Sailing Makes Us Happy
Published: Thursday, December 12, 2019
By: Beth Oliver, Director of Marketing, Offshore Sailing School
“Research shows that getting out on the water makes you happier and healthier. Sailing and boating are awe-inspiring activities that appeal to our senses and induce creativity that help reset our brains."
~ Dr. Wallace J. Nicols, author of the book “Blue Mind”
Since 1964, Offshore Sailing School’s mission has been to empower and inspire adults and youngsters to embrace the sailing and boating lifestyle, because we know you will feel better and embrace life more when you do. When you become an Offshore Sailing School graduate, the opportunities to expand your horizons, reduce stress, and feel better are endless. More than 150,000 students have experienced this in Offshore Sailing School’s courses over the past 55+ years.
How does someone choose a sailing school?
Word of mouth is your best resource. Ask the people you work with and your friends if they sail or know others who sail. Check out the ads in Great Lakes Scuttlebutt. Search for sailing lessons, sailing schools, sailing courses, and sailing certification on the internet, and visit the websites for the companies and programs that are listed for each. Remember that the companies listed near the top may be paid ads, and the ones listed below the colored area come up “organically” as recognized experts and resources by the search engine providers. On the company websites, see if what they teach, how they teach, and what they teach onboard is the right mix for you. It’s also important to find out if their instructors are certified and by whom, and what kind of sailing background they had before they started teaching.
At Offshore Sailing School, we’re confident you will learn the skills and gain the confidence to become a competent sailor after one week learning in the classroom and mostly on-water. In our popular combination Fast Track to Cruising® Course, you will earn three US Sailing certifications (plus Catamaran Endorsement, if applicable), enabling you to skipper a boat up to 50’.
Our students consistently recognize our excellent instructors at our four resort locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast and two in the British Virgin Islands, as well as our well-maintained fleet of 26’-50’ yachts, including sailing and power catamarans. We receive thousands of written evaluations and testimonials every year from Offshore Sailing School graduates. Additionally, Offshore company’s founder/owners Steve and Doris Colgate pioneered the concept of the flotilla sailing vacation more than 40 years ago. Today, Offshore Sailing School hosts four or five fantastic flotillas annually, sailing from exotic ports around the world.
In 2020, Colgate Sailing Adventures® trips will take place in St. Martin, the Greek Islands, Tahiti, the Bahamas, and the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. Offshore Sailing also offers special Women’s Week Cruising Courses, family value sailing courses, special racing events, and team building sailing programs. For more information, contact Offshore Sailing School, 888-852-1865, [email protected], or visit www.offshoresailing.com.
This article first appeared in the Year End Issue (Nov/Dec) 2019 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Education, Sailing, South Coast
