We are open for business and follow all CDC and ASA Sailing Guidelines!!!!
We are currently booking only family units for classes and do not permit our coaches to sleep aboard per ASA and reasonable guidance. Overnights will be at Burnt Store Marina. Call us to discuss your objectives and our great resources to accomplish them. Be safe and fair winds! Capt. Chet
the Gulf Coast sailing & cruising school advantage
- 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 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 Tiller Boat for New Sailor Training – Most schools train new sailors on mid-size cruisers. We train new sailors on smaller tiller boats. Doing so helps you better understand and feel foundational principles such as vessel balance and sail plan trim. This will help accelerate learning and build CONFIDENCE!
- Our Small Classes – Our classes are small, and we are able to customize the training time 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 – Our office and fleet are located at the full service Burnt Store Marina. 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 – With the exception of ASA 101, all other classes are taught aboard one of Yachting Vacations charter fleet vessels that includes well appointed, mid-size monohulls and catamarans.
~~~~~ About us ~~~~~
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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 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 love...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. I published my current ratings from my students below. Before you choose a school, ask the instructor or school for their ratings. and if not provided, more due diligence. 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 like 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. Check out our Mission Statement.......Give me a call and let's chat. Best regards! Chet |
Here are my last 2 years of student performance ratings.
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FEEDBACK FROM OUR SAILORS
Ferdinand and Annette M.
March 2021
My wife and I learned about Gulf Coast Sailing School and Captain Chet after we completed our ASA 101 in November. We chartered his Catalina 22 for a weekend to gain some experience on the things we learned in 101 and were very pleased with our first experiences from the get go. Seawind was perfectly cleaned, well maintained and fun to sail.
Chet is a really nice guy and easy to deal with. He was extremely accommodating and we decided to take the ASA 103/104 as a 4 day class with him. Skycatcher the 33.5 ‘ Hunter was in tip top shape and we loved to stay on the boat overnight. Chet is extremely knowledgeable and a very passionate trainer. He is fun to sail with and we enjoyed really our time together with him.
After we completed our ASA 104 class he gave us the boat for the afternoon to go out on our own which was fantastic!
I highly recommend Gulf Coast Sailing School and I would definitely take all classes again with Captain Chet!
Ferdinand & Annette
March 2021
My wife and I learned about Gulf Coast Sailing School and Captain Chet after we completed our ASA 101 in November. We chartered his Catalina 22 for a weekend to gain some experience on the things we learned in 101 and were very pleased with our first experiences from the get go. Seawind was perfectly cleaned, well maintained and fun to sail.
Chet is a really nice guy and easy to deal with. He was extremely accommodating and we decided to take the ASA 103/104 as a 4 day class with him. Skycatcher the 33.5 ‘ Hunter was in tip top shape and we loved to stay on the boat overnight. Chet is extremely knowledgeable and a very passionate trainer. He is fun to sail with and we enjoyed really our time together with him.
After we completed our ASA 104 class he gave us the boat for the afternoon to go out on our own which was fantastic!
I highly recommend Gulf Coast Sailing School and I would definitely take all classes again with Captain Chet!
Ferdinand & Annette
June, 2018 ~ "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
Mark & Tammy - Iowa
June 2018 ~ "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
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May, 2017 ~ "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, 2017 ~ "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
January, 2015 ~ CHET SHUBERT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN ASA OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR FOR 2014!
This prestigious recognition is awarded to only 1.5% 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].
January, 2015 ~ YACHTING VACATIONS ADDS ANOTHER CATALINA 22 TO THE FLEET!
Because of strong customer demand, another Catalina 22 is available for day sails on Charlotte Harbor. We are pleased to offer "Sea Wind", a like new, but gently aged, 1985 for day sailing. This extremely clean and well maintained swing keel is a blast to sail on our protected harbor. We are the only source for Southwest Florida visitors who want to get out for a day on the classic Catalina 22. Give us a call to reserve your half or full day charter. Check out our new addition here [GO].
"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
January, 2015 ~ CHET SHUBERT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN ASA OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR FOR 2014!
This prestigious recognition is awarded to only 1.5% 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].
January, 2015 ~ YACHTING VACATIONS ADDS ANOTHER CATALINA 22 TO THE FLEET!
Because of strong customer demand, another Catalina 22 is available for day sails on Charlotte Harbor. We are pleased to offer "Sea Wind", a like new, but gently aged, 1985 for day sailing. This extremely clean and well maintained swing keel is a blast to sail on our protected harbor. We are the only source for Southwest Florida visitors who want to get out for a day on the classic Catalina 22. Give us a call to reserve your half or full day charter. Check out our new addition here [GO].
Our Mission Statement
“The Gulf Coast Sailing and Cruising School Team will deliver best in class sailing education to our students, while placing a high priority on enabling achievement of student goals, safety, and environmental stewardship. We deliver these with flexible learning program designs, and with a focus on the highest level of client satisfaction, delivered with friendliness, spirit, fun, and pride."
“The Gulf Coast Sailing and Cruising School Team will deliver best in class sailing education to our students, while placing a high priority on enabling achievement of student goals, safety, and environmental stewardship. We deliver these with flexible learning program designs, and with a focus on the highest level of client satisfaction, delivered with friendliness, spirit, fun, and pride."
