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Family Kids and Teens Learn Free Programs
FORT MYERS, FL (February 25, 2011) – More than 70 families with kids and teens ages 7-17 participated in Learn to Sail Kids and Teens Learn to Sail Free vacations over the past 18 months at Offshore Sailing School’s Florida and British Virgin Island campuses. In addition to these popular Learn to Sail programs, new cruising course options designed to introduce families to the joys of bareboat chartering together are now available at most Offshore Sailing School locations.
“We offer these programs at greatly reduced prices to encourage families to choose sailing as their favorite get-away activity,” explains Doris Colgate, CEO and President of the 47 year old company. “We know the challenges families face in putting a meaningful vacation experience together, especially when travel costs are involved,” says Colgate. “Our goal is to get more kids and teens sailing and loving this special time with their parents,” explains Colgate.
If new to sailing, the five-day Learn to Sail vacation taught on Colgate 26 daysailers provides confidence and skills to sail together on sailboats up to 30’ in all conditions. If everyone in the family knows the basics or are graduates of the Offshore Sailing School Learn to Sail course, the next step is a shore-based or live-aboard cruising course taught on 43’ to 50’ cruising yachts. Single parents are also encouraged to participate, as long as the oldest teen is at least 17 years of age. Regardless, just two tuitions are paid.
Full packages include accommodations and meals (if learning while living aboard). Available starting March 1 through summer months, Colgate says these learning vacations, with certification at the course level chosen, are designed to satisfy the growing desire for parents to share a meaningful adventure with their children. Click here for more details.
Flotilla Learn and Cruise Weeks in the British Virgin Islands
Two special weeks – June 13 and July 11 – are designated as Family Cruise and Learn Flotilla Weeks in the British Virgin Islands. These two weeks are for those who, according to Colgate, want to jump right into big boat sailing and share the fun with families with similar goals. Anyone can participate, whether new to sailing or moving up to big boat instruction. “A fun experience is made even more fun when families get together after a day of comprehensive team instruction in a peaceful harbor. Kids and teens get to swim, snorkel and play together while parents share sailing stories and life adventures,” explains Colgate.
Each boat in the flotilla will have an expert Offshore Sailing School cruising instructor aboard throughout the week, teaching the whole family how to handle a Moorings 43’ monohull or catamaran while sailing in the company of other families in the flotilla fleet. The package for a family of six on a monohull is $8,520 ($1420 per person) and includes a full week of instruction, accommodations in three cabins aboard the boat, all meals during the cruise (breakfasts, lunches, snacks, three dinners ashore and three aboard), flotilla parties, graduation diploma and certification options. The catamaran package is $10,665 ($1778 per person). Click here for more details.
Team Learn and Sail Bonanza for Friends
“We hear graduates tell us often ‘my friends would have loved this, wish I had asked them to join me’” says Colgate. So the school is providing, for a limited time, the opportunity for friends to learn together at two-for-one tuition pricing.
Geared towards couples and singles who sign up together and fill a boat, opportunities include the five-day Learn to Sail course  and seven-day Fast Track to Cruising course in the British Virgin Islands and Florida; shore-based five-day Bareboat Cruising Preparation course at the school’s Captiva Island, Florida campus; and the six-day Live Aboard Cruising course with The Moorings in the British Virgin islands.
The Two for One discount is based on filling the boat with four to six participants, buying the full package (including accommodations) with the discount on the tuition portion of the package for the course chosen. According to Colgate, this results in savings up to $1235 per person, “more than enough to cover airfares and then some.” Individual tuitions normally range from $1295 to $2690, accommodations and travel are extra. Complete packages to be quoted depend on the time of year, course chosen and location.
The Two for One Friends Bonanza booking window begins February 25, 2011 and ends April 15, 2011. Course dates must start prior to October 31, 2011. Click here for more details.
Offshore Sailing School was founded in 1964 in New York City by Olympic and America’s Cup sailor Steve Colgate. Steve and his wife Doris, run the company headquartered in Ft. Myers, Florida. More than 120,000 graduates have completed certification courses and gone on to enjoy sailing and cruising at home and in distant ports.Offshore Sailing School has seven locations: Two on the Hudson River at Chelsea Piers in New York City and Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ; three in Florida (South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Ft. Myers Beach, Mansion House B&B in St. Petersburg, Florida); The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland; and The Moorings in Tortola, British Virgin islands. Certification courses are taught at all levels from Learn to Sail through Ocean Passage Making, Performance Sailing and Racing. All instructors are US Sailing certified to teach at basic keelboat and cruising levels.
For more information, visit www.offshoresailing.com, or contact doris@offshoresailing.com, 800-2221-4326. High resolution photography is available on request.
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