America’s #1 Sailing School® is Celebrating 55 Years!

Now, there are more reasons than ever to book a sail or power learning vacation with Offshore Sailing School. "The instructor was awesome, the course was amazing. I now have a new sense of freedom!" These are the comments we read over and over on evaluations from graduates describing their sailing school experience with an Offshore Sailing School instructor. At Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School our goal is to ensure learning to sail, cruise or race is not only "amazing," you gain a profound sense of "freedom" too! Our founder and Chairman, Steve Colgate, is one of an elite group of sailors inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. An Olympian and America's Cup sailor, Steve’s imprint is on every sailing lesson and boating instruction we deliver. Doris Colgate, our President and CEO, founded the National Women’s Sailing Association and Women’s Sailing Foundation. Our instructors are professional educators. Our six locations are in beautiful sailing areas, open year-round. The sailboats and powerboats you learn on provide safe, exciting sailing lessons and powerboat training. If you haven't yet taken a course with Offshore Sailing School, join more than 150,000 graduates, who enthusiastically endorse Offshore Sailing School’s reputation as America’s #1 Sailing School®. If you already are an Offshore Sailing School graduate, welcome back! Advanced courses and fantastic flotilla cruise vacations are waiting for you.

We Look Forward to Providing an Awesome Sailing Adventure for You Soon!

Learn to Sail

It’s time to embark on a whole new lifestyle. Take the helm of a sleek Colgate 26 sailboat. Be amazed at how much confidence you gain on a 2-day or 5-day learning vacation.

Learn to Cruise

Get ready to see the world under sail. Learn on a beautiful big monohull or catamaran. Live aboard or stay at a gorgeous resort each night of your rewarding learning vacation.

Learn on Catamarans

Get ready for catamaran cruising with a delightful charter cruising course on an impressive big catamaran. Then learn in-depth navigation skills on a live-aboard cruise.

Flotilla Cruise Vacations

See the world under sail! Flotilla cruises organized by Offshore Sailing School are for experienced sailors and Offshore grads. Upcoming cruises: Belize, Greece, Tahiti, Grenadines, Spain, Croatia.

Learn to Race

Hone your sailing skills with a fun, action-packed performance course. Learn to win with go-fast techniques and tactics, then wow your pals in friendly competition back home.

Learn to Power Like a Pro

Take your family on a fun cruising course vacation. Gain ultimate confidence while living and learning on a big, beautiful power cat as you cruise from island to island.

Learn Passage Making

Set sail on an exhilarating blue water sailing school experience. Discover how to safely sail round-the-clock. Achieve skills and confidence for long passages on your own.

Corporate Programs

Give your team the best time ever with an exhilarating break or focused team building event under sail. To develop leaders, plan a week living aboard.

Holiday Sailing Gifts Available

Gift Certificates with a FREE logo’d jacket available for holiday purchases now. Click on the photo to learn more.

Captiva Island, Florida

Sail where dolphins and manatees play. Come to South Seas Island Resort, a 330-acre island destination surrounded by sandy beaches, bays and the Gulf of Mexico.

Cape Coral Marina Village, Florida

Learn to Sail or get your Catamaran Bareboat Cruising Certification at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village near Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida.

Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands

Learn to Sail or earn your Bareboat Cruising Certification at the gorgeous Marriott Autograph Scrub Island Resort, Marina & Spa in the British Virgin Islands.

Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Choose The Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina where every room has amazing views of spectacular Gulf sunsets and sugar-white beaches stretch for miles.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Earn Bareboat Cruising Certification on a Moorings sail or power charter yacht. Learn as you sail from island to island, stopping each night in a different port in paradise.

St. Petersburg, Florida

Your vacation learning to sail on Tampa Bay starts from the waterfront Hampton Inn & Suites, in trendy downtown St. Pete with terrific museums, restaurants and night life.

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Fast Track to Cruising®

Our most popular learning adventure takes you from Couch to the Captain’s Chair in just eight days. You earn three US Sailing certifications -- Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising -- starting with two days on a 26 footer, then six on a gorgeous big cruising monohull or catamaran yacht. At course end you’re ready to pursue the cruising lifestyle with confidence and ease!

