The 74-foot gaff-rigged topsail sloop, Frances, was built by her Captains and crew on Portland's waterfront. Launched in the fall of 2003, her design is reminiscent of the 1800s Maine windjammer used up and down the Maine coast for fishing and trade. Her rig is tall and elegant; her sail area and deck space impressive.
Captain, designer, and builder Hasket Derby Hildreth studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maine and boatbuilding in Washington County. Friend, and master boast restorer, Wallace Soule, a Freeport native and carpenter, was an integral part of the hull and finish work construction of the Frances. I (Megan Jones) - just out of Bates College with a liberal arts degree, a love of sailing, and an accomplished sailmaker, was the project's Apprentice. Duff, the Jack Russell, was ever present and supportive from stem to stern.
Construction of her steel hull took place in building #7 at the old Portland Co. building on Fore Street. Here we fashioned our own steel tools (brake presses made of I-beams, steel benders, and cranes) to lay her keel, pattern her frames, and plate her hull. Our team worked through a winter and a summer to launch the steel hull and spruce spars 8 months later during October 2003. The wood work that adorns her cap rails, deckhouses, and interior were finished through the following winter.
We started Maine Sailing Adventures in hopes of bringing the lore and memory of the traditional windjammer era back to Portland, Maine. Today we offer the ideal pick for public day sailing and private charter within the Old Port, and this is why:
- Frances is the largest engineless for-charter windjammer in Portland, Maine.
- Her wide beam, shallow deck, and high caprail design allows all ages to move freely about the deck while under full sail.
- We are an environmentally conscious choice sailing the traditional windjammer way without an engine aboard. Maneuvering the Frances on and off the dock with our yawl boat is truly a sight to be seen and unique to our waterfront.
- We love Maine's coastline and the islands that pepper her shore. We hope you choose to spend and afternoon, or a day, with us to
