It was a dark and stormy night—really! I was in command of the brigantine Pathfinder and we were working our way north into Georgian Bay. All around us lightning flashed, and we knew that we were in for a long, difficult night. Standing aft by the helm was a sailing friend and journalist, Bruce Kemp, who mentioned that it was a night that Stan Rogers would have loved. None of us had heard of him. Really! Kemp initiated us. With a voice as wild and strong as the waves around us, he launched into the most spine-tingling version of “White Squall” that I have ever heard. That night we reefed, handed sail and I’m sure prayed, but most of all we listened to the songs of Stan Rogers and fell in love with a songwriter who could nail an experience like no other. The next morning dawned on a sea calm and beautiful. We were all glad to be alive. Glad to have learned of Stan Rogers. I also learned that while I’m at sea, I will never, ever let anyone sing that damned song again.
—R. Bruce Macdonald, Victoria
