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Captain Laura Olsen

USCG 50-ton Master Inland with Sailing and Towing Endorsements

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Captain Laura Olsen was introduced to sailing in the California SF Bay Area, starting out with the good fortune to have her boss introduce her to the sport on his Catalina 22 (and even a bit of racing on a Santana 30). She was immediately sailing smitten and despite advice from her boss: "don't own a boat, have friends that own boats!", she ignored those words and some years later began her full force love of sailing in her home state of Maryland.

Laura's first boat was a Harpoon 5.2. It needed some restoration TLC and she enjoyed the opportunity to learn skills in fiberglass repair and bright work and this played into her nature to be very hands on.  She moved onto sailing a Buccaneer 240 (aka the Clorox bottle with sails. If you ever see one, you will understand that nickname) for a number of years and eventually to her present S/V Miramar, a 1989 Catalina 36. She keeps Miramar near Sparrows Point.

As years went by, she worked to increase her knowledge and skills in all things sailing, including many courses in maintenance and ASA classes ( obtaining her Instructor designation). Laura had a keen interest to earn a captains license and achieved that life goal in 2018. She currently holds a 50 ton MMC Inland with sail and tow endorsements. 

She joined CAPCA after getting her ticket and thought about using her skills upon retirement from the "day job". Captain Laura recently worked for a local sailing charter and has been hired at an ASA sailing school to pursue teaching others the pleasures of sailing. She retired this past January from her 34 year career as the Industrial Hygienist and Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager for Frederick County Public Schools. Not one to sit idle, she joined the USCG Auxiliary the very next day and was sworn in on her birthday. She proudly serves with Flotilla 23-01 in Annapolis.

Laura's launch into retirement will include lots of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and pursuing more ocean sailing when opportunities permit. She has enjoyed several trips on other vessels to and from Bermuda and the Bahamas. She looks forward to meeting and working with fellow CAPCA members as she navigates this new chapter in life.

Laura is the proud mother of two adult children, Lindsey and Trevor, and has one granddaughter, Elena (who has just been enrolled in Jr. Captain school this summer). Her husband, Dagoberto is her admiral of many decades and he sails with her now mostly on fair weather days.  When the wind calls her, Laura will happily single hand Miramar.