Family-Friendly Sailing Programs

With Offshore, it’s easy to chart a course for a rewarding family learning vacation.

Adventurous families who love the outdoors are discovering the joyful experience of learning to sail together. If your family is just starting out, the Learn to Sail course takes everyone aboard to the intermediate level on a sprightly Colgate 26 – with a huge cockpit and lots of go fast features.

If your family already has small boat experience, then the Bareboat Cruising Preparation course gets everyone ready to charter big boats in the best sailing, snorkeling and swimming areas in the world!

The Fast Track to Cruising® package starts with three to five days in the school’s signature Learn to Sail course aboard a Colgate 26; then immediately segues into the five-day Bareboat Cruising Preparation course aboard a 36’ or 44’ cruising yacht. The total learning experience, when taken back to back can be done in just eight days. US SAILING Certification is available for those who want to take the tests on the last day of each course.

Bonus Savings at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa Florida’s family-friendly Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa has everything you need to keep the whole family happy during your Offshore learning vacation. Aquagene Spa When you’re done sailing, escape to the tranquility of Aquagëne Spa at a 20% discount! It’s a full-service, 6,000-square-foot spa that revitalizes all those who enter its doors. This serene spa features a variety of treatments and services in 12 spacious, unique treatment rooms to pamper your mind, body, and soul. Kidds Kampp® And while you’re getting pampered, send the little ones off to Sparky’s Kidds Kampp® and save 20% on this activity, too! Your 4-12 year-olds are in good hands here – there’s plenty to do so they’ll have fun and make new friends. A typical day at Kampp includes lunch, crafts, beach games, pool games, fishing and more! Kids will to learn from our recreation professionals about the local flora and fauna that inhabits Ft. Myers Beach and scan the shoreline for dolphins!

Kids in the Keys The Island Adventure Club invites children ages 6-11 to embark on adventure with nature-oriented games, arts & crafts, swimming and sports activities. Full and half-day programs are available. The Little Pirate Club is for children ages 4-5 who discover the treasures of the Keys with theme oriented activities. A kids-only night for children ages 4-11 includes a make-and-take craft, dinner and a movie. When you’re not sailing, take the family to Petticamp National Park for fabulous snorkeling on these famous reefs, or enjoy the Dolphin Experience right at the resort or in nearby Marathon.

You can also place beginners in Learn to Sail while others take the Bareboat Cruising Preparation course and still enjoy free time together. The learning schedules for both courses are the same – half a day of instruction each day, half a day to explore and play together.

Learn to Sail
Fast Track to Cruising
Live Aboard Cruising
Bareboat Cruising Preparation

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To satisfy the many requests we’ve had, Offshore has lowered its entry level age to 9 (from 12) for family units who “buy the whole boat.”

The “Buy the Boat” vacation is available at Hawk’s Cay Resort and South Seas Island Resort -- perfect Florida destination resorts for families who learn while staying ashore in hotel units or villas.

The Offshore Advantage • The best training boats in the world – used only by the finest maritime institutions. • US SAILING certified instructors – ranked #1 among sailing schools in the United States. • 41 years of continuous sail-training - with over 100,000 graduates since 1964. • Founded and operated by Steve and Doris Colgate - America’s pre-eminent sailing education experts. • Course curriculums take you beyond standard certifications – ranked #1 in the United States. • Highest sailing school reputation in the sailing industry – partnering with the best of the best manufacturers, charter companies and service organizations. • More quality time on the water than any other sailing school. Some schools claim more time on the water but they’re not teaching the whole time; we spend every minute on the water teaching, and bring you ashore for lunch and other much appreciated personal needs.