Learn to Sail and Embrace the Sailing Lifestyle
From Southwest Florida’s Tampa Bay and barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico to the tropical trade winds of the Caribbean, Offshore Sailing School provides a variety of rewarding Learn to Sail and Learn to Cruise vacation opportunities.
Weekend and Week-day Course Schedules Available
A learn to sail holiday in Florida and the British Virgin Islands requires no prior experience. The Learn to Sail 101 course is a three-day program that takes you from learning the basics of sailing to how to confidently make a 26′ sailboat move through the water comfortably in any conditions.
Weekend Learn to Sail 101 Schedule at Two Florida Locations
At these two Florida locations you can take the course over a weekend.
- Arrive Thursday late afternoon
- Learn all day with a break for lunch Friday/Saturday/Sunday
- Depart for home Monday or stay a couple of extra days to enjoy the Gulf Coast of Florida
Or take the Learn to Sail 101 course on weekdays and spend the rest of the week on a very relaxing vacation in sunny, warm weather.
- Arrive Sunday late afternoon
- Learn all day with a break for lunch Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
- Depart for home Thursday or stay extra days and play
What You Will Learn in the Learn to Sail 101 Course
Aside from learning all the terminology, the dynamics of being on a boat with a sails above and a keel below, all designed to effectively keep the boat upright and sailing gently with wind pressure in the sails, you will learn far more than you thought possible in just three days. Here are the highlights:
- How to steer a sailboat
- How to set the sails to capture the wind and glide through the water without the aid of a motor or engine
- How to work with others together as sailboat crew to make a sailboat move seamlessly
- How to use a tiller to change a sailboat’s direction
- How to give commands as a sailboat skipper and how to take commands working as crew
- How to easily change a sailboat’s course by adjusting sails
- How to reduce sail area to sail more comfortably when experiencing a lot of wind
All beginner sailing courses are taught by professional sailing instructors, with no more than four sailing students on each boat, unless you ask for a private “Buy-the-Boat” family course. Sailing instruction packages vary by season and include tuition and accommodations ashore or aboard the vessel you learn on.
Offshore Sailing School graduate benefits include US Sailing membership, discounts on future courses, up to 15% discount on charters with The Moorings, and exciting Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted flotilla vacations.
Learn to Sail and Earn US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification
Learn to Sail Online Course Preparation
This valuable Online Learn to Sail Course mirrors classroom sessions in our 3-day Learn to Sail Certification course with videos, diagrams, interactive exercises, and tests. It is required if you do not have Basic Keelboat Certification 101 and wish to “test-out” of the OSS 101 course in preparation for taking the 103/104 cruising course. It is also a great way to renew your sailing knowledge if you haven’t sailed in awhile.
Combine Learn to Sail and Bareboat Cruising Certification in a Fast Track® Sailing Adventure
OSS 101/103/104 Fast Track to Cruising® is our most popular program. In 8 rewarding days, you go from couch to the captain’s chair, gaining the confidence to helm your own 40′-50′ catamaran sailboat or monohull yacht or while charter cruising in exotic cruising ports. You earn three US Sailing Certifications plus your Catamaran Endorsement 114 if learning on a sail-cat, and graduate with skills and knowledge to take the helm and go sailing on live-aboard cruising boats.
“Anyone who is looking for a top-notch, unforgettable, hands-on experience should take an Offshore Sailing School course! Our instructors were Amazing!! They were incredibly patient, encouraging, knowledgeable, positive, helpful, professional and CALM! We were impressed with the variety of teaching techniques used to make learning fun and interesting for us both. The course exceeded our expectations in every way.”
S&S Rutherford – Thamesford, Ontario
Read more testimonials here
Value-priced Family Fast Track® to Cruising Package
Our popular Fast Track to Cruising® Course is available at all locations. In this sail and learn adventure, a family of 4* (two adults and two family kids, minimum age 12, maximum age 25) enjoy the full course at a special Family Cruising package price. First you learn sailing basics on a Colgate 26, then board a 44′-48′ monohull or 40′-45′ catamaran yacht and learn how to skipper and crew a big cruising yacht while living aboard for the next 6 days. This special offer is a delightful opportunity to reunite family members and learn the skills to bareboat charter or go sailing and cruising on your own boat on countless future boating vacations! Call 888-454-7015 or 239-454-1700 for availability and monohull or catamaran pricing.
*Fifth family child between age 12 and 25 may be added for additional fee. For nights you spend at the hotel while learning to sail, ask about availability and upgrade costs for two-bedroom suites if preferred.
Test the Waters with a Sailing Lesson
Just want to find out what sailing is all about? Two-hour or longer sailing lessons are a great way to “test the waters” and learn how much fun sailing truly is. Available at most Offshore Sailing School locations during off-season periods, cost is $125 per person per hour ($250 minimum for two-hour lesson). To learn more, please download this PDF describing in more detail what you learn in short sailing lessons.
