Fact Sheet
Steve and Doris Colgate's Offshore Sailing School
Headquarters contact information
16731 McGregor Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-454-1700
Toll-free: 888-454-7015
U.K. 0808-234-4681
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
www.OffshoreSailing.com
www.ColgateSchools.com
www.PowerCruiseSchool.com
OVERVIEW
Considered the world’s finest, most highly regarded learning institution for sailing instruction and boating instruction, the Offshore Sailing School is the only sailing school with courses approved for continuing education by the American Council on Education, and exclusive participation in the Wharton Leadership Ventures graduate program and Emory Goizueta School of Business Caribbean Sailing Challenge.
Offshore Sailing School is ranked #1 by Practical Sailor in both instructors and curriculum and was designated Best Sailing Lessons in the 2006 Best of New York Magazine.
The Offshore Sailing School offers a full range of sailing courses, from basic sailing through advanced cruising and racing. All sailing courses provide Colgate Sailing Certification or US SAILING Certification and qualify students to test at six different levels. RYA (Royal Yachting Association) training and accreditation are also provided. A separate division – Steve and Doris Colgate’s Power Cruise School – provides training on large power catamarans in the British Virgin Islands for boaters. Another division – the Offshore Sailing Club in Florida and New Jersey – provides unlimited sailing for Offshore Sailing School graduates on Colgate 26 fleets.
HISTORY
Offshore Sailing School was founded in 1964 by Olympic sailor Steve Colgate. CEO and President Doris
Colgate is the founder of the National Women’s Sailing Association and author of SAILING: A Women’s
Guide. Steve Colgate has authored all of the school’s original textbooks and two large volumes published by
W. W. Norton. The Colgate’s latest books: Fast Track to Cruising and Fast Track to Sailing both published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill, are the standards for Offshore Sailing School Learn to Sail and cruising courses. Offshore the only school with special books written by its principals and provided for courses at every level.
Until 1988, company headquarters were in New York City and on City Island, New York. In 1975 the Colgates opened their largest and most popular year-round location on Captiva Island, Florida and 13 years later moved their headquarters to Ft. Myers, Florida near Captiva.
Through the years the Colgates have opened (and closed) many locations – seeking the perfect sailing conditions and bases to perpetuate their unique destination resort/learning vacation formula. Its many partnerships with top resorts have resulted in more than 100,000 adults (and their offspring) learning to sail and pursue their dreams over the years. One of the longest partnerships – reaching back more than 37 years – is with The Moorings, the largest charter company in the world.
CAMPUS LOCATIONS
Offshore Sailing School currently operates seven teaching locations. Florida campuses are at the Mansion House B&B in St.Petersburg; Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa on Ft. Myers Beach and South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. Courses are also available year-round at The Moorings in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Three seasonal campuses include The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland; Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ and Chelsea Piers in New York City.
COURSES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED
Learn to Sail – Beginner through intermediate courses, taught on state-of-the-art Colgate 26 sailboats,
provide Colgate Day Sailing or US SALING Basic Keelboat Certification in three- or five-day program.
Bareboat Cruising Preparation – Designed to build confidence, skills and techniques for chartering or handling cruising boats up to 50 feet; shore-based with daily on-water training providing Colgate Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising or US SAILING Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certification; taught on 38’-49’ Hunters Yachts. Learn to Sail or equivalent experience is a prerequisite.
Live Aboard Cruising – Same content as in Bareboat Cruising Preparation, but students live aboard throughout the course. Hands-on training aboard 43-46 foot catamarans and 38-50 foot monohulls ensures confidence and skills to cruise or charter. Provides same certifications as Bareboat Cruising Preparation above. Learn to Sail or equivalent experience is a prerequisite.
Fast Track to Cruising® – Combines Learn to Sail with Bareboat Cruising Preparation or Live Aboard Cruising; takes students from beginner to ready to cruise in one week. Provides all the certifications that come with the Learn to Sail and two cruising courses above. No prerequisites.
