Offshore Sailing School relocates in Fort Myers, expands course offerings following Hurricane Ian

Fort Myers, FL – Offshore Sailing School President and CEO Doris Colgate reported the company’s head office in South Fort Myers for the past 35 years was destroyed during Hurricane Ian, receiving 6’ of storm surge on September 28-29, 2022. While significant memorabilia collected over the past 59 years and most office materials were damaged beyond repair, the staff is safe and the company’s full roster of US Sailing and Powerboating certification courses, group sailing events, and Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted vacations have resumed. “While we are disappointed that we will not be able to conduct our courses from Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, and Cape Coral, Florida, for the foreseeable future, we are already expanding our course offerings by taking delivery of new boats and adding to our fleet in St. Petersburg, Florida, Scrub Island and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Our remaining resort and marina location partners have been wonderful in St. Pete and the Caribbean, said Doris Colgate, who resides in South Fort Myers with her husband, Founder and Chairman Steve Colgate.

“We were extremely fortunate to relocate to large office space, and our supplier partners have moved quickly to restore our systems and provide new equipment,” Doris said. “Our Operations Team did an extraordinary job preparing for the storm, keeping most of our fleet safe and secure. We are repositioning some of our fleet from Southwest Florida to the St. Petersburg and Caribbean locations. We will also expand our fleet with the addition of a brand new Jeanneau 440 monohull in Florida, and another Moorings 4500 catamaran at Scrub Island, BVI, in early 2023. And we are finalizing plans for an all-new location. Stay tuned.”

Offshore Sailing School is hiring qualified instructors for its sailing and powerboating courses at all locations. Interested candidates should email US Regional Manager Randon Finkelstein Randon@OffshoreSailing.com.

The company’s recent achievements, despite challenges from the devastating hurricane making landfall on Cayo Costa, a barrier island off Sanibel-Captiva, include a remarkably successful showing and sales results at the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, two weeks following Hurricane Ian. The company was celebrating company President and CEO Doris Colgate’s induction in the National Sailing Hall of Fame on Nov. 5 in Newport, Rhode Island, with special “Hall of Fame Savings” of 10% on most courses booked before Nov. 12. To receive a personalized quote and to check availability, call (800) 221-4326 or email: info@offshoresailing.com

America’s #1 Sailing School® continues to operate three locations in Florida and the British Virgin Islands, offering all levels of US Sailing and Powerboating certification courses such as, its popular Fast Track to Cruising® course; Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted sailing vacations; Performance Race Week, corporate team building and leadership development programs. Visit hwww.offshoresailing.com/.