Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School

~BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN SAILORS SINCE 1986~

The Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School Value
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  • Our Long History and Reputation – over 35 years training and building CONFIDENCE in sailors, chartering, hosting ASA instructor clinics, and leading flotillas, we offer wide range of ASA Certifications, including ASA114 - Cruising Catamaran. ​
  • Our Coaching Approach – We do a great job of "coaching our students through the anxiety phase to the read and react phase". Once there, we gain learning momentum by coaching students on how well they react.  This speeds up the learning curve and CONFIDENCE building!​
  • Our Class Size – Our classes are private and limited to 4 students (additional if a family). I customize the training to best meet your sailing goals. Whether it is help mitigate anxiety, enhance skills, heavy weather coaching, buy a boat, or a learning vacation…no problem.
  • Our Base and Training Waters – Charlotte Harbor offers a large, well protected training ground and, depending on the class, easy access to blue water sailing in the Gulf of Mexico. Good sailing winds and weather year round. The sub-tropical climate and awesome resorts provide for very nice learning vacation or post certification charter.  Our waters were “Voted Top 10 Places to Sail” by Sailing magazine.​​  Our fleet is located at the full service Burnt Store Marina.

My Bio​

Ahoy, and thanks for checking us out! Good job...you should, not all schools are alike! Since you visited this website, I assume you are interested in my school.

I am Capt. Chet Shubert, owner of Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School and Yachting Vacations Charters. After a long career as an HR executive with Nabisco, Wyeth, and private equity organizations, I decided to leave corporate America and do what is my passion....Coaching and Sailing. From my extensive background with executive and youth coaching, I am an effective and adaptable instructor. Based on feedback from my students, I was recognized as an ASA Outstanding Instructor, recognition I am very proud of and very hard to achieve.  My last 4 years of student ratings are detailed below with 100% max rating.

I learned to sail on SF Bay in the 80's, sailing J 24s where I gained my ASA certifications and became addicted. Since then, I have owned multiple boats. My corporate travels provided the opportunity to sail fantastic places outside the USA including Australia, Finland, Argentina and The Netherlands. Knowing I wanted to retire and cruise, I gained my ASA Instructor certifications and USCG 100T Masters credentials.

We are a boutique sail training school, able to customize training to meet your sailing goals based on your previous sail and power experience. Give me a call and let's chat on how I can help you achieve your objectives!

Fair winds!  Capt. Chet

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My Last Couple Years Performance Ratings
Light Blue Bar = Total Students Trained      
​Dark Blue Bar = Student Rating 
Our Training Waters
Feedback From Students
December, 2022  ~  "We had never really sailed before we met Chet.  Time sailing with friends over the years was no substitute for all we needed to learn to be safe and effective sailors and sailboat owners.  We completed ASA 101, 103 and 104, plus the ASA Docking Endorsement with Chet during three successive trips to FL over the course of about six months during the Fall of 2015 and the Spring of 2016.  Fast forward to today and we are the owners and sailors of a 1989 Morgan 44 and spend almost all summer living aboard and sailing on Lake Michigan.  We’re living the dream with thanks to Chet Shubert, Gulf Coast Sailing School, and Yachting Vacations."
Mark & Tammy - Iowa
June 2021  ~  "My wife and I planned a week with Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School to complete ASA 104 & 114 to qualify us to charter a CAT in the Caribbean and later purchase our own Catamaran.  Captain Chet did a great job of exceeding the required training within our vacation schedule and adjusting for weather.  We now feel very confident in our Cruising Sailing and Catamaran skills.  We are excited to charter a Catamaran in Caribbean next year with our other family and friends that had completed ASA 104.  
Hope to see you at the Boat Show!
Eric & Ruth - Atlanta Ga
May, 2021  ~  "Thanks Capt. Chet, for your patience and willingness to go the extra mile to help me feel confident sailing Freedom Boat Club's Catalina 22s.  Your willingness to work with me an extra day in heavy air was extremely helpful for my confidence.  Your coaching and teaching techniques are excellent.  I see why you are an ASA Outstanding Instructor.  Thank you again and see you on the water!!!  Fair winds, Kris P.  Kansas City, Mo
February, 2018  ~ "My family of four booked a learning vacation last week with the goal of achieving ASA 101 and 103.  
Chet and Patti did a wonderful job of helping us with an itinerary that enabled us, in the end, to exceed our sailing expectations and vacation desires.  The waters and destinations were beautiful with both easy and challenging conditions.  We are returning for our 104 and 114 next year after we get some practice time on the water."
Dan J. and family - North Shore Oahu
February, 2015  ~  AWESOME FEEDBACK FROM A GULF COAST SAILING AND CRUISING SCHOOL CLIENT!
"Despite our extensive offshore sailing and coastal cruising background, bareboat chartering in Europe now requires completion of several ASA sailing courses.  Chet Shubert, owner of Yachting Vacations and Gulf Coast Sailing and Cruising School modified the curriculum to accommodate our sailing experience with the need for completion of the course work and sailing exercises.  Chet turned what could have been an unnecessarily repetitive sailing experience into a very pleasant 4 day cruise with all the necessary course work and sailing demonstrations seamlessly combined. Rather than a tedious review of existing knowledge and capabilities, Chet made this an exciting and fun-filled cruise that included all the necessary course material and practical sailing requirements.  And, Yachting Vacations is located in a perfect location allowing for both protected water and more boisterous open ocean sailing experiences."  
D. Harding - Experienced Blue Water Sailor
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January, 2015  ~  CHET SHUBERT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN ASA OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR FOR 2014!
This prestigious recognition is awarded to only 1% of the over 2000 instructors globally and is judged solely on student feedback.  Chet joins other Gulf Coast Sailing & Cruising School instructors who have received this distinguished award in previous years.  View the ASA announcement and the other awardees here [GO].