Staniel Cay

Sailing, adventure and intrigue in the Exumas!

Old Nick Finneran finally tells his story of how, as a teenager in post-World War II 1948, he and his cousin Tony leave the cold Massachusetts winters behind to begin a life's journey.  Along the way Nick and Tony do a lot of fishing, meet colorful characters from the pre-tourist days of Miami, and discover a wrecked sailboat in the mangroves, which they rebuild and sail to the Bahamas.  The teenagers experience the tranquil life in the Caribbean before the tourist boom, but soon uncover a plot that could prove to be the opening salvo of the cold war!  The boys are incredulous to find themselves in a life and death struggle for survival. 

Staniel Cay (pronounced “key”) is a celebration of youth, adventure, and mischief, that hasn’t been concocted since Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn sailed the Mississippi. The vivid descriptions of small boat sailing are reminiscent of Joshua Slocum and Tristan Jones.  The action is interspersed with an expert’s detailed description of the endless days of sailing, fishing and “bumming in the islands mon”.

For more information visit www.nickfinneran.com

Seventy-four-year-old Nick Finneran is a champion sailor, fly fisherman and world adventurer.  Nick spent his childhood sailing on Cape Cod.  He was the quintessential teenage sailing bum, years before it became fashionable!  After high school, he left the cold Massachusetts winters behind, and began a life journey of adventure that has spanned six decades.  From Bimini to Brazil, and from Nassau to Nairobi, Nick Finneran has earned the title of Swashbuckler!  Staniel Cay recounts one of the earlier chapters of Finneran’s adventure-packed life.