Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is pleased to welcome shipwright and author Will Sofrin to its next Speaker Series event on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. He will speak on his upcoming book All Hands on Deck: A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World.
In the late 1990s, Patrick O’Brian’s beloved, bestselling historical novel series was destined for film with Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World. While the director and stars were signed on, there was only one problem: The Rose, the replica eighteenth-century warship that the filmmakers had bought for the production, was in Newport, Rhode Island, two oceans and thousands of miles away from Hollywood. Enter a ragtag crew of thirty oddballs and tall-ship fanatics, including author Will Sofrin, at the time a 21-year-old wooden boat builder and yacht racer looking for some direction in his life. Together, the crew embarked on an epic adventure, racing a ticking clock and fighting against Mother Nature, and occasionally each other, to deliver The Rose, hopefully in one piece.
All Hands on Deck (Abrams Press; April 18, 2023) is Sofrin’s account of this unforgettable voyage. The crew of The Rose effectively went back in time, brought to life the old ways of a forgotten world, and barely lived to tell the tale. All Hands on Deck is a gripping story and a must-read for fans of O’Brian’s novels and the Academy Award–winning film adaptation.
Admission to the CIMM Speaker Series is free for CIMM members, $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors (62+) and active military members. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the presentation beginning at 7:00 pm.
About Will Sofrin: Will Sofrin is a master shipwright who has taught at MIT and has built boats for Billy Joel and Estée Lauder. As a former professional sailor and licensed captain, he has tracked more than 30,000 blue-water miles. Today, he is a freelance writer for numerous maritime periodicals such as: Classic Boat Magazine, Cruising World, Latitude 38, Ocean Navigator, Pacific Yachting, Points East Magazine, Sea History Journal, Soundings, and WoodenBoat.
About the Channel Islands Maritime Museum: Located in Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor, the Museum’s galleries feature rare and beautiful maritime paintings dating back to the 1600s, more than sixty world-class models of historic ships, rotating thematic fine arts exhibitions, and interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to expand their horizons about everything maritime. The Museum is currently open Thursday-Monday from 12 pm to 4 pm. www.cimmvc.org