The Learn To Sail program is mainly directed at the youth of, and visitors to, Shelburne and the surrounding county although more emphasis is now being placed on attracting families to the sport. In total, some 280 students have attended the Academy over the last 5 years and many have been awarded the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) White Sail Level 3 qualification. 
 
The training programs offered range from introductions to sailing for 4-year olds and beyond, called the Opti MASH1 program, to more advanced Canadian Yachting Association courses, and instructor training and racing programs. The group has also hosted a Nova Scotia Yachting Association sponsored Coaching Course for 16 students from around the Province, 5 of which came from Shelburne. 
 
The ongoing success of the Academy and its programs has been highly dependent on having access to a core of competent, young instructors, and Coach Guy Tipton has carefully nurtured 5 Shelburne Sailing Academy graduates to progress to be certified CYA instructors. These individuals fulfill the roles of Academy instructors and continue to progress through the structured CYA training program, and compete, highly successfully, at provincial and national racing championships.  
 
In 2010, the Yacht Club purchased two 420 dinghies to provide a more competitive racing platform.