FAIRHOPE, Ala. — With frustration mounting over a Democratic presidential primary that won’t seem to end, finding a way to get away from it all seems like a very good idea, even if the chosen method is known as the First Lady. The 43-foot ketch is available for private charters on Mobile Bay, and Scott and Debbie Hampton are ready to pipe you aboard.

The couple acquired the sailboat in March 2004, and had it shipped from St. Petersburg, Fla. to their home in St. Louis, Mo. Scott said, “We bought it to do charters in the Florida Keys. We wanted to outfit it the way we wanted while still holding a day job.”

At the time, Scott was the service manager for a golf cart dealership and Debbie worked for the Edward Jones investment firm. They spent three years rebuilding the boat, replacing nearly everything they could remove, including the teak decking.

“We wanted to do day sails and SCUBA diving in the Keys,” Scott said. “We came down the Tenn-Tom Waterway. When we got down here, we saw (fishing) rod holders in sailboats,” making him realize people here love to be on the water.

Debbie added, “We were only planning on stopping here a month to have our masts shipped down, but the people were so nice here.”

“You don’t get this kind of hospitality in the Keys,” Scott said, referring to those he and Debbie met after they arrived at Eastern Shore Marine on Fly Creek. “You get that everybody knows everybody, and they’re so friendly.”

It didn’t take long for them to decide to end the trip here, instead of continuing their journey south. Debbie said they have since visited hotels, bed and breakfast inns and other spots tourists and locals gather in order to drop off brochures about their sailing charters.

“Everyone was so supportive,” she said. “Everyone was so thrilled to have something to offer their customers.”

Sailing charters begin at $150 for a two-hour or sunset cruise; a four-hour cruise is $300; and an eight-hour trip on Mobile Bay is $575. The price includes passage for up to six people.

Scott said, “We wanted it to be priced so it didn’t bankrupt anyone. It’s affordable for everyone to go sailing for an afternoon or a day.”

The cost does not include food or drinks. Debbie said, “Whoever chartered us would bring whatever so they would get what they want.” Scott added, “We’ve got a charter on Friday and they’re bringing pizza and beer.”

“Middle Bay Lighthouse is one of the most requested destinations on a charter,” he said, noting, “They hear about it, and they see pictures of it all over town, but they’ve never been there.”

Such a romantic setting seems appropriate for a couple obviously very much in love. They celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

The Hamptons arrived here with their dog in October. The loving border collie mix named Lucy was adopted from an animal rescue group, and she made the trip with them.

They have officially been in business since March. Since then, they have taken several guests out on the bay, including an 80-year-old man who proclaimed the experience “his best birthday in 50 years” as he watched the Dauphin Island Race.

They’ve had a thrill or two as well. Dolphins tagged along on a recent charter.

“There was a pod of four and a baby,” Scott said. “We were out on our last charter and they swam up before we were out of the channel. They rode alongside us for 45 minutes. To have them as curious of us as we were of them was amazing. We’ve been SCUBA diving all over the world, and we’ve never had that kind of encounter.”

Debbie said the charters have so far been split between men and women, but no children have been aboard, even though they are welcome.

“We’ve had people who have been boating a while, but they no longer want to maintain a boat,” Scott said. “They can sit back and not have to captain.” Both Scott and Debbie have their captain’s licenses.

Those who charter the First Lady determine the itinerary. She said, “They get to decide how adventurous they want to be.”

The 1975 GulfStar is a very stable boat, according to Scott.

“Most people are comfortable doing five miles per hour on the water,” he said. “We’re a slow, comfortable ride.”

That’s a good thing, because the First Lady has been home for the couple since June 1 when they sailed by the Gateway Arch. They sold their home on their 18th anniversary, along with everything else that wasn’t attached.

Scott and Debbie are already giving back to their adopted hometown, having donated charters to the United Way and Kiwanis Club.

“You get to know your neighbors here better than you know your family,” Debbie said, pointing out the strong sense of community she’s seen on the Eastern Shore. Scott added, “We’ve gotten more sociable since we moved on the boat.”

They’ve also discovered beautiful sunsets. Although a chartered cruise is something one might typically do on Saturday or Sunday, Scott said, “The sun sets every night, not just on the weekends. You can go out on a Tuesday or Wednesday and not see another boat. You can go out on a Sunday and have 50 little sailboats out with you, and it’s pretty but it’s not secluded.”

The couple traveled over 1,000 miles down river to follow their dream, but knew they were home when they first saw Fairhope, a city they say resembles “something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the couple, however. Scott said, “Quitting a paying job was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do … I made good money, and I liked my job. This was a leap of faith for us. We’ve sold our house and our cars. Everything we didn’t sell, we gave away.”

For more information, visit www.all4sailing.com, or call (636) 577-2692.