Angus: A Boy and His Sailboat

By Thomas Casey

Angus was born in Falmouth, a village on Cape Cod. His father is a commercial fisherman and his mother runs their small fish store. His grandfather was the famous Captain Appleby, who sailed a large three-masted cargo schooner which was lost in a storm off Cape Hatteras.

Angus is expected to follow his fathers footsteps and become a fisherman--however, Angus has his grandfathers love for sailing and, against his fathers wishes, he secretly takes sailing lessons. He has a dream to someday sail around the world. One day on the city dock, he meets an old sea captain who owns a small sailboat that is sinking at the dock.

Angus befriends the old man, Captain Duncan, and tells him of his dream to sail the seven seas. Captain Duncan tells him he once had the same dream that he built the little sailboat fifty years ago, named it Echo and sailed the world. He gives Angus the little sailboat and encourages him to follow his dream. Go along with Angus on his journey, as he finds new friends, gains experience, encounters terrifying storms and eventually fulfills his dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Sep 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781489702593

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

ANGUS APPLEBEE WAS BORN on July 4th to Captain Abel and Agnes Applebee in the quiet seaside town of Falmouth on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

His father Abel was a commercial fisherman and his mother Agnes ran a small store where they would sell fresh fish every day. It was their hope that when he grew up Angus would also be a fisherman.

When Angus started school the other children noticed he didn’t look like them, but that made little difference as he was smart, fun to be with and really good at sports.

When he was 10 years old his father took him for his first offshore fishing trip on their boat. Angus learned fast but the smell of fish and the rolling seas were not to his liking and he got seasick. One day while they were out fishing a beautiful sailing yacht passed them and Angus asked his father what made the sailboat move so fast and so quietly. His father answered in a harsh tone, Don’t pay any attention to sailboats, Angus, forget about them, they are dangerous and you need to learn how to run our fishing boat.

That night after dinner Angus was helping his mother clean dishes and he asked her why his father was so upset talking about sailboats.

His mother responded, Your grandfather, Captain Angus Applebee, was a famous sailor who sailed a large three-masted cargo ship all over the world. When your father was young, during his summer vacations he would sail with your grandfather to different ports. The ship was old and wooden and was always having problems, but the owner would not listen to your grandfather and have these problems fixed. Then one summer, your father was to meet your grandfather in Boston for a trip to South America, but your father got measles and did not go. When your granddad’s ship was off Cape Hatteras he ran into a very bad storm and the ship broke up and your granddad and the entire crew were lost. Your father never forgave the owner of the ship and would forever curse any ship with sails. He loved and missed your grandfather very much.

Angus tried hard not to think about sailboats but one day while he was walking about on the Falmouth docks he noticed a sign for Randy Dandy’s Sailing School. He wasted no time meeting Randy and after a brief sail with him was convinced he had to learn. He did this in secret so his father would not know, but his guilt ran deep and he did tell his mother.

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In a short time, Angus mastered the small sailboats and even began racing in sailing events. One day while walking down an old dock, he noticed a little cabin cruiser sailboat tied to the dock nearly halfway under water. Its mast was broken and it was down in the stern and it looked so sad and lonely. Suddenly a loud growling voice startled him. Standing close to him was a short rugged looking old man with a long white beard and dressed in a dark blue jacket and a worn out captain’s cap.

She was quite the boat in her day, he said as he looked down at the little boat.

Wow, she looks like she is about to sink. Is this your boat? Angus asked.

The old captain responded. Aye, lad, I built her myself right here in Falmouth boat yard over fifty years ago.

They sat down on the dock together and the captain began to tell stories to Angus about his many adventures and the places he sailed to around the world. As the afternoon faded into night fall, Angus told the captain it was time for him to head home for dinner.

What is your name, sir? Angus asked.

My name is Captain Ian Duncan, what is yours, lad? he asked.

My name is Angus, Angus Applebee.

Are you the grandson of Captain Angus Applebee?

Yes sir, he was a great sailor of large tall ships.

The old captain laughed putting his arm around Angus’s shoulders, My dear Angus, I sailed many times with your grandfather, we were very good sailing friends.

Angus was delighted and asked the Captain if they could meet again the next afternoon on the dock and Captain Duncan agreed.

Angus could not wait to get home and tell his parents about meeting Captain Duncan. His father was not happy and told Angus to stay away from the old man. His father feared the old captain would influence Angus about sailing.

This was the moment when Angus could no longer keep his secret from his father and he decided to confess about