The Team
Andy Batchelor
Co-owner, Instructor and Fleet Manager
- Native of England, trained by the Royal Yachting Association;
- Retired Royal Air Force Wing Commander with 33 years in Her
Majesty's Service;
- US Coast Guard Captain and ASA Sailing Instructor with over 25 years experience; teaches up to ASA's Advanced Coastal Cruising standard and Docking Endorsement.
- Served as Director of Marine Services for the Washington
Sailing Marina; and Fleet manager for Let'sGoCruising.com Solomons base; now
- Fleet manager of the Sail Solomons fleet;
- President of AlloraMare, Inc. marine services corporation;
- Co-owner of Sail Solomons Sailing School and Yacht Charters;
- Instructed sailing in Italy, Newport RI, Washington D.C., Annapolis
and Solomons Island; Antigua and British Virgin Islands;
- Awarded"Outstanding Instructor for 2007"and "Outstanding School for 2008"by ASA;
- Andy specializes in dockmanship and taking your sailing to
the next level.
Lisa Batchelor Frailey
Co-owner, Instructor and Charter Broker
- Grew up boating on the Chesapeake Bay, sailing since age
ten;
- Retired US Navy Captain, served 24 years as a Naval Flight Officer, Navigator
and Oceanographer/Meteorologist;
- US Coast Guard licensed captain and ASA Sailing Instructor; teaches up to ASA's Advanced Coastal Cruising standard and Docking and Weather Endorsements.
- Over 35 years experience in a wide range of power and sailing
vessels;
- Instructed sailing in Pensacola, Monterey, Chesapeake Bay,
and Naples Italy; Antigua and British Virgin Islands;
- Vice President of AlloraMare, Inc. marine services corporation;
- Co-owner of Sail Solomons Sailing School and Yacht Charters;
- Awarded "Outstanding School for 2008" by ASA;
- Charter Broker for multiple bareboat charter companies;
- Lisa's specialties include bareboat charter planning,
navigation and marine meteorology.
Mike Walker
Advanced Instructor & Delivery Captain
- Learned sailing and boat handling on the Firth of Clyde in
his native Scotland;
- Served in the Royal Navy aboard Mine Countermeasures and
Fishery Protection vessels;
- Served for 5 years in the UK's Coastguard Auxiliary Service;
- US Coast Guard licensed captain with 35 years experience
in a wide variety of vessels;
- Mike teaches sailing and navigation up to the ASA Advanced
Coastal Cruising standard.
Ed Bahniuk
Ed Bahniuk - Fleet Maintenance Manager
- Graduate engineer with many years of both military and corporate
experience;
- Now retired from corporate life, Solomons is his home port;
- Coast Guard Master Mariner with over 40 years experience
in power and sail boats;
- Exceptional machine shop, welding, electronics and wood working
skills;
- Provides technical support for the fleet at the Solomons
home base;
- Ed teaches engine knowledge, preventative maintenance and
emergency repairs.
Charlie Schmitz
Charlie Schmitz - Instructor, Charter Broker
- Project development of submarine fiber optic telecommunications cables with 40 years experience in both publicly and privately held companies;
- US Army Signal Corps veteran from the Viet Nam era;
- Retired from corporate life and living in Solomons;
- Experienced yacht broker and charter broker;
- US Coast Guard licensed captain and ASA sailing instructor with many years of sail and power boat operation on inland waterways and tidal waters.
- Charlie teaches sailing up to the ASA Bareboat Charter standard.