New Private Courses Prepare Sailors for Cruising with Certification

Fort Myers, FL, May 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Offshore Sailing School announced today some new sailing courses to prepare sailors for cruising on their own boat, or get qualified for a Moorings bareboat charter. The courses are private – just a couple or family with an expert Offshore Sailing School cruising instructor. Courses are taught at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa on Ft. Myers Beach.

"Due to popular demand, we've taken our most popular courses and tailored them so that couples could enjoy a private sailing experience with one of our expert instructors at a savings," said Doris Colgate, President and CEO of Offshore Sailing School. Sailors who know sailing basics can choose from a five-day Live Aboard Cruising course, where they live aboard the boat the entire time, or the Bareboat Cruising Preparation course, five days of sailing while staying ashore at night.

In the five-day Live Aboard Cruising course, the entire course is taught aboard while cruising from port to port. Couples sail from the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida aboard a spacious 43' Beneteau. One night is spent ashore at the resort. Full provisioning is included aboard, except three dinners.

In the five-day Bareboat Cruising Preparation course, morning lessons are held in the classroom ashore, with private half-day sailing, allowing time to relax and enjoy the surroundings and amenities at the resort. The classroom session ashore each morning may have other students in the classroom, but during afternoons aboard, the lessons are completely private – just two people with an expert Offshore Sailing School cruising instructor. At $1995 per person, these courses represent more than a $1,000 in savings off the published price.

Beginning sailors can get up to speed with the Fast Track to Cruising® Course with Live Aboard Cruising. It includes two days of the Learn to Sail course on a sprightly Colgate 26, then five days of private instruction aboard a 43' Beneteau. Three nights are spent ashore at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa for the Learn to Sail portion, which may include other students in the morning classroom sessions. Full provisioning is included while aboard the Beneteau, except three dinners ashore. The cost is $2995 per person for this private sailing experience with an expert Offshore Sailing School cruising instructor.

And finally, the Fast Track to Cruising® Course with Bareboat Cruising Preparation includes two days of private Learn to Sail on a Colgate 26, then five half-days of private instruction aboard the 43' Beneteau. Eight nights are spent ashore at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa, with morning classrooms and half-day sailing sessions with free time to relax and enjoy the surroundings and amenities at the resort. The classroom portion ashore may include other students. The cost is $3195 per person for this private sailing experience with an expert Offshore Sailing School cruising instructor.

Offshore Sailing School has summer specials in full swing at all seven locations. Specials include Kids and Teens learning free at select campuses, specials for Florida residents, Two-Day Any-Day Getaway Specials and more. The school operates three locations in Florida—South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa on Ft. Myers Beach and another in St. Petersburg. The Liberty Landing Marina (Jersey City) and Chelsea Piers (NYC) campuses are open April through October. Other locations include a longtime partnership with The Moorings in the British Virgin Islands and The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland on the Chesapeake. Since its inception, more than 125,000 graduates have gone through Offshore Sailing School programs.

Space is limited on all private courses. For more information, or to learn about sailing opportunities, please visit www.offshoresailing.com or call 800-221-4326.

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