Growing up, her family didn’t live near the water,
so boating was never an option.
After taking the learner’s course she immediately
knew she wanted to pursue future sailing adventures.
In 1964, Steve turned his love for sailing into
bringing more sailors to the lifestyle, and sport, of
sailing. He started Offshore Sailing School with one
location in New York City, and gradually expanded
to eight locations in Florida, the British Virgin Islands,
New Jersey and New York. The New York locations
were closed in 2016.
Doris (CEO and President of Offshore Sailing
School), vowed to never get in the way of Steve’s
love for racing, he continued on to compete in
the Pan American Games, the 1968 Olympics, 20
Newport to Bermuda Races, 2 Sydney-Hobart
races, 5 Antigua Race Weeks, and a host of other
racing and sailing adventures too long to list here.
“Each time I take the helm, no matter where I am,
my body and soul relax into the rhythm of the sea,”
Steve said.
The Colgates opened the Sanibel location in the
winter of 1975.
Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School in Captiva is
6 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE March/April 2020
adjacent to a 330-acre island resort surrounded by
sandy beaches and the Gulf of Mexico.
“We’re seeing more families,” Doris said. “The
average age for sailing school used to be around
45, but that’s changed. “We have a program where
‘teens and tweens’ sail for free with two paying
adults. And this is a nice family resort.”
A pioneering female mariner, Doris wrote the
book “Sailing: A Woman’s Guide.” She wanted other
females to feel the same sense of accomplishment
she felt at the helm.
The school also started offering courses for
women only, taught by women.
It’s been several years since the Colgates have
been to Boca Grande. Years ago, they hosted a
corporate retreat at The Gasparilla Inn. A group of
coworkers spent a week on the island working on
team-building skills, and the group went sailing in the
afternoons.
The Colgate Sailing School website offers an
abundant amount of resources – sailing tips, a blog
and a host of videos. For more information, visit
offshoresailing.com.
The Colgate’s 41 ft. Hunter
Steve and Doris Colgate
/offshoresailing.com
