By Airplane: Major and discount airlines service the following airports nearest Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School:

Fort Myers, airport code RSW, 35 miles; Sarasota, airport code SRQ, 70 miles; Tampa, airport code TPA, 100 miles; Orlando, airport code MCO, 150 miles; Miami, airport code MIA, 175 miles.

Major car rental companies serve these airports.  Transportation from and to airports is also provided by Charlotte Limousine of Punta Gorda. Their toll free phone number is 800.208.6106, their web site is www.charlottelimousine.com.  When you talk or e-mail to them, mention that you are a customer of Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School.

By Road from Sarasota, Tampa or Orlando going South:

Take I-75 south to Exit 161 (Jones Loop), turn west, approx. 1.3 miles across railroad tracks and intersection with US-41. [For groceries, stop at Publix at Burnt Store Square at the intersection of Burnt Store Rd and US-41], road turns into Burnt Store Road (SR-765), then approximately 9.2 miles down Burnt Store Road south; look right for sign and security gate at Burnt Store Marina and Country Club. Enter the gate and follow directions to the Marina and Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School (see below).

By Road from Ft. Myers Southwest Florida International Airport, Naples or Miami, going North:

Take I-75 north to Exit 136, (Colonial Blvd), turn west, follow Colonial Blvd and cross the Caloosahatchee River at the Midpoint Memorial Bridge (toll) and continue on Veterans Parkway. Veterans Pkwy becomes Burnt Store Road at the intersection with Pine Island Road. [For groceries, shop at Publix at the intersection of Burnt Store Rd and Pine Island Rd]. Continue north on Burnt Store Rd for approx. 9 miles, look left for sign and security gate at Burnt Store Marina and Country Club. Enter the gate and follow directions to the Marina and Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School (see below).

Inside Burnt Store Marina and Country Club

When driving to Burnt Store Marina and Country Club and Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School, follow the directions on page 1. Upon arrival at the Burnt Store Marina and Country Club security gate, the security guard will provide you with a parking pass for the duration of your charter or sailing class. After passing through the security gate, continue on Islamorada Blvd until it dead-ends into Cape Cole Blvd and turn left. At the next intersection (4-way stop), turn left again on Matecumbe Key Rd. Continue on Matecumbe Key Rd, until you see a sign and arrow to "Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School." [signs are yet to be replaced after hurricane, sorry] Turn right and park your car. Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School' office is located on the second floor, above "Pignoli's" and is in the vicinity of the Dockmaster’s Office.  If you will arrive after 4:30 PM, please make arrangements with the office or instructor prior to your arrival to enable boarding "your" yacht after hours.  Most—but not all—of our yachts are on E-dock.

At the Marina

Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School’s office is located on the second floor above "Pignoli's." During the Summer season, our office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. During the Winter season, we have Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School staff on or around our yachts or in the office during the same hours, seven days a week.

If you arrive before 4:30 PM, please check in at the office. If the office is locked, go to E-dock and locate a Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School employee who can help you further. If you arrive after 4:30 PM, please make prior arrangements with the office to direct you to “your” yacht.

If you cannot find a Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising Schools employee, please call our office number, leave a message with your name, yacht name (if known) and phone number where we can reach you. After you leave your message, we get paged and will call you on the number indicated. If you are calling from a cell phone, please repeat your number twice as often cell phone signals are not too good--depending on the cell phone carrier.

Showers are located on the ground level behind Pignoli's and also at the Anchor Bay Pool building (combination is 2+4, then 3—please check with Dockmaster’s Office if you cannot get in). You may use the Anchor Bay Pool at your convenience. Pignoli's serves breakfast, lunch sandwiches. Porto Bello’s restaurant serves lunch and dinner. The Health Club (located on Matecumbe Key Rd) is available for a minimal daily fee.