This gave an approximate position line but, with no chance of any more sights, no accurate position. Nevertheless it enabled Gordon to recalculate his position and to adjust course. It requires true courage to take ownership of one’s own story when others involved in the story have such a different version, especially when those others are one’s ageing parents. There are no higher stakes, and she knows it. Heywood concludes by saying, “I had no control over my life when I was a child, but as an adult I have the right to tell my story as honestly as I can.” This second section of sea wall is expected to take around two years to complete and once finished, this 415 metre section which stretches from Coastguard breakwater east of Dawlish station to Colonnade breakwater, will link up with the already completed first section of sea wall at Marine Parade.

Oh dear,” said the counsellor. She was trying to be helpful, but the hint of kindness in her words pushed me over the edge. “And … and … ” I said, tears running down my face, “and worst of all, I don’t want to be spending my time doing any of this. I need to be studying, or I won’t get into university.” One night my father came home and said that we needed a family conference. The discussion took place over a dinner of corned beef and cabbage, spiced up with Tabasco sauce. The progress Network Rail has made, particularly with the completion of the first section of new sea wall, is brilliant. We now have a real sea wall promenade and people love coming down here.” She holds no grudge against the boat. ‘Wavewalker was always a she. She was my home. I loved her. She saved our lives. There is definitely a huge emotional connection to her.’Well, we can’t stay in Hawaii for ever,” he said. “I think we have two options. We’ve finished our voyage, so we could go home through the Panama Canal.” Chris Pearce, Network Rail’s interim Western route director, said: “We are really pleased with the progress we have made in Dawlish. Many will remember the significant damage to the railway in 2014 and the impact it had on Dawlish and the wider south west, and the work we are continuing to do in Dawlish will protect the town and region for at least the next 100 years. In 1976 Gordon Cook, who runs the Internet Bookshop in Cambridge, and his wife Mary and children Sue and Jon voyaged along the route taken by his namesake Captain James Cook 200 years earlier.

It has been great to see the interest of the local community in our project – particularly the presence of the Wavewalker – which has ensured we’ve managed to continue with the piling at the sea wall despite some of the stormy weather we’ve recently experienced.” The first brief break in the cloud cover for over a week enabled Gordon to snatch a single sextant sun sight with Mary holding him upright against the foremast. Gordon's determination, outstanding seamanship and navigation skills were incredible, especially considering this occurred before the use of satellite navigation. But Suzanne was not to return to the UK until December 1986, aged 17, her childhood over. The children were overruled in a ‘family vote’ about whether to end the trip in Hawaii (two years behind schedule) when she was 12, and another four years were spent sailing the Pacific. Family relations became strained beyond being bearable, her relationship with her mother toxic, and her attempts to receive an education increasingly desperate.

In late April, Dad returned to the bach to declare another change of plan. The skipper he’d hoped would take charge of Wavewalker wasn’t up to the task. Instead, he was going to resign from his job and sail the boat himself. I wanted to look at Jon, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the final slip of paper, which would determine everything. Dad smoothed it out. Do you want to try some ship’s biscuits?” asked Dad, and when I nodded, he showed me where he’d hidden the tins under the step outside the main head, the name for the ship’s toilet. After a further recalculation of the schooner's position Gordon estimated that they would see the island ahead at about 5pm - it was some time after 6pm that they actually sighted the island through the falling snow.