Fishing, hunting, history, and the fine arts. Our team has the knowledge, the expertise, and the storytelling chops to make your day on the Bay a memorable experience that will keep you coming back year after year.

Captain Tilghman Hemsley

Captain Tilghman Hemsley has been working the waters of the Chesapeake Bay for nearly 40 years. He started out on the Breezin’ Thru as a mate for the legendary Captain Harry Carter, who commissioned the vessel from Rock Hall shipbuilder Andrew J. “Bubsy” Stevens in 1948-49. Tilghman took over ownership of the vessel in the 1990s and has continued the tradition of excellence set by Captain Carter.

In addition to running the charter boat, Tilghman happens to be a successful fine artist, specializing in oil painting and bronze sculpture. He studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and then graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in 1984. Capturing the essence of people and landscapes on canvas, he estimates that he has produced as many paintings as he has cleaned fish, which he says means he is “either a very good artist or a very poor fisherman.” Many of his works are displayed in private homes, offices, and public spaces throughout Maryland; his Maryland Watermen’s Monument is located at historic Kent Narrows on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A sampling of his artwork is on view at his gallery/studio in Centreville. For an appointment, please call Capt. Tilghman at 410-490-1370.

Captain Francis Hemsley

Captain Francis Hemsley was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1987. Raised on the water, Francis spent his summers working with his father aboard the historic Breezin’ Thru.  Having graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 2009, Francis immediately continued his education by getting his USCG Captain's license, holding a 100-ton master's license since 2010. Captain Francis has uniquely combined his passion for visual storytelling with his skills as a captain, allowing him the opportunities to have run a variety of unique vessels all along the East Coast, from New Jersey to the Florida Keys. His experiences on the water and years of boat travel and delivery have led him back home to Kent Island where he started his charter company, Great Wye Charters, aboard the beautiful Pal-O-Mine, a 1977 custom-built Robbins. Great Wye Charters’ objective is to provide exceptional service and hospitality to our guests, while taking them on fishing, crabbing, and hunting trips unlike any other on the Chesapeake Bay. 

Captain Andrew Hemsley

Andrew Hemsley, Capt. Tilghman’s youngest son, was just in high school when he began working on the Breezin’ Thru. He then balanced his studies at Chesapeake College with his work on the water. Andrew spent some time in a corporate environment in Baltimore, focused on diesel mechanics and sales, before answering the call of the family business. He found his way back home in 2021, when he began working as a mate on the Breezin’ Thru full-time and started studying for his captain’s license. He earned his USCG 50-ton master’s license in 2022. The young captain is committed to preserving the family legacy of working on the Chesapeake Bay for many generations to come.  

Marcia Landskroener, Mate