Voyage of the «Dreamspeaker»: Vancouver-Desolation Sound Cruising Highlights

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes children’s picture books and novels for
preteens. Her most recent novels are Jo’s Triumph, Raven’s Revenge,
and Tarragon Island. Her latest picture book is Grandparents’ Day.

The authors of the popular Dreamspeaker cruising guides have turned
their talents to producing a book about four months’ worth of travels
along the beautiful south coast of British Columbia. This volume begins
with an introduction that describes Dreamspeaker’s 1988 arrival in
Vancouver, where the couple’s explorations of British Columbia’s
fine cruising waters start. The Yeadon-Joneses spend most of the book
relating a summer’s journey during which they took their own cruising
guides and set off to revisit some of their favourite haunts. The result
is a book that complements their earlier guides and demonstrates their
obvious familiarity with their home waters. Unlike the other works in
the series, Voyage of the Dreamspeaker concentrates on cruising
anecdotes rather than on specific instructions for boaters. The text
follows a chronological arc but is supplemented by information gathered
on earlier trips. Sidebars describe special places (cafés, spots of
particular natural beauty, and unusual local attractions like the House
of 10,000 Faces), festivals and events, local residents, and special
treats like cinnamon buns from Nancy’s Bakery in Lund.

Divided into 13 chapters by geography, the book covers Vancouver’s
immediate vicinity, Bowen Island, Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, and so
on. Each chapter begins with a full-page map drawn by Laurence that,
while not suitable for navigation, provides a good overview of the area
being discussed. The book concludes with a plea to preserve and protect
this fragile natural area, suggested further reading, and an index.
Lawrence’s stunning colour photos make this a lovely gift book, a
perfect selection for visitors to the area.

Since the book’s format offers the perfect opportunity to use a
less-formal writing style than is demanded by the more informational
cruising guides, it is a shame that much of the text remains mostly flat
and unemotional. Anyone who has ever set sail on a small boat has
experienced the drama, challenge, and joy of open water. Yet this book
doesn’t really capture the more personal relationship of the cruiser
to the boat, the journey, or those met along the way. Exhaustion,
humour, anticipation, dread, and delight are strangely missing from the
various anecdotal accounts of harbours, islands, and locals as Anne
steadfastly ignores the old writing adage “Show, don’t tell.”

Even though the book never quite reaches its full potential as a work
of creative non-fiction, the authors’ knowledge of, and enthusiasm
for, this area is unmistakable. Whether the reader wants to browse
through the gorgeous photographs, set sail without leaving the comfort
of an armchair, or plan shore excursions from aboard a boat, Voyage of
the Dreamspeaker is an inspiring volume for anyone who loves the West
Coast.