Patty Lawrence didn’t set out to build a career in boating education. She just kept saying yes to opportunities that combined two lifelong passions: sailing and education. A teacher by trade, she became one of the most respected organizers of marine education programs in the country, shaping seminars and conferences that have taught thousands of sailors, boat owners and marine professionals.
Now, Lawrence has come full circle as the education coordinator for the Annapolis Boat Shows. Her appointment marks a natural progression for someone whose résumé spans teaching, grassroots sailing programs, national one-design organizations, consumer boat shows, the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference and, now, one of cruising’s premier educational events.
More importantly, it reunites Lawrence with the community that first inspired her decades ago.
Last fall, after wrapping up a week directing education at IBEX in Tampa, Florida, Lawrence boarded a flight to Annapolis rather than heading home to Ohio. “I hadn’t been to the Annapolis Sailboat Show in several years, and I wanted to be with my people,” she recalled. “The sailing community—these are my people. I wanted to be surrounded by them.”
Growing up in Ohio, Lawrence’s family vacations meant heading north to the Great Lakes, where her parents and grandparents introduced her to sailing. Those summers created a lifelong affection for the water.
“We’d go to Put-in-Bay,” she says with a laugh. “We’d see how many times we could capsize our little Sunfish knockoff.”
The fun quickly became a passion. At the University of Cincinnati, Lawrence joined the sailing club, where she met her future husband. Their shared love of one-design racing would define much of their early life together. Their first boat was a Thistle, and before long they were campaigning nationally.
As their involvement grew, Lawrence became president of the Thistle class, organized communications for the fleet and eventually served on the board of US Sailing, representing the interests of one-design sailors. One of her first major steps into boating education came when she and several sailing leaders created a One Design Sailing Symposium aimed at helping clubs grow and sustain healthy racing fleets. The symposium traveled across the country and introduced Lawrence to something she discovered she loved as much as sailing itself: bringing knowledgeable people together and creating meaningful educational experiences.
That reputation eventually caught the attention of Sail America. The organization asked Lawrence to organize educational seminars at its consumer boat shows, beginning with four events before expanding over nearly a decade as shows opened and evolved.
Lawrence built an extraordinary network throughout the sailing industry. “I knew the speakers,” she said simply.
In reality, she understood audiences. She knew which presenters could teach technical subjects without intimidating newcomers, which speakers could captivate experienced sailors, and what topics would inspire people to return year after year.
That expertise eventually led her to IBEX, in her position as director of education, where she oversaw one of the marine industry’s most respected educational conferences.
Unlike consumer sailing seminars, IBEX focuses on the professionals who design, build, repair and innovate boats. Lawrence managed programming that covered everything from composites and propulsion systems to electronics, marinas, workforce development and leadership.
“There are 10 different educational tracks,” she explained. “It really covers every component of how to build a boat.”
Working with engineers, designers, manufacturers and technical experts gave Lawrence a broader understanding of the industry while reinforcing something she had already learned throughout sailing. “People in boating are so eager to share what they know,” she said. “They’re passionate. They’re thoughtful. They’re incredibly smart. Whether they’re working on efficient hulls, reinforced transoms or looking to improve propulsion systems, they’re committed to helping the industry move forward.”
That commitment to education, and to sharing knowledge, would soon bring her back to sailing in an unexpected way. While wandering the Annapolis Sailboat Show, Lawrence stopped to visit Tyler Andrews, whom she had known since he was a teenager racing Thistles and who now builds Flying Scots. As they talked, rain clouds rolled in. Walking through the exhibits checking on vendors was Sheila Jones, general manager of Annapolis Boat Shows.
Lawrence introduced herself and mentioned her passions in sailing and education, and said casually to give her a call if Jones heard of an opportunity to return to the sailing industry. A few weeks later, the phone rang.
“It wasn’t the plan,” Lawrence said. “It was just one of those funny turns.”
In many ways, though, it was a return years in the making. When Cruisers University first launched more than a decade ago, then-show owner Paul Jacobs had actually asked Lawrence to recommend instructors. Because she had spent years organizing seminar programs across major sailing shows, she knew a wide range of respected presenters in the industry. “I felt very fortunate,” she said. “I knew all the speakers.”
Now, instead of recommending speakers from the outside, she’s responsible for guiding the entire program. Lawrence inherits a curriculum that already enjoys a stellar reputation among cruisers. Rather than rushing to make changes, her first goal is simple: learn.
“Cruisers University already has a very comprehensive curriculum,” she said. “I want to get through the first year, experience it, get to know it and understand it before I make any changes.”
That doesn’t mean the program will stand still. Lawrence’s background gives her a strong perspective on how educational programming should evolve. She says understanding what audiences want is just as important as recruiting great instructors.
“I think I know what audiences want to hear about,” she said. “There are speakers I can bring to the program, but I also need to shake some rust off and meet the new people. The sailing world keeps evolving.”
She has already begun introducing new voices while preserving the experienced instructors attendees have come to expect. Among those speakers she’s especially excited to feature this fall is veteran educator and sailing icon Sheila McCurdy, the first female commodore of the Cruising Club of America. She’s also enthusiastic about welcoming Derek Escher, who will speak on power catamarans and cruising as a couple, and advanced navigator Tate Westbrook, whose U.S. Navy background offers fresh expertise.
At the same time, Lawrence recognizes the loyal following many returning instructors have earned. “They have a following for a reason,” she said. “They have tremendous knowledge, and people come back because they trust them.”
Looking ahead, Lawrence expects Cruisers University to cover topics like artificial intelligence, advanced marine electronics and emerging technologies along with weather, diesel engines, provisioning, passagemaking and boat handling. One area she’s personally passionate about is helping sailors bridge the gap between racing and cruising.
“As a dinghy sailor, every little movement affects performance,” she said. “Boat handling is so important. Whether you’re racing or cruising, knowing how to handle your boat safely and confidently matters.”
More than anything, though, Lawrence wants to preserve the culture that has made Cruisers University special. “I think Cruisers University is pretty magical,” she said. “There’s a bond between the instructors and the students that lasts well beyond those five days.”
Whether someone dreams of crossing oceans, cruising the Chesapeake, exploring the Great Lakes, or simply gaining the confidence to leave the dock, she wants every attendee to feel welcome.
“You don’t have to know everything,” she said. “You have experts there who are happy to share what they know. There’s something for everybody.”
Cruisers University Fall Program
Cruisers University returns to Annapolis, Maryland, this fall with a dynamic educational program. Starting a few days before the opening day of the Annapolis Sailboat Show, the October 12-16 event brings together some of the boating world’s most accomplished sailors, instructors and industry experts for an immersive learning experience designed to inspire confidence on the water.
More than 75 classes cover virtually every aspect of cruising, from navigation, weather forecasting, passage planning and seamanship to diesel engines, marine electrical systems, fiberglass repair, anchoring, docking and emergency preparedness. Participants can also study the latest in Starlink connectivity, lithium battery systems, solar power and other innovations transforming today’s cruising lifestyle.
This year’s faculty includes many of the most-respected names in sailing education, including Lisa and Andy Batchelor, Gio and Julie Cappelli, Derek Escher, Sheila McCurdy, Tate Westbrook, Lin Pardey, Mark Thornton, Jim Zima and Scott Berg.
Beyond the classroom, Cruisers University is known for creating a community where instructors and students connect through a shared passion for adventure. The program offers practical knowledge, personal mentorship and lasting friendships that extend well beyond the final class. Visit cruisersuniversity.com for more information.
