Doris Colgate

Co-Owner, President & CEO

Before joining the advertising department of Yachting Magazine in 1967, Doris had never been on a sailboat. However, after taking a Learn to Sail course at Steve Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School and then a sailboat racing course run by Steve Colgate, Doris became hooked on sailing – and Steve Colgate – who she married in 1969.

Doris joined Offshore Sailing School full-time as its Vice President In 1970, became President in 1978, and CEO/President in 2001. The Colgates grew Offshore Sailing School from a one-branch, two-instructor, two-boat operation into the industry leader with more than 150,000 graduates.

Doris launched the National Women’s Sailing Association to create more awareness of sailing among women and help women build confidence in their sailing skills, spearheaded You Can Sail Escapes to provide all-women sailing programs, launched the sailing-mentoring program for at-risk girls AdventureSail, and established the not-for-profit Women’s Sailing Foundation to enhance the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing.

Doris served the sailing industry as chair of U.S. Sailing’s Commercial Sailing School Committee, BOAT U.S. National Advisory Council member, and Sail America’s Board of Directors.

Doris received the Betty Cook Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award from Boating Magazine, and the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award by BOAT U.S./NWSA. The National Sailing Hall of Fame inducted Doris into its ranks in November 2022.

Along with her husband Steve, Doris was honored with the Industry Award for Leadership by the SAIL magazine, presented the Timothea Larr Trophy in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in sailing education by the U.S. national governing body of sailing, U.S. Sailing and recognized by The Beaches of Sanibel & Ft. Myers Visitors and Convention Bureau in 2010 with the Junonia Award (its highest honor) for their tremendous commitment & dedication to the Lee County Tourism Industry, and again in 2013 with the Chrysalis Award for Offshore Sailing School’s contribution to Lee County tourism in the Sales & Marketing category.

Author of SAILING: A Woman’s Guide, Doris received the 2000 Southam Award for her informative how-to guide for women. Along with husband Steve, Doris co-authored Fast Track to Cruising in November 2005 and Fast Track to Sailing in 2009.

OFFSHORE High, a biography about Doris, her husband, Steve and Offshore Sailing School debuted in October 2021. According to acclaimed sailing author Larry Kretschmer, OFFSHORE High is a biography of sailing pioneers and a fascinating panoramic of the sailing industry during its formative years.

Doris earned listings in Who’s Who of America, Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in the Southeast, Who’s Who in Education, and Who’s Who of the World.

Doris and Steve reside in Ft. Myers, Florida, headquarters of their Offshore Sailing School and Colgate 26 enterprises.