October 8, 2026 By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham Maritime Center’s motto, “No club membership or boat ownership required” to enjoy the facility, reflects HMC’s and the town’s commitment to “offering community access to Hingham’s picturesque waterfront.”
HMC operates at Barnes Wharf – which is in full use for three seasons a year – under a long-term lease with the town.
The Center was founded by Virginia and Bill Gray in 1971 as the Lincoln Sailing Club, with support from Tom Curtis – president of the then-Lincoln Trust Company, who was instrumental in providing the seed money to start the program.
In an update on how the spring/summer 2025 season went – with his son, Tom — who is president of the HMC board of directors — noted that staff have been so busy they haven’t compiled a report yet for this past season.
HMC has taught sailing rowing, paddle boarding, and marine science to more than 25,000 participants over the years, with “safety, satisfaction, and respect for the environment and community” as its core values. More than 400 different people were served by HMC’s core programs last year.
There were 213 youth and 49 adult participants in the 2025 programs, with a wide range of offerings from youth row and race training for high school and college students to adult learn to row and Coastal Singles and Quads.
The “Little Mariners” program introduces marine science to 5- to 7-year-olds, “fostering early interest and engagement in marine environments.”
HMC also works closely with the Hingham High School sailing and crew teams, providing early access to the waterfront by putting their docks in mid-March.
In addition, HMC partners with Sunset Point Camp in Hull and the South Shore Special Needs Athletic Partnership to offer waterfront activities to these youth.
The 2025 HMC team included 42 paid employees, 31 of whom were high school or college students; more than 20 regular sailing and rowing volunteers; dozens of individual volunteers across the season; and 16 volunteer board members.
Various fundraising events help raise money for the Center.
“We thank the Town of Hingham for our long and successful working relationship!” Curtis said.
Select board member William Ramsey told Curtis he thinks it’s “wonderful that you are carrying on your family’s tradition as a founder of the Lincoln Sailing Club.”