How do I sail on Hesper? Do I need experience?

Easy! We have two options- the first is our bread + butter. Exclusive and private windjammer trips along the cost of Maine for your group of 6 or less. Perhaps you want to try us out? Come along for a daysail Monday-Wednesday. We go out for 2 hours or more on our private charters. No experience is needed for any of our trips. This is a “choose your own adventure” experience. You can be as involved as you want, or just sit back and relax for the weekend. It’s all good!

How do the windjammer trips work?

Boarding begins on Thursday. We meet and greet and go over introductions, safety and get acquianted with the vessel. Then, we are off. We believe in making everyone comfortable. No group is the same and we like to use a group process to figure out our plan. Generally, we like to get in some good sailing mid-morning and sail to our next island spot, or coastal village. Afternoons are meant for lounging, beach exploring and water sports. Nights are spent near the wood stove, board games and good scotch.

What should I pack for my windjammer vacation?

Limited space on board means to pack light, and please use soft duffle’s or luggage- We have limited space for hard suitcases. Pack clothing for adventure! Expect to row ashore to remote sandy beaches, or walk the rocky sea shore in search of sea glass. Sometimes it rains, sometimes its hot, sometimes its cold. Reach out to us to get an idea of what the Maine weather might be like during your windjammer vacation.

What do we eat on board?

Local. Fresh. The two guarantees. Hesper is blessed with a small but functional galley that often bewilders guests with what can come out of it. We believe in using all of Maine’s resources in our meal building. This is home cooking.

What facilities are onboard?

Hesper has 12volt charging systems for cellphones and USB devices. There are no 110V outlets on board. There is hot water for short showers. All bunks are equipped with rechargeable personal fans. We do have refrigeration and a stove/oven. WIFI is a no. Hesper can sleep 6 guests. 4 Guests can sleep forward in our bunks. We have a double master bunk aft of the forward area, and a comfortable chefs birth next to the woodstove in the saloon. Crew sleeps aft. Many choose to sleep outside at least once so bring a sleep bag and download a good star app!

How do we get ashore? What activities are there?

We get to shore via our dinghy with an outboard, a quick and efficient way to start our exploration. Guests should be able to use a ladder up and down. Many of the spots we go to have no people- just coastal wilderness. They are scenes of beauty. We do also like to sprinkle in some small coastal towns for shopping and sightseeing.

Will I get seasick?

Probably not, but if you have been ill before on sailing vessels, its a good idea to reach out to your PCP about options. Past guests have had good experiences with patch options. Hesper is a sturdy and large boat, when heeling, she’s quite stable. We can count on one hand how many issues with seasickness we’ve had in the last decade.

Where is Hesper located? How do we get there?

Hesper is located in Camden, Maine. Home of many windjammers and traditional vessels. There is overnight parking located near downtown Camden where you can leave your vehicles for the duration of your trip. There is also bus service to Camden via Concord Coach Lines, all the way down to Boston.