Welcome to America’s #1 Sailing School
Welcome to Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School. You are about to embark on an amazing voyage with the most respected leaders in sailing education. 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 US Sailing certified, Coast Guard licensed, and professional educators. Our resort and metro locations provide incredible sailing opportunities. Our state-of-the-art sailboats and powerboats are designed by Steve Colgate and marine architects for safe, exciting sailing. Our textbooks, written by the Colgates, are published by McGraw-Hill. Join our more than 140,000 graduates, who enthusiastically endorse Offshore Sailing School’s industry reputation as America’s #1 Sailing School®.
Our Courses and Programs View More
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.
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 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.
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.
Flotilla Cruise Vacations
Treat yourself to new adventures under sail. A benefit for Offshore Sailing School alumni, flotilla cruising vacations, led by Offshore faculty, take you all over the world.
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.
Our Locations View 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.
Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands
Stay at gorgeous Scrub Island Resort, Marina & Spa – a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel. Enjoy luxury ambiance while learning on the deep blue waters of 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 on Tampa Bay starts from the waterfront Hampton Inn & Suites, in trendy downtown St. Pete with terrific museums, restaurants and night life.
Testimonials
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“Offshore gave me the confidence and competence to feel comfortable in any situation on the water.”
Melinda Long
Richmond, Virginia -
“What a fantastic experience! Our Fast Track week was fun and educational from beginning to end.”
Todd and Lois Gillenwater
Charleston, West Virginia -
“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 -
“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 -
“This was our third course with Offshore. The instructors really set Offshore apart from other sailing organizations.”
Andrew and Erin Deak
Rocky River, 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 -
“I’ve sailed for 25 years. Offshore dramatically increased my sailing knowledge. I loved every minute.”
Robert Holmes
Barrie, Ontario -
“I attended the Learn to Sail Course with my wife and 3 of our children. We all loved the course.”
Jeff Breymaier
Maumee, Ohio -
“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 -
“I’ve had sailing courses from other organizations but this is the best set of courses I ever experienced.”
Jesse Johnson
Austin, Texas -
“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 -
“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 -
“I took the Fast Track to Cruising Course and went from non-sailor to confident cruiser in one week!”
Gabriel Emanuelli
Miramar, Florida -
“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 -
“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 -
“Everything was above expectations. This is really a top-notch, customer/student oriented business. Great experience!”
Blake Bratt
Bellevue, Washington -
“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 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 -
“I learned very little at another NYC sailing school. Offshore is the Harvard/Princeton/Yale of sailing schools.”
Keith Bloesch
Hoboken, New Jersey
Learn Sailing at Offshore Sailing School
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. Click on the photo to view a recent video with Steve and Doris Colgate, who 53 years later are still loving the sailing lifestyle!
Call 888-415-8877 Today to Embark on Your Personal Boating Lifestyle!
Offshore Sailing School has received many recognitions and awards for creating the best sailing instruction, boating programs, sailing lessons and classes. Acknowledged in the sailing industry as “America’s #1 Sailing School,” Offshore Sailing School provides US Sailing Certification for its Sailing Courses and Powerboat Courses. When you learn to sail, cruise or race at Offshore Sailing School, you learn on boats carefully chosen and designed for teaching and your sailing comfort.
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 – all under the guidance of our founder, Steve Colgate, a renowned sailor who was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2015.
Why We Are #1
- Steve Colgate – our founder, Hall of Famer, Olympian and America’s Cup competitor – because of his pre-eminent position as a sailing educator, boat designer, and world-wide racing sailor
- Doris Colgate – President and CEO, founder of the National Women’s Sailing Association, and passionate about providing sailing lessons and opportunities for all
- Our Graduates – More than 140,000 who have learned to sail in over 52 years of our award-winning, sailing lessons and instruction programs – 83% rated their latest experience with Offshore “very high” in a September 2015 study, attesting to our ability to give you more than you can imagine in the course you choose
- Our Faculty – Highly experienced and professional instructors and managers who care about you – certified by US Sailing and licensed by U.S. Coast Guard
- Our Courses – The greatest variety and depth of hands-on sailing lessons available – from day sailing to cruising, racing and passage making – and a comprehensive online sailing course to get you started
- Our Textbooks – Succinct and comprehensive, complementing our impressive learn to sail course curricula – written by the Colgates and US Sailing National Faculty
- Our Sail and Power Fleet – Excellent teaching platforms designed for safety, comfort, and performance
- Our Course Certifications – US Sailing Courses providing US Sailing Certification at all levels – US Sailing is the 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 the learning experience
“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.”
read testimonials here
Our 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.
ENROLL NOW!
Call 888-454-7015 or 239-454-1700, Email Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
