PERFORMANCE RACE WEEK® — OSS 109
60 YEARS OF EXPERT SAILBOAT RACING PROGRAMS!
Performance Race Week® is the ORIGINAL RACING PROGRAM, started by Steve Colgate in 1967.
An Olympian, America’s Cup Competitor, and 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee, Steve Colgate is the innovator of sailboat racing instruction.
Over the years it has been held in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and Florida. The next Performance Race Week – OSS 109 and Fast Track to Performance Racing clinics – OSS 102/109 are in planning stages for late 2024 or early 2025.
Forever Strong Through 60 Years!
Steve founded Offshore Sailing School in 1964. His partner and wife, Doris, joined him at the helm at few years later. You can read about Steve’s impressive sailboat racing career, Offshore Sailing School’s history, and the Colgate’s dedication to teaching sailing in this biography written by acclaimed maritime author Herb McCormick. Order on Amazon or visit our bookstore page today.
Because of the devastation created by Hurricane Ian to three of Offshore Sailing School’s SW Florida locations in September 2022, several programs had to be postponed. Performance Race Week® was one of them. We anticipate announcing a new Performance Race Week® racing clinic with expert racing instructors in late 2024. To put your name on the list for future announcements and location/timing, please call:
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR FUTURE EVENT UPDATES
Performance Race Week® is so popular it fills months in advance, so sign up as soon as dates and locations are announced!
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN PERFORMANCE RACE WEEK®
. . . THEN GO HOME AND WIN!
Performance Race Week® is a super way to upgrade your racing skills. From Day 1 to end of Day 5, you are immersed in a program designed to give you the confidence and skills to join the winner’s circle.
The week starts with a Meet and Greet Orientation party arrival night. The next morning you set sail on Offshore’s fleet of Colgate 26s, learning and racing non-stop in 2 three-hour sessions each of the first four days. On Day 5, you head out again for another on-water coaching session, followed by an immersive, intense regatta with the entire fleet vying for line-honors in at least four races for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies.
GREAT LOCATIONS FOR SAILORS AND GUESTS
Performance Race Week® and the Fast Track® to Performance Racing Course which starts three days earlier may be held in Florida or the British Virgin Islands. If you have never raced before, have good sailing skills on keelboats like the Colgate 26 you learn and race on, but have very little racing experience, we ask that you take the Fast Track® to Performance Racing course. Resumes are required for both courses. Performance Race Week® is only for racing sailors who want to expand their sailboat racing skills and knowledge.
Bring Your Family
We welcome your guests who want to join you for this fun-filled week, but not participate in the event itself. Guests are invited to the Welcome Orientation Party, the Beach BBQ, and Awards Dinner following the Regatta for a per person fee.
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
While sailing, you’re likely to be surrounded by pelicans diving, herons and egrets wading along the shore, ospreys nesting on channel markers . . . and best of all, you might very well be accompanied by dolphins on the racecourse!
LEARN ON THE MOST POPULAR RACE-TRAINING SAILBOATS
Our fleet of race-ready Colgate 26 sailboats are fun and fast to sail. You’ll have lots of open water and wind and wave conditions to challenge and improve your racing skills.
THE COLGATE 26 – HIGH PERFORMANCE, RESPONSIVE, COMFORTABLE AND SAFE, SOPHISTICATED AND FUN!
The Colgate 26 is a super lively, fast, comfortable, and safe keelboat that both excites and satisfies. It turns on a dime, accelerates quickly, has sophisticated adjustments not generally found on a 26-footer, and is set up for easy sail trimming and steering. A coach station behind the helmsperson allows for plenty of room for a busy crew of four to work together as you learn. Expect tons of starts, lots of drills, and practice races to get you tuned up to win.
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
DRILLS, PRACTICE STARTS AND MORE STARTS . . .
“Performance Race Week was fantastic. What you learn in one week is more valuable than anything you’ll learn in years of sailing.”
Winter Hawley – Manitowoc, WI
Read more testimonials here
PERFORMANCE RACE WEEK® PACKAGES
Here’s what’s typically included in our Performance Race Week® packages:
- 6 nights resort accommodations, including tax and daily resort fee
- 27 hours of on-the-water coached race training
- Five midday seminars with box lunches
- Race recap cocktail evenings
- Beach Buffet and Awards Dinner
- UV protective Performance Race Week® shirt
- Commemorative Performance Race Week® hat
- Reusable water bottle
- Colgate Logbook
- Course diploma
- Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
“I’ve attended many courses in 37 years as a Navy pilot and airline pilot. The course and particularly the Offshore instructor were outstanding.”
Tom Corboy – Annapolis, MD
Read more testimonials here
The Greatest Classroom In The World!®
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
Depending on weather conditions and the learning pace of all those aboard your boat, Performance Race Week® will cover the following:
- Starting tactics
- Sail shape
- Stalling and accelerating
- Upwind and downwind tactics
- Racing strategy
- Covering and breaking cover
- Racing rules
- Proper sail trim on all points of sail
- Boat speed and tuning
- Spinnaker techniques
- Finishing tactics
- Weather and wind shifts
- Rounding marks
- Teamwork and crew preparation
Prerequisite: Colgate Performance Sailing Certifications or sailing skills and knowledge equivalent to the Offshore Sailing School Performance Sailing Course. All Race Week participants will be required to submit a completed Sailing Resume before you are fully confirmed.