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“It’s obvious Offshore Sailing School puts a lot of effort in selection of instructors. We thoroughly enjoyed the course.”

Kyle Couture Family
Flint, Michigan
“What a fantastic experience! Our Fast Track week was fun and educational from beginning to end.”

Todd and Lois Gillenwater
Charleston, West Virginia
“This was our third course with Offshore. The instructors really set Offshore apart from other sailing organizations.”

Andrew and Erin Deak
Rocky River, Ohio
“Offshore made it easy to learn! One of the best weeks ever. My dad and I couldn’t have had a more productive and enjoyable adventure.”

Mark Waltz
Muskego, Wisconsin
“Amazing course! I’ve done a lot of sailing, and learned a lot during week. My wife went from novice to knowledgeable and reliable.”

Robert and Betsy Lahue
Wyckoff, New Jersey
“We are amazed at how much we learned in such a short period of time. We left feeling confident and eager to step aboard again.”

Danielle Steinberg
Georgetown, Kentucky
“I took the Fast Track to Cruising Course and went from non-sailor to confident cruiser in one week!”

Gabriel Emanuelli
Miramar, Florida
“I’ve sailed for 25 years. Offshore dramatically increased my sailing knowledge. I loved every minute.”

Robert Holmes
Barrie, Ontario
“I learned very little at another NYC sailing school. Offshore is the Harvard/Princeton/Yale of sailing schools.”

Keith Bloesch
Hoboken, New Jersey
“We had an amazing 6 days on our live aboard cruising course! We learned so much and had fun at the same time.”

Lissa and Eric Uhlenhop
Las Vegas, Nevada
“I had small boat experience, my wife was a complete novice. We’re now comfortable and excited to charter on our own.”

Wyatt Blasingame
Morrison, Colorado
“Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School is truly the best sailing school. Everything is first class, and well worth the money and time spent.”

Tom Bisanz
Frisco, Texas
“Offshore Sailing School by far exceeded my expectations. Fantastic program Mr. and Mrs. Colgate! I’ll be back for round 2!”

Brian Smith
Little Rock, Arizona
“I attended the Learn to Sail Course with my wife and 3 of our children. We all loved the course.”

Jeff Breymaier
Maumee, Ohio
“The instructors were amazing. I learned a lot, had fun, and can’t stop telling everyone how cool this experience was.”

Charles Zahalka
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Offshore gave me the confidence and competence to feel comfortable in any situation on the water.”

Melinda Long
Richmond, Virginia
“I’ve had sailing courses from other organizations but this is the best set of courses I ever experienced.”

Jesse Johnson
Austin, Texas
“Everything was above expectations. This is really a top-notch, customer/student oriented business. Great experience!”

Blake Bratt
Bellevue, Washington
“In a word – faultless!! It was all a top-notch adventure and we’re keen to do more. We will definitely be back for the live aboard course.“

Darlene Forbes
Corner Brook, Newfoundland
“The most amazing week we’ve ever had! Fast Track to Cruising gave us the knowledge and skills to enjoy cruising for the rest of our lives.”

Karen and Kevin Marcilliat
Mableton, Georgia

New Power Cruise Course Coming to SW Florida

Would-be power enthusiasts can soon learn to power like a pro on Offshore Sailing School's new Fontaine Pajot MY 37 catamaran based at Marina Cay in Ft. Myers, Florida. Learn more . . .

New Inhouse Videographer Position at Offshore Sailing School

Offshore Sailing School is seeking an energetic videographer/content producer to join its team. This is a plum position for anyone who loves the outdoors. and working with happy, satisfied customers. Learn more . . .

Give the Gift of Sailing This Holiday Season!

Offshore Sailing School's best-ever gift idea is back! Purchase a $500 gift certificate for a loved one or friend, and receive a sporty logo'd bomber jacket FREE. Learn more . . .

