024 edition of that event, he served as coach for the FEMINA Océan Challenge team.

In addition to his coaching duties, Guylain Noël is actively involved in the organization, safety, and development of large-scale water sports activities, contributing directly to the growth and structuring of sailing in Quebec. As part of the Femina Cup, he serves as the on-water safety officer, overseeing course validation, the implementation of safety measures, and operational compliance. He also coordinates the race committee’s activities, ensuring that all teams have the resources, tools, and information needed to ensure the event runs smoothly. In the lead-up to the competition, Guylain coordinates and leads a series of monthly workshops — offered several months before the race — covering safety on the St. Lawrence River, the use of the Atlas of Currents and Tides, night navigation, and emergency radio communication protocols. These training sessions enable participants to acquire the essential knowledge and tools that are needed to sail independently, safely, and confidently on the river.

He also actively contributes to the promotion of sailing by giving presentations — notably at the Montreal Boat Show, the Nautical Seminar, and other events — as well as through his work with young people in schools, helping to pass on his passion and foster the next generation of sailors. From 2002 to 2004, he served as President of Les plaisanciers de La Barque, the Quebec City Boaters’ Association.

From the nomination form: “Guylain fully deserves this recognition for the quality of his teaching, his rigor, and his constant commitment to the safety and progress of his students. His ability to convey complex knowledge with clarity, patience, and high standards allows everyone to develop their passion for sailing with confidence and independence. Through his structured, compassionate, and consistent guidance, Guylain inspires, motivates, and raises the skill level of everyone he coaches. He is a respected mentor and an indispensable authority in sailing instruction. His expertise, pedagogical rigour, ability to inspire, and unwavering commitment make him an indispensable authority and a pillar of the sailing instruction community.”

More information about the Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award is available at https://www.sailing.ca/coach-instructor-of-the-year-award-past-winners/.

Source: Sail Canada