Exclusive cruising adventures for Offshore Sailing School graduates
Back in 1973, Steve and Doris Colgate – founders of Offshore Sailing School – decided it was time to see the world under sail and take their graduates with them. The very first cruise they lead was in the British Virgin Islands in August that year. It was such a great success, they kept on going with four to six cruises a year in dream locations all over the world. In May 2010 the Offshore Cruising Club saiiled from St. Lucia to Grenada and then Grenada back to St. Lucia. You can read Doris Colgate's diary here.
What's next?
Leg 1 – St. Martin to Antigua
January 8-16, 2011
Leg 2 - Antigua back to St. Martin
January 17-25, 2011
And the Coast of Turkey - June 11-25, 2011
Who may participate on Offshore Cruising Club Cruises?
Offshore Sailing Club flotilla cruises are for graduates of Offshore Sailing School with at least Day Sailing or Basic Keelboat certification. Whether you take a Learn to Sail course or go all the way up to Passage Making, you're welcome on our cruises.
Exclusive to Offshore Sailing School graduates at any level, the next three special adventures will be led by one or more of your favorite Offshore Sailing School cruising instructors. Anyone who graduates in good standing from any Offshore Sailing School certification course is automatically a member of our Offshore Cruising Club. Imagine cruising in the Caribbean, South Pacific, along the Coast of Maine, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Bahamas ...wherever the wind blows!
If you have not yet taken a Offshore Sailing School course, you have plenty of time to get those credentials. Just take our three-day Learn to Sail course at one of our seven locations and you're in!
If you already know how to sail but are not an Offshore graduate, we have lots of great learning options at higher levels from Performance Sailing and Racing to a variety of Cruising courses.
Can you bring a family member and will they have a good time? Yes and yes. But they'll have an even better time if they become an Offshore Sailing School graduate and enjoy the camaraderie of others who started the same way.
How does a flotilla work?
The boats all have three or four private cabins. Depending on the cruise you choose, you may purchase a single private cabin or shared (with a spouse or other person you bring with you). All prices are per person. When everyone has signed up we assign individuals and couples to each boat based on several factors including which course you took. The most experienced aboard are designated as "skipper" and "navigator" – mainly to take charge in an emergency and communicate directly with the Colgates on the lead boat. During the cruise, the Colgates will spend some time on each boat sailing with you if you like.
Everyone shares in the fun and sailing – including rotating steering and crewing, preparing meals and cleaning up. In the evenings, if not going ashore, you'll experience the joy of relaxing under a canopy of stars, dining al fresco in the cockpit in a gentle breeze.
Each day the cruise leader and an accompanying faculty member will make the rounds, visiting each boat to discuss the day's itinerary and navigation. In a flotilla, all the boats meet at the appointed lunch and/or dinner rendezvous each evening. Many evenings we will be in an anchorage, some at docks depending on the destination.
