Featured Instructor: Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey

Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey:

The great thing about teaching sailing is that you interact with people from all walks of life, and all ages.  Each student is unique, and each brings different skill sets and learning styles. So many of my students have become long-lasting friends, for which I’m grateful.  There are two classes that stand out as being especially memorable. The first was a Basic Keelboat class with a married couple, a single gal and her aunt. Something about that class just gelled – they had an immediate rapport and progressed as a team like nothing I’d encountered before. We nicknamed them the “Wonder Class” and they signed up for the next class together, and showed up with “Wonder Class” hats!  The second especially memorable class was 3 couples on a catamaran in Grenada for an ASA 104/114 course. Each couple had trained with us before, but they didn’t know the other couples. It was a magical week – strong tradewinds, boisterous sailing, fantastic islands, excellent snorkeling and fishing. The 3 couples became fast friends and have since sailed together on several of our flotillas, and now on their own boats on the Chesapeake.

Sailing has always been an integral part of my life.  When I’m sailing, I can simply focus on the boat and the elements, and the minutia of work and chores falls away. As a meteorologist and oceanographer, I enjoy applying that knowledge to optimize my sailing and cruise planning.  As a sailor, I appreciate getting the boat “in the groove” with sail trim, and using the right sails for the conditions. There’s nothing like the “whoosh” when a spinnaker fills, or the sweet spot when the boat heels into a fast close reach.  Sailing is never stagnant – there’s always more to learn, and more ways to improve, more ways to challenge yourself. I enjoy navigation, and love the beauty and simplicity of a good fix with compass or sextant – navigation is an art. Making landfall after an ocean passage is a special treat – the first glimpse of a distant volcanic island which shifts from grey shadow to verdant green as you approach. Sailing provides an opportunity to meet kindred spirits, whether in home waters or exotic cruising destinations.  Sailing puts you closely in touch with the elements, and the ocean environment. I’ve always loved the ocean, and am happiest on the water.

Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey:

The joy of sailing is more accessible than you can imagine. Many sailing ads feature silver-haired couples sailing into retirement, giving the impression that sailing is for privileged older folks. It’s just not so. Sailing knows no age, no race or religion, no wealth category.  I’ve seen islanders sail (and race) on homemade boats with bamboo masts, and enjoy it just as much as (or maybe more than) their neighbors on a 50’ catamaran. My nephews started sailing Opti’s at age 4, I’ve taught sailing novices who were age 76. Most of my more mature students only regretted that they waited so long to start.  You may or may not ever own your own boat – but you can sail with a class, with a club, with a neighbor, or charter anywhere around the world. There are lots of opportunities to sail and to learn – you just have to look. 

Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey:

For any number of reasons, including the reasons that I sail.  If you like speed, or competition, or peaceful gliding, or solitude, or crew camaraderie, or gorgeous sunsets, or rum drinks, or being self-reliant, or environmentally aware, or fixing stuff, or escaping the rat race, or challenging yourself – sailing may be your best avenue.  As Simon Sinek says, “Start with Why”. For me, sailing is the “How”.