AMERICA’S #1 SAILING SCHOOL®

Learn to Cruise & See the World

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Offshore Sailing School — America’s Top Sailing and Cruising Academy!

 

Adventures that Change Lives!

 

Offshore Sailing School is America’s top sailing and cruising academy, offering life-changing adventures and industry-leading sailing and powerboat instruction. For over 60 years, Offshore Sailing School has set the standard in comprehensive training for beginners and advanced sailors and boaters. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced sailor or boater, Offshore Sailing School has the right course for you.

  • Learn to Sail: Start your journey with our beginner course, the gateway to confident sailing.
  • Learn to Cruise: Gain the skills and certification to skipper and handle a live-aboard monohull or catamaran yacht with ease and enjoy world-wide bareboat chartering.
  • Passage MakingMaster blue water sailing with the ultimate sailing certification and expand your horizons under sail.
  • Competitive Racing: Elevate your sailboat racing skills as you learn sailboat racing rules and tactics from expert racing coaches.
  • Advanced Cruising Courses: Enhance your live-aboard catamaran or monohull cruising boat confidence, master challenging conditions while docking and maneuvering in close quarters.
  • Team Building: Strengthen bonds and communication through challenging and fun team sailing activities.
  • Powerboat Training: Become a skilled powerboat skipper with confidence to charter and captain your own yacht.
  • Flotilla Vacations: Explore the world under sail with Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted sailing vacations on bareboat charter yachts.

Offshore Sailing School Fast Track® Programs provide the certifications and powerboat credentials you need to unlock a world of life-changing adventures! 

Led by Steve and Doris Colgate, our expert team of instructors is dedicated to making you a confident skipper, ready to explore waters near home or in distant ports. Choose from our Offshore Sailing School locations in Florida or the British Virgin Islands for The Greatest Classroom in the World®!

Fast Track® Sail & Power Courses

Individual Sailing Course Options

Team Building Programs

DEVELOP GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TRUST AND RESPECT!

Our Online Courses

COASTAL NAVIGATION

Comprehensive, self-paced online course tailored to advance navigation skills in preparation for the Advanced Cruising Course. Focus is on chart navigation and includes all necessary tools and materials for a complete learning experience.

ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION 1

An engaging and flexible online program designed to build a solid foundation for all sailors and boaters, in the context of Modern Navigation equipment, using Electronic Systems, essential skills and techniques.

LEARN TO SAIL

Jump-start your sailing education with this fascinating way to learn the basics of sailing. A great tool for beginners and “rusty” sailors, interactive online lessons compliment what’s covered in Offshore Sailing School’s Learn to Sail 101 course.

OUR LOCATIONS

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Scrub Island

FLORIDA

St. Petersburg

FLORIDA

Captiva Island

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Tortola

FLORIDA

Cape Coral

Great Vacations Start with the Perfect Course

GO FROM THE COUCH TO THE CAPTAIN’S CHAIR IN ONE WEEK!

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Unsinkable & Legendary

THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE KEELBOAT, BY STEVE COLGATE

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