An exciting true and tragic story of a young girl forced to endure years at sea with her parents, and trying to grow, learn and navigate her way through life.

Author:	Suzanne Heywood
Publisher:	London: William Collins, 2023.
ISBN:	9780008498504 (paperback)
Characteristics:	397 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates: illustrations (some colour), maps; 25 cm
Source:	Melbourne City Library
Date Read:	13-Nov-2025

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Wavewalker, and you have to admire the author’s endurance and tenacity to survive the 10-year sailing cruise forced upon her by the father.

At the tender age of seven her father announced they were going to commemorate Cook’s 200-year anniversary of his famous around the world voyage. In 1975 the family home and business (Tudor House Hotel in Warwick, UK) was sold and the 75ft schooner Wavewalker was bought off the owner who ran out of money to finish her.

Each chapter covers a different leg and date, each shown with a thoughtful map. It’s amazing that someone so young could take in so much detail of the voyage. Suzanne kept a diary from the outset, and continued on even while studying, and this would have been the basis for a more mature outlook when the book was written.

Tyrannical Father and Captain

Suzanne’s parents were not supportive of her upbringing in such a tough environment. It got worse as she got older and was especially bad for her education. Often, she would miss exams and study material mail pickups because her father was a skinflint and would refuse to use the engine if they were running late. She was told to not be selfish and think of her family even though the voyage was entirely her father’s desire. Her mother disliked sailing and was only following her husband’s wishes.

Once the author loaned her father one hundred dollars of hard-earned money from baby-sitting. Not only did he refuse to pay it back when asked, he threatened Suzanne. Just unbelievable behaviour from a parent.

Often the father would have arguments with suppliers and officials (charging too much money) and with fare paying crew, even kicking them off the vessel and leaving them to sort out getting back to civilization. Her mother was unsupportive and would complain that Suzanne is being difficult. You get the impression that the children were an inconvenience. At one point she said to her husband “either she (Suzanne) goes or I go”. Not much parental love there.

The father was a tyrant, but at the same time he was a multi-skilled artisan who seemed to be able to fix anything, from engines, yachts and refrigerators. And his navigation skills too were excellent, although some of the overall voyage decisions seem foolhardy, like going in the “wrong” direction around the world. The mother would repair sails and mostly cook meals, although Suzanne was often coerced to help.

In New Zealand Alone

When Suzanne turned 16, she got some unwelcome freedom when she was left to fend for herself in New Zealand, and the situation made me think of the fictional story of Kya in Where The Crawdads Sing.

Her father gave her a barely fit for purpose car and had to look after her needs as well as study. Despite the hardship Suzanne appreciated the time being off the ocean and it gave her some stability to form some friendships.

Wavewalker Fate

At the end of the book Suzanne is somewhat over the trauma of the ten year voyage and begins searching for the Wavewalker. Some information says the Fijian mariner manager bought her but he on-sold the vessel. There are a number of leads but nothing concrete. Parts of Wavewalker were salvaged and reused but there’s no detail.

To this day her fate is unknown. Seacraft can have short lives if not loved and cared for constantly. I would be surprised if Wavewalker was still in one piece.

An uplifting moment occurs when Suzanne is given the compass which saved their lives many times. This is a wonderful momento, and is probably more treasured than her parents.

Parental Fallout

The book release caused much grief to her parents. No doubt because it rightly made them look bad and negligent to their children. Still today they are not on speaking terms. Given the father’s pig-headedness and the mother’s devotion to her husband I think a reconcilliation is unlikely.

Conclusion

The book is well written and highly engaging. The action and difficult circumstances are well captured, and it really piqued my interest.

Highly recommended!

---

🌊 Overview

Suzanne Heywood’s memoir Wavewalker: Breaking Free (2023) recounts her extraordinary childhood spent sailing around the world with her family. What begins as an adventurous voyage quickly becomes a story of isolation, resilience, and the struggle for independence.

---

📖 Key Themes

• Adventure vs. Entrapment: The family sets out to follow Captain Cook’s route, but the journey becomes endless, trapping Suzanne aboard the boat for a decade.
• Loss of Childhood: Instead of school, friends, and stability, Suzanne grows up in cramped quarters, facing storms, danger, and neglect.
• Resilience & Survival: Despite hardship, she develops strength, resourcefulness, and determination to reclaim her life.
• Breaking Free: The memoir culminates in Suzanne’s eventual escape from the confines of the voyage and her pursuit of education and independence.

---

🧭 Narrative Arc

• Departure: At age seven, Suzanne’s parents announce the family will sail around the world.
• Life at Sea: The boat, Wavewalker, becomes both home and prison. Suzanne endures perilous storms, isolation from peers, and limited parental support.
• Conflict: Her parents’ obsession with the voyage clashes with Suzanne’s desire for normalcy and learning.
• Resolution: Suzanne ultimately breaks free, carving her own path toward Oxford and a successful career, while reflecting on the scars and strengths forged during her unconventional upbringing.

---

✨ Takeaway

The memoir is both a gripping adventure tale and a poignant exploration of lost childhood. It highlights the tension between parental dreams and a child’s need for stability, while celebrating resilience and the power of reclaiming one’s own story.

---

Further Information