Travel with Amateur Traveler · Saturday, August 1, 2026
The Schooner Heritage, the largest vessel in the Maine Windjammer Association, has been sold by its original captains, Doug and Linda Lee, to two of their former crew members, Ben Wellenback and Sean Grimes. Wellenback will serve as captain and Grimes as cook. The Heritage was purpose-built as a passenger schooner and launched in 1983.
“The current captains, Ben Wellenback and Sean Grimes, were on their crew. Ben was the first mate and Sean was the cook. And when the Lees decided that they wanted to retire, they sold the boat to Ben and Sean.”
“So Ben and Sean took over the first season coming out of COVID, and Ben acts as the captain and Sean as the cook.”
“The particular schooner I was on was the Heritage and of the nine ships in the fleet, this is one of three that was purpose-built as a passenger schooner.”