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
Please call one of the numbers above or email for more information on package rates. There is an extra per person charge for non-sailors traveling with you who wish to attend dinners and social events. The Performance Race Week® package typically includes:
- 6 nights resort accommodations
- Nightly per accommodation resort amenity fee and taxes
- 27 hours of on-the-water coached race training
- Five midday seminars with box lunches
- Two evening seminar recaps; cash bar available
- Buffet midweek and Awards dinner with trophy presentation on last night
- Steve Colgate’s Performance Sailing and Racing, published by McGraw-Hill – sent in advance to study
- UV protective long/sleeve Performance Race Week® shirt
- Performance Race Week® hat
- Reusable water bottle
- Colgate logbook
- Course diploma
- Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place team
Non-Sailing Guest Costs and Sharing Room Rates: If a non-sailor stays in your room, we may have to collect a daily resort amenity fee for that guest. The Offshore Sailing School sales associate you made your reservation with will confirm any additional costs for guests.
Florida or the British Virgin Islands. Call 888-454-7015 for more information
SAMPLE SCHEDULE: Arrival day
Welcome Meet and Greet Reception.
Day 1
9:00-noon – Sailing/racing instruction with instructor coaches aboard
12:00-2:00 – Seminar ashore with box lunches provided
2:00-5:00 – Sailing/racing instruction with coaches aboard
Day 2
9:00-noon – Sailing/racing instruction with coaches aboard
12:00-2:00 – Seminar ashore with box lunches provided
2:00-5:00 – Sailing/racing instruction and practice with instructor coaches aboard
6:00-8:00 – Buffet on the Beach or indoors (weather dictated)
Day 3
9:00-noon – Sailing/racing instruction and practice with coaches aboard
12:00-2:00 – Seminar ashore with box lunches provided
2:00-5:00 – Sailing
6:00-7:00 – Racing Recap ashore
Day 4
9:00-noon – Sailing/racing instruction and practice with coaches aboard
12:00-2:00 – Seminar ashore with box lunches provided
2:00-5:00 – Sailing/racing instruction and practice with instructor coaches aboard
6:00-7:00 – Racing Recap ashore
Day 5
9:00-noon – Sailing/racing with instructor coaches aboard
12:00-2:00 – Seminar ashore with box lunches provided
2:00-5:00 – Go-For-The-Gold Regatta
6:00-8:30 – Cocktails and Gala Awards Dinner
Daily schedules are subject to change.
Here’s what our Performance Race Week® participants have to say:
“This has been a great learning experience and it delivers. With the same skipper (back home) we never finished better than 4th. Yesterday we got a second and 2 firsts!”
John Breyfogle – Countersville, AL
“I’ve attended many courses in 37 years as a Navy pilot and airline pilot. This course and particularly the Offshore instructor were outstanding.”
Tom Corboy – Annapolis, MD
“If you love to go fast and strive to be better, you can’t bet the combination of owning your own Colgate 26 and taking the Performance and Racing classes. They are top notch instructors.”
Phil Weintraub – Hopewell Junction, NY
“I was not comfortable taking the helm during a race until I attended this course. I have since become quite confident in my driving skills and feel very competitive with the rest of the fleet – hence 3rd place finish in the Marblehead NOODS!”
Shawna Gauthier – Marblehead, MA
“The curriculum was even more power-packed than I expected. I have walked away with more knowledge and experience than I ever expected. This was a total success.”
Diana Augsburger – Kenmore, NY
“Race Week was absolutely the BEST!!! Many thanks for a wonderful and really educational week. I can’t believe how much I learned, and I loved meeting all the other participants and, of course, our coach.”
Kim Frisbie – Ft. Washington, PA
Here’s what our Performance Race Week® participants have to say:
“This has been a great learning experience and it delivers. With the same skipper (back home) we never finished better than 4th. Yesterday we got a second and 2 firsts!”
John Breyfogle – Countersville, AL
“I’ve attended many courses in 37 years as a Navy pilot and airline pilot. This course and particularly the Offshore instructor were outstanding.”
Tom Corboy – Annapolis, MD
“If you love to go fast and strive to be better, you can’t bet the combination of owning your own Colgate 26 and taking the Performance and Racing classes. They are top notch instructors.”
Phil Weintraub – Hopewell Junction, NY
“I was not comfortable taking the helm during a race until I attended this course. I have since become quite confident in my driving skills and feel very competitive with the rest of the fleet – hence 3rd place finish in the Marblehead NOODS!”
Shawna Gauthier – Marblehead, MA
“The curriculum was even more power-packed than I expected. I have walked away with more knowledge and experience than I ever expected. This was a total success.”
Diana Augsburger – Kenmore, NY
“Race Week was absolutely the BEST!!! Many thanks for a wonderful and really educational week. I can’t believe how much I learned, and I loved meeting all the other participants and, of course, our coach.”
Kim Frisbie – Ft. Washington, PA
