Certification
ASA certified sailing school
All ASA sailing certifications offered by Sailing Virgins.
Sailing Virgins vs Offshore Sailing School: How to Choose in 2026
An American pioneer, relaunched in 2026 – and a different way to learn. How to choose.
Sailing Virgins excels at
ASA 101-114 certifications earned on liveaboard adventure courses in the Caribbean, Med and beyond – operating continuously since 2016
Offshore Sailing School excels at
Six decades of Colgate teaching legacy, resort-based Florida and BVI locations, and both sail and power training
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Sailing Virgins | Offshore Sailing School |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 – operating continuously since | 1964 by Steve and Doris Colgate – a US sailing institution |
| What Happened in 2025-26 | Business as usual | Closed and filed for bankruptcy in May 2025; relaunched January 2026 under Seaworthy Academy |
| Certifications | ASA 101-114 – the American Sailing Association curriculum | US Sailing courses plus SLC international licences, for sail and power |
| Format | 7-day liveaboard – you live aboard the yacht you're learning on | Resort-based courses and cruising courses from Florida and BVI bases |
| Destinations | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific, Patagonia | Florida (Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Captiva and more) and the British Virgin Islands |
| Style | Adventure + certification – small crews, social atmosphere, typically 25-45 | Structured curriculum in the Colgate tradition, broader age range |
| Price (7-day beginner) | From $3,790 all-inclusive (instruction, certification, cabin and meals) | Published on their site – varies by course, location and season |
| Best For | Adventurers who want certification + travel | Students who want structured, US-based training close to home |
Founded
Sailing Virgins:
2016 – operating continuously since
Offshore Sailing School:
1964 by Steve and Doris Colgate – a US sailing institution
What Happened in 2025-26
Sailing Virgins:
Business as usual
Offshore Sailing School:
Closed and filed for bankruptcy in May 2025; relaunched January 2026 under Seaworthy Academy
Certifications
Sailing Virgins:
ASA 101-114 – the American Sailing Association curriculum
Offshore Sailing School:
US Sailing courses plus SLC international licences, for sail and power
Format
Sailing Virgins:
7-day liveaboard – you live aboard the yacht you're learning on
Offshore Sailing School:
Resort-based courses and cruising courses from Florida and BVI bases
Destinations
Sailing Virgins:
Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific, Patagonia
Offshore Sailing School:
Florida (Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Captiva and more) and the British Virgin Islands
Style
Sailing Virgins:
Adventure + certification – small crews, social atmosphere, typically 25-45
Offshore Sailing School:
Structured curriculum in the Colgate tradition, broader age range
Price (7-day beginner)
Sailing Virgins:
From $3,790 all-inclusive (instruction, certification, cabin and meals)
Offshore Sailing School:
Published on their site – varies by course, location and season
Best For
Sailing Virgins:
Adventurers who want certification + travel
Offshore Sailing School:
Students who want structured, US-based training close to home
The Verdict
Offshore Sailing School is a genuine pioneer – it taught America to sail for 60 years, and after closing in 2025 the school relaunched in 2026 under new ownership. Choose the new Offshore for structured, resort-based US Sailing training close to home; choose Sailing Virgins for an ASA-certified liveaboard adventure abroad. Either way you end up on the water, which is the whole point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Offshore Sailing School close down?
Yes – after 60 years, Offshore Sailing School ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in May 2025. In January 2026 the brand relaunched under new ownership (Seaworthy Academy), initially from Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida, with further locations listed on their site since.
Is my old Offshore Sailing School certification still valid?
Yes. Certifications are issued by the certifying body, not the school – a US Sailing certification earned at Offshore remains valid regardless of the company's ownership changes, and charter companies will still recognise it.
Are Sailing Virgins and Offshore certifications the same?
No – Sailing Virgins teaches the ASA curriculum (101-114), while Offshore has historically taught US Sailing courses and now also offers SLC international licences. All are legitimate and widely accepted; what matters most to charter companies is your logged experience alongside the certification.
I had a course booked with the old Offshore Sailing School – what now?
Bookings made with the pre-2025 company were caught up in the bankruptcy. Contact the relaunched school directly about how earlier bookings are being handled – and if your dates or destination no longer work, we'd be glad to help you keep your sailing plans alive.
Which school should I choose in 2026?
If you want structured training near home in Florida or a classic BVI resort-based course, the relaunched Offshore carries a 60-year teaching legacy. If you want to live aboard, sail somewhere extraordinary and come home ASA-certified, that's what Sailing Virgins has done every week since 2016.