Captain Craig Lehrke

Craig learned to sail when I was nine year old, “I cut grass for a neighbor lady and saved up a hundred bucks to by a sailfish.  I read a book at school and my dad drove me up to the lake and shoved me out.  I learned the hard way between jibing and tacking, but got really good at righting! In later years I often went fishing on the Grand Haven Pier, and enjoyed watching the larger cruisers peacefully working offshore; the idea of harnessing nature to actually go somewhere fascinated me.  I was hooked on big boats.”

Craig is now a retired school administrator who holds a lifetime passion for sailing and the joy of sharing the art & science of sailing with others.  He lives in Bad Axe, Michigan with his bride of 25 years Lori (a school teacher) and their two daughters. Craig is a 26 year veteran of the U.S. Navy; his initial five years of service were on active duty as a pilot and he continues to serve in the reserves.  Craig is a graduate of Central Michigan University with B.S. degrees in Biology and Geography from Saginaw Valley State University and a Master’s in Education, and the U.S. Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies.  He holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master’s Captain License with an Auxiliary Sail Endorsement. More importantly for us, Craig is an American Sailing Association instructor with certifications in Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Charter, and Coastal Navigation.  Craig has sailed extensively on the Great Lakes, the Mediterranean, Adriatic and North Seas.

TOP