Sail Away

A class of Grade 10 students boards a replica of a century-old schooner for a five-day cruise through the Gulf Islands on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Sail Away chronicles their first day in this friendly but unfamiliar environment. It’s a day filled with adventure, toil, and zaniness.

The book portrays a rustic version of maritime life: How do I wash my hair? (You don’t.) Do I really have to stand watch for an hour in the middle of the night? (Yes.) May I climb the rigging to the top of the mast? (Only if your safety harness is clipped in at all times.) Threads about living in a humane and meaningful manner are woven into this nautical story.

Although the characters are invented, the events are not. Sail Away remains true to the real experiences of real people, told from the point of view of the crew. Nobody dies. No romance blossoms. No smugglers are chased. But something compelling and enriching emerges when ordinary people are crammed into an anachronistic setting.