Get West Adventure Cruises has an event happening in July aboard the historic MV Uchuck III.
Author David Esson Young, a former Uchuck owner who has written a vivid and historical account of his life experiences on the coast in his book The Uchuck Years - A West Coast Shipping Saga, will sign copies of his new book aboard the Uchuck III on July 21.
The decks of the Uchuck fleet are an integral part of Young's memories, having first stepped aboard as a young boy when his father started the Barkley Sound Transportation Company in
1946. As he grew up, Young gradually became more involved with the company, which transported freight and passengers from Port Alberni to Ucluelet and Bamfield.
In 1960, the Uchuck run moved further north to Nootka Sound and became known as Nootka Sound Service transporting to Tahsis, Zeballos, Kyuquot, Friendly Cove, and Esperanza.
Young and his business partner Walter Winkler, ran the MV Uchuck III up and down the coast for many years delivering equipment and supplies to remote logging and mining camps and were also on call for boat rescues and emergency support. With the many variables of wind and tide, the book recounts many true-life adventure tales.
"My original intention in writing the book was to try to bring the information together so that my grandchildren would have an understanding of the lifestyle," says Young.
Gathering information from company records, handwritten journals used by the captains to record events and communicate with each other, and a scrap book that his mother had put together, Young has authored a book that not only celebrates a family legacy and successful business partnership.
It also gives account of stormy crossings, unusual encounters, emergency situations, and a lifestyle reminiscent of the 19th century. The book is being published by Harbour Publishing
and is described as "transportation history par excellence, a great seafaring yarn and an important history of one of BC's most charismatic regions."
To book your reservation aboard the Uchuck III for the book signing with David Esson Young on July 21, call Get West Adventure Cruises toll-free at 1-877-824-8253 or visit www.getwest.ca.
— Get West Adventure Cruises