Meet the captains of Schooner Heritage
Since 2020, Captains Sean Grimes and Ben Welzenbach have proudly commanded the SCHOONER HERITAGE. When Doug and Linda Lee, the original builders and operators of the HERITAGE, retired after 35 years with the vessel, it was a natural progression for Sean and Ben, who had each worked on the vessel for the previous seven years, to take the reins. Now, they lead the boat together, with Sean running the galley and Ben commanding the helm.
It was 2014 when Sean and Ben both separately signed on as crew members, neither of them realizing how pivotal the boat would become in shaping their futures. Captain Sean, who had been a professional chef since 2000, was seeking something new. Growing up deep-sea fishing, he developed an early love for the water, and as soon as he arrived in Maine, he knew this was where he was meant to be. For the next seven years, Sean served as the ship’s chef, preparing meals for guests while also honing his sailing skills. He spent four winters aboard the Topsail Schooner Lynx, traveling from the Bahamas to Cuba and even as far as Texas, before earning his captain’s license.
Captain Ben first sailed on the HERITAGE as a guest in 2013, joining a trip with his father. Instantly captivated by Maine’s beauty and the joy of sailing, he returned the following year to begin crewing. For Ben, it was a welcome shift from his previous work as a sound engineer and guitar teacher. A music lover with a degree in music, he enjoys sharing his talents with guests, often pulling out his guitar for music nights on board.
on Heritage’s wood cookstove
States Ben, “It’s an endlessly rewarding profession, hosting trips aboard HERITAGE. For some, HERITAGE is a wonderful vacation that they’re happy to have experienced. But, for a large percentage of our guests who return annually, sometimes for multiple trips, HERITAGE is much more than a vacation, it is a way of life. It’s a breath of fresh air from a fast-paced, ever-evolving world knowing that when they come back, HERITAGE will be just the way they left her, true to her roots and traditions. Time slows down, and time spent on board is therapeutic, cleansing the soul and mind.”
“Our guests have a sense of ownership of the HERITAGE. It is them who she belongs to, for we are just the stewards of the ship,” adds Sean.
As the head stewards, now that it’s April, they’ll spend nearly every day until June 1st onboard with the crew prepping the HERITAGE for the sailing season. While the crew sands, paints and varnishes they’ll tackle some of the less glorious aspects of boat care like marine plumbing and small boat engine repairs. Come June 3rd when guests arrive for the first trip, they’ll be ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor and share the HERITAGE with all of you.
Categories: Fleet, Maine Windjammers
