But when opportunity strikes – plans sometimes have to change. Quickly.
Hemmings was unexpectedly invited to work for two weeks on Maiden, a 58-foot ocean racing yacht. The ship travels around the world promoting girls’ education and encouraging women to pursue careers in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Aren Hemmings, third from left, with Maiden’s all-female crew, which set off in January from Dubai on a three-year trip around the world. Hemmings, joined the ship for two weeks on the New York leg of the tour. (Submitted by The Maiden Factor/Aren Hemmings) Maiden made headlines around the world in 1989-1990 when they broke records with the first all-female crew to take part in the Whitbread Round the World race. Purchased by former skipper Tracy Edwards and refurbished in 2017, Maiden was relaunched as a training vessel. In January, the vessel embarked from Dubai for a three-year, 90,000 nautical mile voyage sponsored by DP World. “There’s navigation, which is math,” Edwards said. “Science has a lot to do with how you set sails, how wind angles work, all these other things. Through sailing, we can show in a fun way, in a way outside of the classroom, how they can all be used these still skills”. A sailing race photographed by Maiden. (Submitted by Maiden Factor/Aren Hemmings) The opportunity to be a photographer and reporter aboard the Maiden is a significant opportunity for Hemmings, a 2021 Saint John High School graduate who describes photography as her “side hustle.” “I knew I was going to do some photography work over the summer — but I figured it would be graduation and maybe a wedding or two. I did not expect that. To be honest, I was so happy, I cried.” Hemmings, sitting on the boom watching and photographing the Independence Day fireworks. (Submitted by Aren Hemmings) The opportunity came when the Maiden Factor team contacted Port Saint John’s Paula Copeland, vice president of sustainability and sustainability, asking if she knew of any qualified female photographers. Copeland asked Aren’s uncle, Saint John filmmaker and avid sailor Greg Hemmings — who realized his niece, who has more than just photography skills, would be a perfect fit. “When I was 16, I took the Learn to Sail adult program at the Royal Kennebeccasis Yacht Club with Gary Sullivan,” Aren said. “We got a little calendar for me and my sister’s birthday two summers ago, which was amazing. So it was perfect timing.” Hemmings says the highlight of the two-week trip was the sunsets, like the one captured in this photo, captured during the Sunset Series race hosted by the American Yacht Club. “It’s every photographer’s dream,” he said. (Submitted by The Maiden Factor/Aren Hemmings) “I recommend Aren to Maiden, especially after learning of her own connection to sailing,” Copeland said. “I really judge people by how they respond,” Edwards said. “I emailed her and she came back with ‘yes — when do you want me?’ That was the attitude. She literally dropped everything and we flew her to New York.” Within three weeks of the first email, Hemmings was on a 5am flight to the US. He immediately began recording the two-week leg of the trip, which included stops in Brooklyn, Rye, and Long Island. Hemmings said the experience was an honor and she looks forward to returning the warm welcome she received from the crew when the boat visits St. John’s in August. (Submitted by The Maiden Factor/Aren Hemmings) The biggest challenges, he said, were occasionally poor Internet access — and other unique conditions that arise when your workplace is the Atlantic Ocean. “Yesterday, when we were sailing, I had all my gear in my bed: I thought nothing of it. But then we were heels—and the master came down and said, ‘I think you ought to see your gear down.’ there.’ “I was like, ‘Oh no, my camera!’” she said. Fortunately, “everything was fine — a little spilled.” “There are a lot of moving parts. You have to be aware of your surroundings and when others need help, you have to move quickly.” One of several photos Hemmings took during a women’s Hudson River Community Sailing race in New York. (Submitted by The Maiden Factor/Aren Hemmings) Edwards had the opportunity to meet Hemmings in person at a Maiden event with Hudson River Community Sailing. “He’s actually still in Long Island right now, taking pictures and getting along really well with the crew,” Edwards said. “We’ll definitely invite her back sometime.” Hemmings had planned to take a few photography jobs for extra money over the summer—graduation, maybe a wedding or two—but the two-week job taking photos in Maiden was a surprise. (Submitted by Aren Hemmings)

Power of Saying “Yes”

More New Brunswickers will have the opportunity to visit and learn from Maiden in early August when she stops in Port Saint John. Open boat days, educational events, a gala at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal, a screening of the award-winning 2018 documentary Maiden at the Area 506 container village and a Q&A with Tracy Edwards are all in the works. A full schedule will be released in the coming weeks, Copeland said. “We are thrilled that our community will enjoy Maiden while in port and also raise awareness and funds for their important cause of promoting girls’ education around the world.” For Hemmings, working at Maiden has inspired her to push the boundaries when considering her future career – and taught her that when the right opportunity comes, it’s worth going all-in. “You don’t have to take things so seriously,” he said. “Things are changing fast and that’s okay. “When the opportunity comes, you have to say yes.”