The incredible story of four daughters who were raised at sea.

On the 28th February 2026, Troubador Publishing will be releasing the incredible memoir of Geraldine Griffin, who tells the unique story of herself and her three sisters, growing up afloat, and crewing around the south coast of the UK, the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is fully illustrated with images from childhood to adulthood on the boat. 

Defying the disbelief of friends and colleagues, Geraldine’s parents decided to bring up their family on board a sailing boat, determined to turn their seafaring dream into reality.

In 1946 her father was given six months to live and invalided from the Royal Navy. Yet, gradually, with the help of friends and the generosity of strangers, dreams became reality.

The Griffin daughters grew up to love the freedom of the sea learning their art from an early age. Geraldine learned to navigate by the stars and to maintain the traditional sails and rigging. While still children, this crew of sisters became Registered British Seamen.

In 1965 women, let alone girls, were rarely considered as competent crew, yet they couldn’t have been more ready as they set off across the Atlantic. Sailing the family’s sturdy 50ft ketch with “Captain Cook’s instruments along Christopher Columbus’s route”, there was no satnav, no telephone, no self-steering device, just a compass, sextant, paper charts, ample provisions and 100 gallons of water.

This memoir is a saga of delights, lazy sailing days, mid-Atlantic swims and celebrations; of adversity, storms and disaster. It delivers a unique story, one of optimism and resilience. It is also a story of coming of age.

Geraldine Griffin grew up aboard a series of sailing boats – mostly gaff ketches - with her parents and three sisters, becoming bo’sun and navigator. She has written many articles for yachting magazines and Blackwood’s Magazine and given many talks on the subject. She now lives ashore in Somerset with her husband. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Geraldine explains: “This is a wholly unique story of daughters growing up afloat (from conception to marriage) and crewing around the south coast of the UK, the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

In 2023 I had an interview with Saturday Live about my story, so many listeners asked when the book was coming that it spurred me on to write it! I had been meaning to write the book for 50 years but only when I retired did it seem possible.”

The book will be available for purchase from the Troubador bookshop, Amazon, Waterstones, and all good book retailers.