Thirteen-year-old William McCoy's life changed forever a year ago when his father died. Now, his mother is moving on.but William still wants to hold on to the past. He sneaks out one night and takes a bus to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia-his father's home town.
But reuniting with his dad's family means more than just spending time with his grandparents and cousins; he also encounters the spirit of his great-grandfather, Bill "The Real" McCoy, a notorious rum-rummer who has been dead for more than seventy-five years.
With his mother in Toronto fretting about his safety, and his extended family in Nova Scotia struggling to save their home, William takes to the seas in a high-stakes schooner race with more than money at stake; his family, his father's memory, and the legacy of The Real McCoy are on the line.
“This connection between fictional and real characters is artfully constructed; readers learn not only about sailing, but also a bit about 1920s Canadian history. There is so much right about this novel – seamanship, history, narrative – that I would highly recommend it to any young readers.” Rated E for Excellent