Tall Ships America, a national sail training organization, recently honored Northport resident Ben Hale as the “sail trainer of the year” for 2023. Hale was recognized for his work as senior captain for the Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) in Suttons Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hands-on experience aboard their two tall ship schooners.
According to the Tall Ships website, the sail trainer of the year award is given to members “who made a significant contribution to sail training through the demonstration of leadership by means of empowerment and inspiration” – a decent accolade from the Congressionally-recognized sail training organization.
Hale grew up near Flint before attending Michigan State University in Lansing, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology. Shortly after graduating, he took up an internship with ISEA in 1997. Hale said that he still wasn’t certain what he wanted to do for a living at this point but was interested in ISEA for its science and education programs.
