One of the best things about living by the water is the opportunity to get on the water. And not that paddleboards and kayaks aren’t fun, but it’s hard to walk by piers and marinas without dreaming about days out on the open water.

Now, those dreams can be brought to life. Offshore Sailing School is teaching locals how to sail in as little as three days, with the convenience of setting sail from the downtown St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. From their slip on the St. Pete waterfront, Offshore Sailing School has options for any interest level, whether you’re just looking to brush up your skills, or you’re planning to buy your own ship, or charter a yacht.

The courses from Offshore Sailing School are an incredible way to experience St. Pete and the Gulf Coast’s beauty hands-on, giving those of any age or experience level the opportunity to bond with friends and family, learn a new skill they can use for life, and see the area in a truly unique way. Being on the water is part of the Florida lifestyle, and Offshore Sailing School makes that possible for visitors from all over.

Go from novice to captain in only eight days

Their many options can be seen here, but the most popular certification course is the Fast Track to Cruising®  program, which promises to transform participants from novice sailor to fully cruise-ready in only eight days. The trademarked program is the most comprehensive and successful monohull or catamaran sailing course in the country, giving participants the knowledge, skills and confidence to handle sailboats up to 50’ in just about any weather, without a hired captain or professional crew.

Fast Track to Cruising®  begins with two days of learning to sail aboard a Colgate 26 sailboat on a Thursday and Friday. After mastering that experience, students will live and learn aboard the yacht from Saturday through Thursday, spending their days learning how to handle the big boat. Combined with study materials sent in advance and the provisions and meals supplied onboard, the company takes care of every step of the process, allowing students to focus on making their sailing dreams come true.

By the end of the course, participants earn three US Sailing certifications, as well as Catamaran Endorsement to skipper a 50’ yacht, all in just one week! The program is available for solo sailors, couples and families. The package also includes a three-night hotel stay at the Downtown Hampton Inn & Suites across from the marina, or No Lodging rates for those who live in the area or have other accommodations.

Offshore Sailing School America’s No. 1 sailing school

Offshore Sailing School also offers a three-day Learn to Sail OSS 101 course designed for beginners and those who are just curious or perhaps need to knock a little rust off their sailing skills. For more experienced sailors, the advanced six-day Live Aboard Cruising course takes place on their biggest boats as students sail Florida’s Gulf Coast. Whether solo or in a group, Offshore Sailing School also provide special Learn to Sail course and Family Cruising course package pricing

Graduates of the courses also earn access to Colgate Sailing Adventures®  hosts private sailing vacations, which all Offshore Sailing School grads, guests and experienced sailors are invited to join. 2023-24 destinations include Grenada, Belize, Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Greek Islands, Italy, and St. Lucia.

Offshore Sailing School was founded (and still operated) by Steve and Doris Colgate, both National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductees. Now with four locations throughout Florida and the British Virgin Islands, Offshore Sailing has seen more than 160,000 graduates in its nearly 60 years of teaching on the water. Learn more about the award-winning program and courses at offshoresailing.com. Interested parties are also encouraged to email info@offshoresailing.com or call 1-888-385-6859.