Under the Trade Wind Sky

<p><strong><em>Under the Trade Wind Sky </em></strong>is a compilation of tales about growing up and coming of age in one of the most unique ways imaginable as a sailor on some of the most celebrated sailing yachts of all time. Robert Louis (Lou) Boudreau first went to sea when he was six months old aboard the famous 98-foot schooner <strong><em>Yankee</em></strong>. His father owned and sailed the schooner in the beautiful Bras D'Or Lakes of Cape Breton Nova Scotia Canada. When Lou was a year old the Boudreau's left Canada and voyaged south to warmer climes. Sailing out of Miami Florida they eventually ran their charter cruises in the West Indies. Lou spent his early childhood on the island of St. Lucia sailing the Caribbean aboard such vessels as the 100 ft. schooner <strong><em>Doubloon</em></strong> and the 98 ft. Howard Chappelle designed Baltimore clipper <strong><em>Caribee</em></strong> both owned by his father. In fact in November of 2022 Lou's father Capt. Walter Boudreau was inducted posthumously into the Charter Yacht Brokers Association Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements in the charter industry.</p><p>The adventures under sail made a deep and lasting impression on young Lou. In 1968 at age 16 Lou joined the crew of the 135-foot Herreshoff schooner <strong><em>Ramona</em></strong> on a voyage to Nova Scotia and following this left school to follow the sea permanently. The young seafarer's apprenticeship saw him on some well-known sailing vessels including the 143 ft. schooner <strong><em>Bluenose II</em></strong> and the 137 ft. Herreshoff schooner <strong><em>Le Voyageur.</em></strong></p><p>The stories contained herein are a treasure trove of tales about what it was like to sail those famous schooners priceless childhood stories about growing up in the West Indies as well as several historical tales of seamanship imbued with the invariable toughness and character of schooner men and their ships.  </p>