Episode 144: Learning to Sail with Michael McLaurin
“It wasn’t until they turned off the motors, that for me, the spark actually happened.”
In this week's episode, we’re joined by Michael McLaurin, a dedicated family man from Charlotte, North Carolina, who has a background in banking and operational risk. Michael’s story took an unexpected turn when, during the Covid lockdowns, he sought a new family activity that could break free from the constraints of the pandemic. This search led him to discover a newfound passion for sailing. Tune in to hear how Michael went from exploring his new interest to planning and executing a multi-day bareboat sailing expedition with his family, transforming a casual hobby into a remarkable adventure.
Michael also discusses:
2:00 - An overview of his journey
4:30 - Being inspired to start his sailing journey
7:50 - Learning how to sail as a family
11:25 - Eating on board
12:20 - What they learned during their training
15:10 - The boat they trained with
16:20 - How his family did on the trip
17:15 - His goal for learning to sail
19:00 - His 104 course
21:30 - The American Sailing Association
25:20 - Was the whole family excited about the adventure?
26:50 - What happened after certification?
31:10 - His Mooring ball experience
34:50 - Notable stories from his bareboat adventure
37:20 - Opportunities to reignite the spark that inspired him to start sailing
39:30 - How it was leaving Charleston Harbor on his own for the first time
40:55 - Experiencing moments of awe on the boat
42:30 - What’s next for him and his family on their sailing journey?
44:15 - Looking back at how far he has come in such a short time
47:00 - Advice he has for people hesitant to take the next step
49:00 - Who is going to play him in the Hollywood movie about his life
50:10 - How to get in touch to learn more about how to get started
You can learn more about where Michael and his family learned to sail by following @charlestonsailingschool on Instagram.
See below for photos Michael shared from his adventures sailing with his family.
Watch the Full Behind The Scenes Episode
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