Sailing Back in Time: A Nostalgic Voyage on Canada's West Coast. Rev. ed.

Norman P. Goldman is a retired Civil Law Notaire (Notary) who also
specializes in Montreal history and culture.

From 1927 to 1982, legendary Canadian boat builder Allen Farrell
personally constructed 12 wooden boats. For many years, he and his wife,
Sharie, sailed the many islands off the coast of British Columbia. In
1995, these free spirits embarked on a four-month voyage along
Canada’s stunning West Coast on their three-masked junk, China Cloud.
Following close behind on another boat, called Luna Moth, were their
friends travel writer Maria Coffey and photographer Dag Goering.

Using a diary format, the authors describe the boating and living
experiences of the two couples, as they sailed from the Gulf Islands to
Desolation Sound. They paint a vivid and beautiful picture of British
Columbia’s coastline. As we move from island to island, we discover
how people are able to survive and make do with very little. We learn
about the Farrells’ explorations of the islands over the years, and
are introduced to some of their friends, who still maintain a simple
lifestyle.

The Farrells attribute their freedom to the fact that they had so
little (“[j]ust the boat, some blankets, a tarp, cooking pots and a
few tools”). Dag nicely captures the secret to the success of their
long union: “She’s the rock; he’s the compulsive dreamer. Her
strength allows him to follow his dreams, and he’s given her the
adventurous life she always wanted.”

Sprinkled throughout the book are black-and-white and color photographs
of individuals and places mentioned in the diary.