Colgate 26s are used for initial sailing instruction which includes Intro to Sailing and Basic Keelboat 1 & 2.
The other boats in our fleet, all yachts over 32 feet in length, are used for subsequent lessons from Basic Cruising through Ocean Passage.
Colgate 26 - 26 feet This is without a doubt the best sailboat on the market for getting a feel for keelboat handling. It is the one you will begin your courses with at OSA. We use this specially designed instructional boat for our Basic Keelboat 1 and 2 courses and all our Focus Classes. It's stable, fast, and forgiving.
"Susan and I both found the Colgate beautifully kept and the ease of working with you and your school a real pleasure. We look forward to sailing with you again." Ed and Susan Stiner, New Market, TN
The Colgate is non-tippable because of its heavily weighted keel, and doesn't require a lot of water depth (4 1/2 feet). It is unusually roomy for a boat of its size, and has an extra long cockpit. The boom is a bit higher than normal so it swings overhead with a low likelihood of jibe contact.
"The Colgates are so very well set up for instructional purposes (they are fun and very forgiving). I love the huge cockpit. Good call on using the Colgates." - Adrian Pitts
Beneteau 323, "Sugaree" - 33 feet
The Beneteau 323 is a comfortable open-ocean performance yacht at a compact size perfect for introducing our students to yachts. Its standout feature is a pivoting wheel that rotates 90 degrees
and aligns the wheel with the boat's centerline.
2 Beneteau 423s - 42 feet
Our Beneteau 423s, Tohidu and Moonshot, are our most comfortable cruisers and excellent learning boats, being rather forgiving. 423s steer unusually well at all angles to the wind and are dependable in high winds and seas. Tohidu was named Boat of the Year by the Charleston Ocean Racing Association in 2009 for its racing qualities and the educational uses to which it was put by its owner, Jay Cook.
