Offshore Sailing School President and CEO, Doris Colgate, announced that the company has formalized a relationship with Freedom Boat Club’s 17 southwest Florida corporate-owned Clubs to offer members 40 percent savings on Offshore Sailing’s Learn to Sail certification course tuition.
Freedom Boat Club is the largest and oldest boat club in the country, with 130 franchise and corporate-owned locations throughout North America. Besides providing access to a fleet of 1600 boats, the club provides and mandates free and unlimited powerboat training to its more than 16,000 members, taught by U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains. While the club has a scattering of sailboats in its fleet, FBC members must have earned their own national sailing certification in order to reserve and use a sailboat.
“We expect our new, two-day Learn to Sail course will attract Freedom Boat Club members who have an interest in sailing and access to the Freedom fleet,” states Colgate. “Further, Freedom Boat Club’s franchise network will also have the opportunity to learn about this program this Fall during the company’s annual franchise conference, and to add Colgate 26 sailboats, designed by Offshore Sailing School founder Steve Colgate, to their fleets.“
Added Freedom Boat Club President and CEO John Giglio, “We are pleased to launch this specialized sailing training collaboration with Offshore Sailing School which is a recognized leader in the sailing and boating education industry. We look forward to launching this in SW Florida and believe our members will respond positively to this wonderful new opportunity.”
The two-day weekend Learn to Sail course tuition is discounted for Freedom Boat Club members and covers the basics of sailing on Colgate 26 keelboats. Courses are available with advanced reservations on a year-round basis at resort destinations on Captiva Island and Ft. Myers Beach, and upon request in St. Petersburg, Florida. Reservations will be taken on space-available basis and there are no holiday restrictions for SW Florida Freedom Boat Club members.
Students enjoy a fast-paced, comprehensive learning experience with classroom and on-water instruction from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The course includes textbooks and testing for US Sailing Basic Keelboat certification. The school also offers the same curriculum in a five-day schedule with half-day sessions which allows participants to combine a learning vacation with other activities available in and around the resort locations. The course with resort accommodations is available at a discounted rate for SW Florida Freedom Boat Club members.
“When I gave a talk to the Boat Club’s ‘Freedom Divas’ a few months ago, there was a lot of interest by their female members in learning to sail,” explains Colgate. “We’re excited to partner with Freedom Boat Club in this joint initiative.”
