Sailing by Heart

Sailing by Heart is the story of a sailor shaped by his father's hands, a marriage strengthened through shared adversity, and a dream pursued across decades of life, work, and water. It follows how a boy introduced to sailing at fourteen grows into a man determined to carry forward a legacy of craftsmanship, courage, and curiosity - and how that legacy becomes the defining adventure of a marriage. From the beginning, sailing is inseparable from identity. Robert learns the fundamentals aboard a 25‑foot boat his father built from Bruce Roberts' plans, discovering early the exhilaration of wind, hull, and motion. That formative experience becomes a compass point through adulthood, guiding him through relocations, career changes, and the evolving responsibilities of family life. When he meets Dana, he introduces her to sailing on his father's second boat, unknowingly setting the foundation for a partnership built on trust, teamwork, and shared ambition. Over the years, Robert and Dana move from Vancouver to Kelowna to Calgary, raising children while nurturing a dream of owning a cruising sailboat capable of carrying them to faraway places. They sail small dinghies on reservoirs and lakes, learning through trial, error, and the occasional capsize. One gust flips their Enterprise dinghy, launching them into the water; their teamwork in righting it - and their laughter afterward - becomes emblematic of their resilient, quietly joyful relationship. As their skills grow, so does their ambition. They book a week‑long certification course in Greece, imagining themselves sailing among ancient islands. But the COVID‑19 pandemic cancels their plans and forces them to rethink their path. Rather than abandon the dream, they adapt. Inspired by a YouTube video, they decide to build their own nesting dinghy - a crucible of craftsmanship, patience, and partnership. Working in Robert's father's cramped garage, they cut plywood, stitch panels, bend wood, and learn fiberglass techniques from scratch. When a plank cracks, they pause, regroup, and draw on Robert's past experience restoring boats at Britannia Shipyards. Using an electric kettle nicknamed "$7.99," they steam the repaired plank back into shape. The dinghy becomes a symbol of shared resilience: a vessel built with their own hands, guided by Robert's father's quiet presence. When they finally launch it, it floats and rows true - a small triumph carrying enormous emotional weight. Determined to continue their training, they enroll in an RYA Day Skipper course in Kingston, Ontario. Over a week of challenging conditions, they learn advanced seamanship, navigation, and boat‑handling skills. Robert's practical test unfolds in 15-20 knot winds, waves breaking across the bow. He leads the crew with calm authority, drawing on decades of experience. The night sail back to the marina - under stars, buoys, and the instructor's ukulele - marks their transition from aspiring sailors to competent ones. Threaded through the memoir is the legacy of Robert's father, who once sailed from Lake Simcoe through the Trent‑Severn Waterway, down the St. Lawrence, along the Atlantic provinces, and all the way to Havana, Cuba. His two‑year voyage becomes both inspiration and emotional ballast, shaping Robert's understanding of the courage and resolve we inherit from those who came before us. The title, Sailing by Heart, reflects the heartbeat of partnership - Dana as the pulse of the journey - and the deep familial ties that anchor the narrative. Across its chapters, Sailing by Heart blends nautical adventure with emotional resilience, craftsmanship, and the intimate moments that define a marriage under pressure. It is a story of learning, building, failing, adapting, and persevering - a testament to how shared dreams can carry two people across the long blue horizon, one challenge at a time.