Catamaran Live Aboard Navigation – A complete coastal navigation course taught while cruising from port to port on a large catamaran; practicing special skills in sailing that type of boat as well. Provides Colgate or US SAILING Coastal Navigation Certification. Bareboat Cruising Certification or equivalent experience required.
Coastal Navigation – Twenty-hour, four-day classroom course covering solid navigation skills; also taught on a catamaran as noted above. Provides Colgate or US SAILING Coastal Navigation Certification.
Coastal Passage Making – “Blue water” experience aboard a large cruising yacht focusing on sailing at night, standing watches, cooking underway, landfalls and more. Provides Colgate Coastal Passage Making or US SAILING Coastal Passage Making Certification. All other certifications mentioned above required.
Offshore Passage Making – Ultimate ocean training experience aboard a large cruising yacht, focusing on how to handle a boat on long passages in open seas. Provides US SAILING Offshore Passage Making Certification. All other certifications mentioned above required.
Performance Sailing – Advanced course on Colgate 26 covers go-fast sail trim, extensive spinnaker work and in-depth safety procedures. Provides Colgate Performance Sailing Certification. Learn to Sail course or equivalent experience is prerequisite.
Performance Race Weeks – Only course of its kind, combines expert seminars and video analysis with comprehensive on-water coaching from North U on Colgate 26 fleet. No certification involved. Performance Sailing experience recommended.
Private Courses for Two – Unique learning experiences for sailing partners build confidence in each other’s skills and abilities for sailing alone, together. Choice of select certification courses listed above.
Private Family Courses – Special packages allow parents and their siblings (7-17) to learn while building respect and team work. Choice of select certification courses listed above.
Women-Only You Can Sail Escapes – Unique women-only programs held periodically at several locations, offering a variety of courses with certifications available.
Two-Day Learn to Sail Getaway – Itroduction to sailing on Colgate 26s, available any two days of the week; 8 hours of instruction in two half-day sessions. No certification involved.
Weekend Learn to Cruise Adventure – Introduction to big boat sailing, 14 hours taught on cruising boats. No certification involved.
Sailing Lessons – Minimum two-hour sessions providing instruction at the basic level on Colgate 26s.
Corporate Sail-Race Challenge® – Designed to build self-esteem and confidence among peers and co-workers, in leadership development and team building; uses sailing to strengthen communication, strategic planning and maximize productivity.
COAST® – Equivalent of a sailing MBA; four courses (Learn to Sail to Passage Making), five certifications.
Fast Track to Power Cruising™ – Fast-paced live-aboard program on Moorings power cats, provides ultimate confidence in handling larger, faster power cruisers. US POWERBOATING Student Certification available.
Offshore Sailing Clubs – Available in New Jersey and Florida, exclusive to Offshore Sailing School graduates who learned on a Colgate 26; unlimited sailing on fleet of Colgate 26 sailboats with weekly regattas and periodic special events.
Offshore Cruising Club – Flotilla cruises in best cruising areas all over the world; exclusive to Offshore Sailing School graduates, led by Colgates or designated key staff.
BOATS
The School’s entry level and performance sail-training boat is the award-winning COLGATE 26 – equipped with innovative teaching aids and a unique combination of performance, comfort, safety and stability. Designed and developed by Steve Colgate, the COLGATE 26 was awarded the 1997 Cruising World Boat of the Year in the “Pocket Cruiser” division and is considered the definitive training boat. It is also the boat of choice for training at the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, United Kingdom Sailing Academy and Eckerd College.
Cruising and passage-making courses are taught on 45 and 50 foot cruising yachts from Hunter Marine, 43’-50’ catamarans and monohulls from The Moorings, and other cruising yachts that meet the specifications required for these courses. The Power Cruise course is taught on 47’ Moorings Power Cats.
To find out more about Offshore Sailing School please call Doris Colgate at 888-454-7015 or click here.