55th Anniversary Celebrations Begin at Offshore Sailing School

Steve Colgate started Offshore Sailing School in November 1964. Fifty-five years later, the Company is better than ever, with over 150,000 graduates in its portfolio. Learn more . . .

Coastal Living Magazine Features Offshore Sailing School

Coastal Living's September 2018 features Offshore Sailing School as one of 5 Incredible Getaways Where You Can Learn Something New! Learn more . . .

Learn Sailing at Offshore Sailing School

Awesome Sailing Education from America’s #1 Sailing School®

Learning to sail, cruise or race at Offshore Sailing School comes with many rewards, not the least of which is a lifetime of cruising and boating adventures. But the biggest reward of all is that amazing sense of freedom you get when learning to sail, cruise, or race with an Offshore Sailing School instructor.

Start Your Path to Freedom Now!

Call 888-454-7015 Today to Embark on Your Personal Boating Lifestyle!

Meet Our Awesome Founders, Steve and Doris Colgate

Click here to see an interview with Steve and Doris Colgate, as they were about to embark on another bareboat cruising adventure. The Colgates want everyone to experience the freedom sailing provides, just as it has done for them over the years. If you get a chance to visit the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis which occurs each year in early October, stop by and have a chat with Steve and Doris. Their enthusiasm for sailing is truly infectious!

Learn to Sail from The Best Teachers in Boating Education

Offshore Sailing School instructors are caring sailors and mariners with extensive sailing and teaching experience. Their mission is to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to thoroughly enjoy the sailing lifestyle. Offshore Sailing School has received many recognitions and awards for creating the best sailing instruction, boating programs, and sailing classes in Florida and the British Virgin Islands. When you learn how to sail, cruise or race at Offshore Sailing School, you learn from the best instructors you’ll find, on boats carefully chosen and designed for teaching and your sailing comfort.

Your Passport to Freedom Under Sail

“The biggest mistake of my sailing career was taking my Basic Keelboat Course in the New York City area with another school and not Offshore. We learned very little with the other school. Bottom line is that from my experience Offshore rocks and is the Harvard, Princeton, Yale of sailing schools.”

Keith Bloesch– Hoboken, NJ
read testimonials here

Steve Colgate – our founder, who works with our team to provide the perfect experience; 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee, Olympian and America’s Cup competitor, pre-eminent sailing educator, boat designer, world-wide racing sailor
Doris Colgate – President and CEO who learned to sail at Offshore Sailing School in 1967, founder of the National Women’s Sailing Association, passionate about providing sailing lessons and opportunities for all
Our Graduates – More than 140,000 who have learned to sail during the more than 54 years Offshore has provided award-winning, sailing lessons and instruction programs
Our Faculty – Highly experienced and professional instructors and managers who care about you – certified by US Sailing and licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard with years of sailing and boating experience under the boat shoes
Our Courses – The greatest variety and depth of hands-on sailing lessons and boating lessons available
Our Textbooks – Succinct and comprehensive, complementing our impressive learn to sail course curricula and advanced sailing courses curricula – written by the Colgates and US Sailing National Faculty
Our Sail and Power Fleet – Learn how to sail, learn how to cruise, become a great racing sailor, or take the helm of a power cruiser, all excellent teaching platforms designed for safety, comfort, and performance
Our Course Certifications – US Sailing and Power Courses providing US Sailing and Power Certification at all levels from U.S. governing body of sailing, appointed by Congress, recognized by charter companies throughout the world
Our Locations – Superior resort-based adventure vacation locations that provide beautiful sailing and boating conditions, allowing you to immerse yourself in a rewarding learning vacation
And Our Graduate Sailing Adventures – Flotilla Cruises led by knowledgeable experts; worldwide destinations to tempt you on every vacation you plan; open to all who love to sail but so much more fun if you first learn with Offshore!

Our Sailing School Guarantee

After you complete a Colgate course offering at Offshore Sailing School, if the sailing instruction you received was not up to your expectations, let us know right away and we will arrange to give you the same course over again, tuition free.
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