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Learn to Sail and Earn Sailing Certification in 3 Days
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 Courses and Sailing Certification in just 3 days.
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
- Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Ft. Myers Beach
- Hampton Inn and Municipal Marina in St. Petersburg, FL
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. If you would like a private “Buy-the-Boat” family course you may bring a total of five to take the course together. Learn to Sail instruction package rates vary by season and include tuition and accommodations ashore. If you live near the location you choose or have other options, ask for the tuition-only rate.
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.
